Articles

In just over a decade, Israel’s score in the report published by Freedom House has fallen by 8 points, a decline that now puts it alongside countries such as Brazil and Namibia.

The incoming Commander-in-Chief of the IDF, Major General Eyal Zamir, faces a number of challenges as he takes up his role beyond the security of Israel. He must integrate the ultra-Orthodox, uphold the IDF's ethical values, and restore public trust in its senior command to preserve the military's identity as the 'people's army.' 

Against the backdrop of the proposed government decision that is meant to begin the process of dismissing the attorney general, this paper describes the procedure that has been laid down for this step and explains why a decision by the Netanyahu government to fire the attorney general at the current time would be legally invalid.

An analysis and international comparison of women's representation in the Israeli political arena. 

With the war in the Middle East receding, the battle over Israel’s legal system has resumed, threatening judicial independence.

Changes in the composition of the Judicial Selection Committee threaten the independence of the judicial system. The current proposals would lead to a complete politicization of appointments to all courts and should be blocked. 

A special analysis of the situation among evacuees from the north and south of Israel, based on an extensive survey conducted among a nationally representative sample of workers who were in employment immediately before the outbreak of the Iron Swords war.

Crime in Arab society has seen an unprecedented surge in the past couple of years posing a threat to Israeli society as a whole. What's needed is a real political commitment to the issue, making it clear to criminals that they face the entire state and society. 

The proposed bill, which would change the selection process of the Ombudsman - responsible for investigating complaints about the conduct of judges and religious court judges - aims to intimidate judges and undermine their independence.

An analysis of the potential voting patterns for future elections, voter transitions between parties, and an exploration of the potential electoral power of the Democrats party in upcoming elections. 

Dr. Guy Lurie, a Research Fellow at IDI's Democratic Values and Institutions Program, offers a breakdown on the risks of politicization inherent in the recent proposal by Minister of Justice Levin and Foreign Minister Sa'ar to reform the Judicial Selection Committee.

IDI's Dr. Guy Lurie explains the far-reaching implications of non-cooperation between the two leaders of Israel's judiciary.
"It's the everyday citizens who are sure to pay the price."

This survey is the second in series taken since the outbreak of the Iron Swords War assessing the financial impact of the war on the Israeli workforce. 

The Knesset, Israel's parliament, marks 76 years today. Over the decades, it has shaped the nation's laws, policies, and political landscape, evolving alongside Israel and the modern world. How much do you know about the Knesset and its history? Test your knowledge. 

Defense Minister Katz recent demand that the IDF Chief of Staff reprimand the Chief of the IDF Intelligence Directorate for presenting the possible security implications of the "Trump plan" for Gaza is the latest in several steps that threaten to politicize Israel's national security agencies, a process that could be disastrous for the country.

More Israelis (43%) think Hamas' interests have been served better in the first stage of the ceasefire agreement than Israel's (21%); however, a majority still supports proceeding to the next stage (70%) if the first stage is completed as agreed; a vast majority of Israelis (72.5%) think the ceasefire agreement was achieved thanks to President Trump's intervention.

Israel must not squander its opportunity for much needed renewal, but first the people need to weigh in and choose a consensual mechanism of constitutional reform

A majority of Israelis think there is a fair or high chance President Trump will exert pressure on Israel if the government in Israel does not align with his initiatives in the Middle East; A large majority (72.5%) also think the release of the hostages was achieved thanks to his intervention.

Following Justice Isaac Amit's selection as Supreme Court President, Minister of Justice Levin immediately declared he would refrain from any collaboration between them, describing the selection process as unlawful. This announcement is both factually incorrect and a serious dereliction of his duties. 

The lack of cooperation between the Minister of Justice and the President of the Supreme Court has numerous consequences that will, among other things, harm the services provided by the judiciary to the citizens of Israel.

While the selection of Justice Amit as President of the Supreme Court was done in accordance with the relevant legislation, the Justice Minister has declared the procedure "fundamentally improper and illegal." His refusal to recognize the selection creates a precedent that may lead to the deterioration of the authority of other institutions. This is what the beginning of a constitutional crisis looks like. 

In recent years, it has repeatedly been claimed that “Israel has too many elections.” On the one hand, this is true, Israel has the highest frequency of parliamentary elections compared to all developed democracies. On the other, Israelis have fewer voting opportunities.

Justice Minister Yariv Levin and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar presented their proposed changes to the composition of the Judicial Selection Committee (JSC) as a compromise aimed at achieving a gradual change in the judicial selection process, but many constitutional experts worry that the plan will have dire consequences resulting in the politicization of Israel’s judicial selection process.

Today, (January 19, 2025), three Otzma Yehudit ministers - Itamar Ben-Gvir, Yitzhak Wasserlauf, and Amichai Eliyahu - announced their resignation from the government and the withdrawal of their party from the coalition. This withdrawal decreases the coalition majority in Knesset to 62 MKs, thereby reducing the Prime Minister's leverage to politically maneuver. 

Law enforcement and security agencies are central pillars of democratic rule, and therefore, their capture is a pivotal factor in democratic decline. A comparative analysis by IDI experts reveals that this takeover is often achieved quietly while striving to present all steps as lawful. 

The Levin-Saar plan abandons key elements of his earlier judicial overhaul, proposing changes to judicial selection and Basic Laws. While flawed, it offers a potential starting point for bipartisan negotiations to resolve Israel’s constitutional crisis.

 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.

The Sa'ar-Levin proposal represents a shift from prioritizing professional qualifications in the Judicial Selection Committee to emphasizing political loyalty as the basis for judicial appointments. This risks eroding judicial independence, compromising professionalism, and incentivizing ideological extremism.