Articles

The announcement by the government this week that it does not intend to form a state commission of inquiry is a grave error—this is not only a civic and moral failure, it also harms Israel's national security and prevents the nation from healing.

Linking October 7 to the Holocaust shapes Israeli memory and identity—but while the parallels evoke deep emotion, this connection must also serve as a call for democratic resilience, not a retreat into victimhood.

The Israeli Supreme Court rejected the Gaza Humanitarian Aid petition submitted by a number of Israeli human rights NGOs, stating that Israel's obligations are relative in nature and that the petitioners had failed to establish that these were generally violated during the Gaza war.

 What are the legal steps that must be taken when a deal includes the freeing of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons?

A majority of Israelis (57.5%) support a comprehensive deal for the release of all the hostages in return for an end to the war in Gaza; Most Israelis think the current situation in Syria serves Israeli interest (52.5%); 68% of all Israelis, as well as 60% of Likud voters, are opposed to a law exempting Haredim from military service, even if this would mean a dissolution of the Knesset and new elections.

Amnesty International's report on the war in Gaza fails to prove acts of genocide by Israel, even when attempts are made to move the goalposts.

In the second installment of their two-part analysis of the ICC's decision to issue arrest warrants against Israeli leaders, Prof. Yuval Shany and Prof. Amichai Cohen examine the arguments behind the arrest warrants and steps Israel can take to prevent them from being realized. 

48% of Israelis think PM Netanyahu cannot fully function as a wartime prime minister while testifying on trial, a large majority of Israelis think Trump will prioritize Israel's security, and a clear majority (61%) think the main reason behind the ICC's decision to issue arrest warrants is the Court's longstanding anti-Israel bias.

The ICC's unprecedented arrest warrants against leaders of a democratic state carry severe and far-reaching consequences, yet Israel still has far-reaching options to mitigate the damage. 

The proposed "Public Committee of Inquiry," for investigating the events of October 7th and its aftermath, is an attempt to circumvent the existing framework for such investigations and is unlikely to gain public trust.

Israel will likely not succeed in forcing the Court to annul its orders, and attempting to do so will make it even harder for its allies to support it. Instead, it can conduct an independent and effective investigation, avoiding problematic statements, and adhere to the laws of armed conflict.

On November 21, 2024, the Pre-Trial Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued four decisions. These deal with various legal matters arising out of the Prosecutor’s May 20 request to issue arrest warrants as part of his ongoing investigation of the Situation in Palestine, in the context of the War in Gaza.

Physical reconstruction and addressing emergency needs are helpful, but to really make a difference post-Oct. 7 donors should focus on improving Israeli governance and civil society

A special survey assessing public opinion on matters of national security, presented at IDI's annual conference on Security and Democracy. The survey found support for a mandatory draft, and significant economic penalties for those who do not serve.

After more than a year of fighting on various fronts, it can now be clearly stated that Arab localities in Israel are suffering from a lack of protective structures. In order to meet its responsibilities toward the residents of Arab localities, the state must provide protective structures—immediately, and without delay.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

Across the Left, Right and Center, rates of Jewish Israelis who say the feel "anger," "disappointment" or "frustration" are considerably higher than those expressing satisfaction, pride, or trust. A large majority of Israelis (70%) support the establishment of an inquiry into the events of Oct. 7th, but do not agree on the timing of such an inquiry. 

The rule of law is a fundamental democratic principle, meaning that all governing bodies are subject to and must comply with the law. Despite the complexities inherent in ongoing war, this is true also of the IDF, and only decisive action against breaches of conduct may protect the rule of law in Israel and Jewish morality. 

Investigating allegations of abuse at the Sde Teiman detention facility is Israel's moral and legal duty as a rule-based democracy and protects the country on the international legal and diplomatic front. 

Across the total sample, 56% of Israelis support a deal to release all the hostages and end the war in Gaza; 29.5% support a deal to release some hostages in exchange for a temporary ceasefire; 14.5% don't know.