The Climate Crisis: An Opportunity
Written By: Yohanan Plesner
Israel is small, crowded, and polluted. If we fail to act, we will see more and more damage to the country, especially to our most vulnerable populations
Israel 2050: Global Warming - Israelis Concerned - Survey Part I & II
Written By: Daphna Aviram-Nitzan, Hila Shoef Kollwitz
As part of IDI's 'Israel 2050' initiative, a survey found that the majority of Israelis are concerned about the risks of global warming and believe that their government should act accordingly.
A Just Transition to a Low Carbon Economy
Written By: Prof. Nathan Sussman, Daphna Aviram-Nitzan, Hila Shoef Kollwitz
Implementing IDI's Israel 2050 program for emissions reduction is not only an urgent necessity, but also highly beneficial in economic terms.
Israel 2050: A Thriving Economy in a Sustainable Environment The Program’s Impact on Macroeconomic Growth in Israel
Written By: Prof. Nathan Sussman, Ruslana Rachel Palatnik, Ayelet Davidovitch, Hila Shoef Kollwitz
Can a Criminal Defendant be Banned From Forming a Government?
Written By: Dr. Dana Blander
Minister Gideon Saar's proposed bill preventing a criminal defendant from forming a government is unprecedented, but so is the reality in Israel.
The Financial Situation of Ultra-Orthodox Households Before and After the COVID-19 Crisis
Written By: Amit Leventhal, Gabriel Gordon, Dr. Gilad Malach
What are the ramifications of recent developments, and especially of the COVID-19 pandemic, for the economic resilience of ultra-Orthodox households in Israel?
Facebook is toxic in Hebrew too — Israelis must be protected
Written By: Dr. Tehilla Shwartz Altshuler
It's up to lawmakers to enact privacy protection, outlaw predatory marketing and hold social media providers in Israel accountable for the harm they do
Stabilizing the Economy and Combatting COVID by Imposing Restrictions
Written By: Prof. Tamar Hermann, Dr. Or Anabi
After more than 100 days in office – Israelis want the new government to prioritize stabilizing the economy and combatting COVID by imposing restrictions on the unvaccinated
Fighting Crime Through Education in the Arab Sector
Written By: Prof. Ismael Abu-Saad
Arabs ostensibly are present, but in reality are absent from the highest levels of the ministry, where decisions are made.
One Arab Justice Isn’t Enough
Written By: Dr. Guy Lurie
The imminent retirement of Judge Kara will leave the Supreme Court without an Arab justice, yet there is only one Arab candidate on the list of possible replacements. We must move beyond filling the "Arab chair" and ensure proportional representation of Arabs as well as women and Mizrahim in the courts
FDA Booster Decision Disappoints all Sides
Written By: Dr. Tehilla Shwartz Altshuler, Brigadier General (res.) Itai Brun
The FDA ruling regarding the Pfizer booster shot may have not been completely in-line with the Health Ministry's recommendation, but the open and transparent decision-making processes employed by the American agency holds important lessons for Israel
Duplicate Kashrut Certifications and Excess Costs to Suppliers and Consumers
Written By: Dr. Ariel Finkelstein, Gabriel Abensour
88% of the products sold in supermarkets in Israel have duplicate kashrut certifications resulting in excess costs to both suppliers and consumers. Analysis by IDI experts Finkelstein and Abensour reveals why reform is overdue
Israel Must Codify Equality
Written By: Dr. Amir Fuchs
Equality should be enshrined in a broad Basic Law that defines Israel as a democratic state - to create the proper balance between the Jewish and democratic components of Israel's identity, a balance that was upset by the Nation-State Law
Days of Judgement Ahead for the New Government
Written By: Yohanan Plesner
Let us wish the people of Israel, the government of Israel, and its leaders a Shana Tova, a good new year, and one in which we are able to meet the coming challenges and tests with success.
Americans Split on Military Aid to Israel, Say Political Status Quo Unacceptable
Written By: Dina Smeltz, Senior Fellow for Public Opinion and Foreign Policy, Emily Sullivan, Research Assistant, Prof. Tamar Hermann
Both the US and Israel enter new eras of leadership - how does the public view the future of US-Israel relations against the background of the the conflict with the Palestinians
The Silence of the Commanders
Written By: Dr. Idit Shafran Gittleman
False quick-spreading claims blamed an IDF soldier's death on overly stringent rules of engagement. What took the military so long to set the record straight?
President Reuven Rivlin Joins IDI as Honorary Chair
Israel's tenth President to focus on bridging gaps and strengthening democratic values
Ahead of the Jewish New Year - National Mood Pessimistic
Written By: Prof. Tamar Hermann, Dr. Or Anabi
Ahead of the Jewish New Year, 60% of Israelis define the national mood as "pessimistic." 52% of Jewish Israelis may skip their holiday meals if they include unvaccinated guests.
The Sins of the Digital Era
Written By: Dr. Tehilla Shwartz Altshuler
Social media narrows our range of information by spreading misinformation.
Religiously Democratic?
Written By: Prof. Daniel Statman
Prof. Daniel Statman discusses his new co-authored book State and Religion is Israel, a joint legal and philosophical attempt to conceptualize the role of religion in democratic regimes.
Taking Attendance: Arab Teachers and Students in Israel’s Education System
Written By: Dr. Nasreen Haddad Haj-Yahya
Israel is at a shortage of teachers that is forcing schools to take drastic measures, but the Jewish schools are still not hiring Arab teachers.
What's the Point of an Apology?
Written By: Prof. Daniel Statman
In this season of slichot (penitence) we should ask ourselves - does the essence of apology lie in the sense of regret, or in its expression?
The Return of the International Arena
Written By: Prof. Amichai Cohen
With international institutions once again a cornerstone of US foreign policy, Israel will have to adjust accordingly
Lowering the Age of Exemption will Lead Thousands of Haredim into the Labor Force
Written By: Yohanan Plesner , Dr. Gilad Malach
Congratulations to the Bennett government on approving the outline for lowering the age of the students exempted from service in the IDF to 21. This is a vital and necessary step that the Israel Democracy Institute has recommended in recent years. A kind of necessary evil that will lead in the short term to the entry of about 5,000 ultra-Orthodox into the labor market and thousands more in the coming years.
We Must not Squander the Opportunity for Real Change in Israeli Schools
Written By: Dr. Tammy Hoffman
How many generations of Israelis will be educated without the tools they need to commit to the values of inclusion, respect for the other, and equality?
Lowering the Exemption Age for Military Service
Written By: Dr. Gilad Malach
Survey finds lowering the exemption age is not likely to reduce the number of ultra-Orthodox conscripts to the IDF, however it will encourage thousands of ultra-Orthodox men to enter the workforce.
What Solutions to the Conflict with the Palestinians are Acceptable to Israelis?
Written By: Prof. Tamar Hermann, Dr. Or Anabi
41.5% of Jewish Israelis think that the solution to maintain the status-quo with the Palestinians is acceptable– 34% think the same of a two-state solution
Should Israeli Colleges Insist on Coed Classrooms?
Written By: Dr. Gilad Malach
Dr. Gilad Malach is interviewed on Kan Radion on a recent Supreme Court ruling allowing institutions of higher learning to have separate classrooms for men and women and what the implications will be for the integration of the ultra-Orthodox into Israeli society.
NSO Spyware Scandal May Threaten Israel’s Love Affair With Amazon and Google
Written By: Dr. Tehilla Shwartz Altshuler
Amazon reportedly cut NSO off from its AWS service - the same one that is supposed to support Israel’s new official state cloud. Could Jerusalem be cut off, too?
