Articles

28% of Israelis think Israel's security is a central consideration for President Trump, down from 44% last month. 72% of Israelis think Israel should maintain a permanent security zone in South Lebanon. A plurality (50.5%) of Israelis think it is inappropriate to advance legislation with a substantive impact on Israel's system so close to elections.

In light of the government's announcement that an interim order issued by the Supreme Court does not have binding force, the question arising in this case goes beyond the matter of the Second Authority and touches on the foundations of Israel’s democratic system of government.

The establishment of a politicized commission of inquiry into the failures of October 7, as in the legislation currently making its way through Knesset, would harm the ability to uncover the truth and the Israeli publics' ability to heal.

What does this legislation include? Why is it being legislated now, of all times? Is it constitutional? And how will it affect Haredi conscription? Everything you need to know.

This review demonstrates a clear correlation between religious self-definition and voting in elections. The further one moves toward the secular end of the continuum between Haredim and secular Jews, the greater the likelihood of voting for a political camp currently identified with the opposition, and vice versa.

A semi-open ballot system would give voters the chance to express preference for particular candidates on election day, not just a pre-determined party list. This would improve accountability to the voters and resolve many of the shortcomings in the current methods of candidate selection.

Israel needs a nuanced doctrine for Haredi policing: consistent enforcement against violence and obstruction; disciplined restraint in the use of force; distinctions between extremists and the broader Haredi public; and direct police service to Haredi citizens who need help.

This survey is part of a broader study. Research team: Dr. Tammy Hoffman, Daphna Cahana-Dolev, Meital Baron, and Dani Gigi.

Thirty years ago this week, on June 18, 1996, MK Benjamin Netanyahu was sworn in as Israeli Prime Minister for the first time. Since then, he served a cumulative total of nearly 19 years in office. This makes him one of the longest-serving leaders in the democratic nations.

Torah study is a cornerstone of Jewish heritage and is worthy of support. The proposed Basic Law making its way through Knesset, however, equates Torah study with military service, would entrench a military exemption for Haredi yeshiva students, and would harm the constitutional status of a Basic Law and the principle of equality.

IDI President Yohanan Plesner and Prof. Tamar Hermann, Academic Director of IDI's Viterbi Family Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research, join Dr. Natan Sachs from the Middle East Institute to discuss Israel’s upcoming elections, why they are viewed as especially consequential, the role of Arab parties in future coalitions, and what might change under a different government.

44% of Israelis think Israel's security is a central consideration for President Trump, representing a sharp decline from the last measurement. 61% of Israelis think Prime Minister Netanyahu should not run in the upcoming Knesset elections; 35% think he should.

How is the state comptroller elected? What are the comptroller’s powers, whom does the comptroller audit, and to what extent can they actually influence decision-makers in practice? Here is what you need to know.

Policymakers, government officials from across the political spectrum, tech executives, and academics joined IDI experts to take on challenges in Israel's wartime economy and advance research-driven policy debate in an election year.

A special survey released ahead of the Israel Democracy Institute's Eli Hurvitz Conference, 2026.

The institution of the attorney general is one of the few checks on government power in Israel. Legislation making its way through Knesset would effectively remove the constitutional functions of the office to safeguard the rule of law in Israel's democratic system.

This is an executive summary of a study published in Hebrew and presented at IDI's Eli Hurvitz Conference.

Four key issues are expected to take center stage in Israel's 2026 elections, representing a referendum on the future of the country's democratic character, the balance between religion and state, and the question of a liberal civic consensus in an era of unprecedented polarization.

On Shavuot, Jewish tradition celebrates the story of Ruth, emphasizing choice, loyalty, and belonging as the central qualities shaping the boundaries of the Jewish community. A proposed amendment to the Law of Return would go against this spirit – everything you need to know about the bill and the history on the issue.

What is the process and timing involved in dissolving Knesset and initiating elections? What happens between a Knesset dissolution and the forming of a new government? Is Israel's process typical compared to other countries? All your questions answered about dissolving Israeli Knesset.

When and why was the Advisory Committee on Senior Civil Service Appointments established, what are its powers, and which appointments is it supposed to review? In light of the High Court hearing on petitions against the appointment of Maj.-Gen. Roman Gofman as head of the Mossad, this explainer reviews the role and composition of the “Grunis Committee,” as well as the meaning of “integrity” in senior public appointments.

In response to claims that the Supreme Court tied the hands of the IDF along the Gaza border in the years leading up to the October 7 attacks, it must be stated clearly: these allegations are completely unfounded and serve as merely a pretext to avoid setting up a state commission of inquiry.

In the wake of the announcement by the director-general of the Central Elections Committee, Orly Adas, of her resignation: What is the role of the Committee, what is the role of the director-general, what is the significance of this resignation, and what challenges will need to be addressed?

64% of Jewish Israelis and 48.5% of Arab Israelis think ending the Iran war is not compatible with Israel's security interests. 51% of Israelis think the US administration has greater influence over Israel's defense decisions than the Israeli government. A plurality of Israelis believe settler violence against Palestinians is handled too leniently.