Articles

At first glance, the dismissal of Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant is not unprecedented – prime ministers hold authority to fire ministers, and Prime Minister Netanyahu has done so in the past. However, the circumstances surrounding the current dismissal are especially intense.

The Israel Democracy Institute mourns the loss of its founder and International Chair, Bernard (Bernie) Marcus of blessed memory.

IDI conducted a short survey on the Israeli public opinions in relation to the upcoming elections for president in the US. Who do Israelis prefer, Harris or Trump? These are the results.

The Police Commissioner's decision to terminate the Israel Police Legal Advisor without consulting the Attorney General to whom the Police Lega Advisor is professionally subordinate the most recent worrying sign of the problematic relations between the Attorney General and various government officials.

 A survey of daycare subsidies in Israel and recommendations for improved criteria that would encourage participation in the labor market among the ultra-Orthodox. 

An analysis of the effects of the war on employment within Israel's Arab population. 

Establishing a State Commission of Inquiry is the civic, moral, and public duty at the highest order. And it must be done now.

IDI experts Prof. Amichai Cohen and Prof. Yuval Shany analyze the legality of the September explosions targeting Hezbollah pagers and walkie-talkies through three legal frameworks: the right to use force, principles of distinction and proportionality, and the legality of employing these devices under laws regulating choice of weapons. 

Prof. Cohen and Prof. Shany discuss three possible rationales for the ICJ's rejection of Israel’s security concerns and offer a few final observations on the appropriate balance that should hold between security considerations and continued presence in occupied territories.

It is increasingly clear that Israel’s future depends on the forging of two coalitions. One is a multinational alliance determined to turn the Palestinian issue from a driver of conflict into an engine of peace. The other, is an internal Israeli coalition ready to pursue a series of bold social, economic, and political reforms.

A public opinion survey marking the first anniversary of the October 7th attacks and one year into the "Iron Swords" war.

A recent judgment of the Israeli Supreme Court held that conditions in a notorious detention center must comply with Israeli law.

Moody's downgrading of Israel's credit rating was hardly unexpected, but given at this irregular time and the continued negative outlook it represents an extremely unusual step. It reflects Moody's assessment that geopolitical risks have increased sharply for the short and long terms. 

Jewish Israelis are broadly united (90%) in their belief that launching an in-depth offensive against Hezbollah is the correct move, while the largest share of Arab Israelis (47%) think it was not. A large majority of Israelis, over 70%, think both the IDF and Israel's civilian population would be able to withstand an extended war on two or more fronts.

Recently, Israel has faced a number of situations that could lead to a constitutional crisis. What is a constitutional crisis and why is it dangerous for the stability of democracy? IDI experts explain.

The diminished number of women in decision-making positions in government, coupled with the increase in attempts to implement gender segregation, threatens the right to equality.

How is the Chief Justice in Israel selected, what is the principle of seniority and how does this compare internationally? Dr. Guy Lurie explains the roles and responsibilities of the Chief Justice, an issue that is currently at the heart of a dispute between the Minister of Justice and the Courts.

The "Fake or Not" initiative emerged after the outbreak of the "Iron Swords" war, from an understanding of the need to emphasize media literacy in educational and social institutions.

To protect the credibility of the police as an impartial law enforcement agency, independent oversight over the police prosecution unit - the police unit that issues criminal charges - must be increased through the Attorney General's office.

The Israeli Supreme Court recently issued a pivotal ruling, instructing the Minister of Justice to convene the Judicial Selection Committee and select a new President of the Supreme Court. This decision come after nearly a year in which this permanent position has remained vacant. 

The connection between October 7th and September 11th are not just in the magnitude of the tragedy and their ongoing global impact, but in the messaging and paradigms introduced into the educational system, as it attempts to tackle this fateful event. The education system has a critical role to play in allowing society to deal constructively with the consequences of the current war.

The education system is one of the primary arenas for addressing the challenges of tomorrow. Given that Israel's education system has children from different backgrounds going to different schools, addressing these challenges is particularly difficult. 

After the Minister of Justice Yariv Levin refrained from convening the Judicial Selection Committee to appoint a Supreme Court President, the Supreme Court ruled that the Committee must convene to appoint a President—Prof. Suzie Navot analyzes the Court's decision.

Israel is the only OECD member that has neither regional elections nor a personal element in the electoral system. This is not simply a technical issue but has far-reaching implications relating to the quality of representation and the obligation elected officials have toward their voters.

Israelis are divided on the question of the main reasons for Netanyahu's demand that Israel continues to control the Philadelphi Corridor. While over half of the Jewish respondents (58.5%) think this decision is based on military and strategic considerations, 66.5% of Arab-Israeli respondents thing it is due to political reasons. 

Disregard of the Attorney General’s authority to interpret the law by several government ministers is leading Israel toward a constitutional crisis.

A special survey conducted in July 2024 evaluated public opinion on the need to establish a commission of inquiry into the tragic events of October 7th, 2024.

The Prime Minister’s decision to retain the power to determine the parameters and scope of the hostage deal as a “policy issue” disregards the implications such a deal has on security issues. Israeli history underscores the importance of convening the security cabinet and upholding the appropriate democratic channels in times of war.

In recent days the Attorney General has issued several warnings that decisions are being made using "flawed work processes." This explainer provides an overview of the role and importance of the Attorney General in Israeli democracy, and the current criticism directed by the AG at the government.