Justice Minister Daniel Friedman has given the green light for the implementation of an experimental mediation program beginning February 2008. The program will involve making all of the sides in civil cases involving claims of up to NIS 50,000 to hold one free mediation session before the trial begins and letting them decide if they wish to solve their dispute through mediation.

The scheme will be carried out in two courts as a pilot program. 20 mediators will work with each court for two years.

The program is based on the recommendations of the commission on mediation headed by Judge Michal Rubinstein, who will also chair the pilot program's steering committee.