Articles

A bill expanding the powers of Israel's religious courts was approved for first reading in Knesset. This raises concerns about the rights of vulnerable population groups, such as women and low wage workers. As a Jewish and democratic state, it is not enough to say rights will be protect – there must be institutional protections.

Against the backdrop of a hearing held as part of the process of dismissing the attorney general, this paper describes the procedure that has been laid down for this step, its recent revision, and explains why a decision by the Netanyahu government to fire the attorney general at the current time would be legally invalid.

The Knesset passed Amendment 44 in 2016 to regulate the possibility of impeaching MK's. An MK can be expelled if the Knesset finds that his or her actions constituted incitement to racism or support of an armed struggle against Israel.

During Israel's twelve-day war with Iran, hundreds of thousands of Israelis found themselves stuck abroad. Partnerships emerged between Israeli civil society organizations and the diaspora community to help Israelis find housing, medicine, and other community-based solutions. This demonstrates the importance of Israeli investment in strengthening community ties between Israelis abroad and the State of Israel.

58% of Jews and 71% of Arabs think Israel's security is a key consideration for President Trump. A majority of Jews (60%) think that Israel has achieved most or all of its goals, while only 37% of Arabs concur. A plurality of Jews are optimistic that a deal to end the war in Gaza will be reached soon (50%) and that there is a high likelihood of a regional peace process beginning (48%). Among Arabs, a plurality think there is a LOW likelihood of both scenarios (49% Gaza / 45% regional peace process).

Despite clear indications that a significant number of ultra-Orthodox boys’ schools do not teach core subjects as required by law, hardly any face penalties from the Ministry of Education. The few penalties that are imposed are minor.

Prime Minister Netanyahu received a trust rating of 46% among Jewish Israelis and 10% among Arab Israelis (total sample: 40%). The official with the highest trust rating among Jewish Israelis (and therefore the total sample) was IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, at 68.5%. There were low levels of trust among Arab Israelis across all officials, though Mossad Director David Barnea received the highest rating, at 36%.

The work of civilian defense squads serves a real security need and bolsters the functioning of the police. But an incident from the Israel-Iran war reminds us that, even in an emergency, they are still subject to the law and must still operate within the limits and frameworks set for them by the police.

As the school system shuttered yet again in the war with Iran, Israeli society debates everything from safety to solidarity, but leaves out a critical virtue: the education of our children. Israel's ultra-Orthodox society, in spite of its refusal to be part of the Israeli collective experience, puts education at the core of its value system – what can the rest of the Israeli public learn from them?

Exactly one year ago, Israel's Supreme Court ruled—in a measured manner—that the state must follow its own laws on drafting Haredim. But of the 19,000 summons issued by early June 2025, only about 5% (996) reported to induction centers, and just 1.2% (232) were actually conscripted.

82% of the Jewish public supports Israel’s attack on Iran and the timing of the attack. 65% of the Arab public opposes both the attack and the chosen timing. Some two-thirds of the Jewish public believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu’s motives for launching an attack at this time were mainly objective and security-related. Two-thirds of the Arab public think that his motives were mainly subjective and political.

What are the implications of declaring a "special home front situation", and what powers does such a declaration confer to Israeli authorities? Are the restrictions that the government has imposed on citizens leaving Israel legal? What rights do citizens have in areas regarding which such a declaration has been made? What’s the difference between a "special home front situation" and the ongoing "emergency situation" that has long been in force in Israel? This article explains these issues, and more.

As Israeli citizens are facing severe threats to their safety during following an escalation of hostilities between Israel and Iran, it is, once again, clear that Arab localities lack proper protective infrastructure against missile attacks.

The events of October 7, the judicial overhaul, continuous war, murderous violence on the streets, a spiraling cost of living—none of these have been enough to destabilize the coalition. Will it be the conflict over drafting yeshiva students that ultimately brings down the Netanyahu government?

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.

48% of Jews do not think that the operation will lead to the return of the hostages, and 50% of Arab Israelis share this assessment. 50% of Jews also do not think that the operation will lead to an end of Hamas’s rule. Among Arabs, 41% do not believe that the operation will result in the defeat of Hamas.

Following Ronen Bar’s resignation and an HCJ judgment, Netanyahu has rushed to propose a new Shin Bet head, inviting legal challenges.

Modern antisemitism is no longer confined to fringe forums or offensive symbols painted on synagogues: it is now a profit-driven digital economy, powered by crypto, AI, and decentralized platforms. To confront it effectively, we must regulate the infrastructure that monetizes hate—not just educate against it.

Press Release | IDI Eli Hurvitz Conference 2025 | May 28

Press Release | IDI Eli Hurvitz Conference 2025 | May 27, Morning Sessions

Press Release | IDI Eli Hurvitz Conference 2025 | May 27, Afternoon Session

In a semi-open ballot system, voters would see electoral lists and be able to select "preferred candidates" when they vote. This commons sense reform would strengthen democracy, allowing for a fuller expression of voter preferences and an increased connection between voters and their elected officials.

This research was released ahead of the Israel Democracy Institute's annual Eli Hurvitz Conference on Economy and Society, 2025.

This study was released ahead of the Eli Hurvitz Conference on Economy and Society 2025.

This study was published ahead of the Eli Hurvitz Conference on Economy and Society 2025.