Conference on Economics and Local Elections in Israel
Dan Panorama Hotel, Tel Aviv This conference is being convened in cooperation with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung.
(Left to Right) Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai, Health Minister MK Yael German, IDI President Dr. Arye Carmon, and IDI VP of Research Prof. Mordechai Kremnitzer at the conference
On Thursday June 6, 2013, IDI brought together a government minister, Knesset members, mayors, researchers, and activists from the field for a full day conference on economics and local elections in Israel, which was convened in cooperation with the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS).
The conference, which was held as preparation for the upcoming local elections in October 2013, marked the publication of Representativeness and Efficiency in Local Government by IDI Senior Fellows Prof. Avi Ben-Bassat and Prof. Momi Dahan, and former IDI researcher Prof. Esteban Klor.
Three policy papers on municipal elections in Israel were be presented at the conference, with one session dedicated to each:
- Why Do People Vote in Local Elections?
- What Factors Influence the Chances of Re-election of Municipal Representatives?
- Does Campaign Spending Affect Electoral Outcomes?
Each session also included practical recommendations for policy change.
Participants in this event include:
- Prof. Avi Ben-Bassat, Senior Fellow, Israel Democracy Institute;Department of Economics, Hebrew University, Jerusalem
- Dr. Adi Brender, Head of the Macroeconomics and Policy Division, Bank of Israel
- Dr. Rotem Bresler-Gonen, Lecturer and researcher at the Department of Public Administration and Policy, University of Haifa, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
- Dr. Arye Carmon, President, Israel Democracy Institute
- Mr. Mordechai Cohen, Director of the Ministry of Local Government Administration, Office of the Interior
- Prof. Momi Dahan, Senior Fellow, Israel Democracy Institute; Head of the Federmann School of Public Policy and Government, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
- Adv. Ayelet Fishman, Former Deputy National Ballot Comptroller, Ministry of Interior
- MK Yael German, Minister of Health and former mayor of Herzliya
- Mr. Shmuel Golan, Representative, Office of the State Comptroller, Supervision of Local Government
- Dr. Ramzi Halabi, Consultant on Arab Municipalities
- Mr. Ron Huldai, Mayor of Tel Aviv
- Mr. Shawki Khatib, Former Chair of the High Follow-Up Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel
- Prof. Mordechai Kremnitzer, Vice President of Research, Israel Democracy Institute
- Mr. Shlomi Lahiani, Mayor of Bat Yam
- Mr. Michael Martes, Director, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung in Israel
- MK Amram Mitzna, Chair, Education, Culture, and Sports Committee; former Mayor of Haifa and acting Mayor of Yerucham
- Mr. Ophir Paz-Pines, Director of the Institute for Local Government, Tel-Aviv University; Former MK and Minister of the Interior
- Arnon Perlman, Strategic Consulting; Former senior advisor and chief spokesman of former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
- Mr. Oded Ravivi, Mayor of Efrat
- MK Ibrahim Sarsur, Head of Ra'am-Ta'al faction
- Mr. Nader Sarsur, Mayor of Kafr Qasem
- MK Meir Sheetrit, Chair, Hatnua faction in the Knesset
- Dr. Tehilla Shwartz Altshuler, Head of IDI's Media Reform project and Open Government project
- Mr. Jonathan Yasur, Mayor of Herzliya
9:30-10:00 a.m.
Registration
10:00-10:15 a.m.
Greetings
- Dr. Arye Carmon, President, Israel Democracy Institute
- Mr. Michael Martes, Director, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung in Israel
- Mr. Ron Huldai, Mayor of Tel Aviv
10:15-10:30 a.m.
Opening Address
- MK Yael German, Minister of Health, former mayor of Herzliya
10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Session 1: Why Do People Vote in Local Elections?
Chair:
Prof. Mordechai Kremnitzer, Vice President of Research, Israel Democracy Institute
Presenter:
Prof. Avi Ben-Bassat, Senior Fellow, Israel Democracy Institute;
Department of Economics, Hebrew University, Jerusalem
Participants:
- MK Ibrahim Sarsur, Head of Ra'am-Ta'al faction
- Mr. Jonathan Yasur, Mayor of Herzliya
- Mr. Oded Ravivi, Mayor of Efrat
- Mr. Shawki Khatib, Former Chair of the High Follow-Up Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel
- Adv. Ayelet Fishman, Former Deputy National Ballot Comptroller, Ministry of Interior
- Dr. Tehilla Shwartz Altshuler, Head of IDI's Media Reform project and Open Government project
Discussion
1:15-3:15 p.m.
Session 2: What Factors Influence the Chances of Re-election of Municipal Representatives?
Chair:
Dr. Arye Carmon, President, Israel Democracy Institute
Presenter:
Dr. Adi Brender, Head of the Macroeconomics and Policy Division, Bank of Israel
Participants:
- MK Amram Mitzna, Chair, Education, Culture, and Sports Committee; former Mayor of Haifa and acting Mayor of Yerucham
- Mr. Shlomi Lahiani, Mayor, Bat Yam
- Mr. Nader Sarsur, Mayor, Kafr Qasem
- Mr. Ophir Paz-Pines, Director of the Institute for Local Government, Tel-Aviv University; Former MK and Minister of the Interior
- Mr. Mordechai Cohen, Director of the Ministry of Local Government Administration, Office of the Interior
- Dr. Rotem Bresler-Gonen, lecturer and researcher at the Department of Public Administration and Policy, University of Haifa, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
Discussion
3:30-5:30 p.m.
Session 3: Does Campaign Spending Affect Electoral Outcomes?
Chair:
Prof. Avi Ben-Bassat, Senior Fellow, Israel Democracy Institute; Department of Economics, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Presenter:
Prof. Momi Dahan, Senior Fellow, Israel Democracy Institute; Head, Federmann School of Public Policy and Government, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Participants:
- MK Meir Sheetrit, Chair, Hatnua faction in the Knesset
- Dr. Ramzi Halabi, Consultant on Arab Municipalities
- Mr. Shmuel Golan, Representative, Office of the State Comptroller, Supervision of Local Government
- Arnon Perlman, Strategic Consulting; Former senior advisor and chief spokesman of former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
Discussion
5:30-6:00 p.m.
Closing Remarks
- Dr. Adi Brender
- Prof. Momi Dahan
- Prof. Avi Ben-Bassat
- Prof. Mordechai Kremnitzer