The Labyrinth of Legitimacy: Referendum in Israel

A referendum is a democratic tool for decision-making, one that has never been tried in Israel to date. During the past few years, there have been calls to hold a referendum for a number of momentous and controversial issues such as modifying the system of government, the relationship between religion and state, and decisions regarding territorial compromise. These demands reflect a desire to escape from the trap of the inability to decide, as well as a belief in the need for special legitimacy for decisions about fateful questions.

The Israel Democracy Institute published this booklet, which includes an overview and analysis of the accumulated experience in countries where they are in common use, in order to promote and enrich the public discussion of referenda. Topics discussed include: the advantages and disadvantages of referendum as a decision-making tool; the techniques employed for conducting a referendum, and, above all, whether this system should be adopted by Israeli democracy.