Democracy

Turning the Shin Bet into a political battleground would be a detriment to all of Israel

When an agency with extraordinary powers becomes a partisan battleground, democracy itself is at risk.
Turning the Shin Bet into a political battleground would be a detriment to all of Israel
Yoav Dudkevitch/TPS

New Publications in the Field

Opinion Articles

Why the Left keeps losing, both in Israel and America

Leftists in Israel and America keep tripping on themselves by thinking they’re better, even as their behavior suggests otherwise, and by oozing elitist contempt for others in an age of populism.
Opinion Articles
Opinion Articles

A-G’s judicial overreach is undermining Israel’s democracy

Two recent legal decisions highlight the deep and systemic challenges Israel faces. We cannot ignore what they reflect about the current state of governance.
Opinion Articles
Opinion Articles

Netanyahu and High Court gamble with Israel’s future over Shin Bet head

The dangerous flirtation of Israeli public leaders with the horrifying prospect of disobeying a High Court ruling, which will likely result in the dissolution of Israeli society.
Opinion Articles
Opinion Articles

How did Israel establish democracy? The answer is Jewish cultural tradition

Jews may not have had a state, but for centuries they had been practicing community politics in ways that closely resemble modern elective democracies.
Opinion Articles
Opinion Articles

Dysfunction has taken root at the highest levels of Israel’s government

We are a country at war. In moments like this, the nation needs unity and, above all, leadership. What we are getting instead is chaos.
Opinion Articles
Opinion Articles

Israel’s internal fractures are a gift to its enemies

If we allow internal politics to once again fracture the country, then we risk losing not just the war, but the very soul of the state.
Opinion Articles
Articles

“The politicians will strengthen their influence over the appointment of judges”

In light of the turbulence shaking Israeli democracy, and the law altering the composition of the committee for selecting judges, Prof. Yedidia Stern, President of the Jewish People Policy Institute, was interviewed by The New York Times and offered his analysis.
Articles
Opinion Articles

A sober look at the 5 wedge issues setting Israel ablaze

Not all of them are existential threats, although a High Court ruling against ousting the Shin Bet chief could become a true crisis.
Opinion Articles
Opinion Articles

Israel’s not a dictatorship, but it’s headed toward becoming one

The danger of changing Israel’s character has increased. The country is still a vibrant democracy, but will it remain so?
Opinion Articles

Researchers Team

Dr. Haim Zicherman

Dr. Haim Zicherman

Bio

Dr. Haim Zicherman, a senior lecturer at the Ono Academic College (OAC), is an expert in constitutional and property law and also researches the ultra-Orthodox society. His book Black Blue-White (Yedioth Books, 2014) takes a broad-minded approach to understanding the ultra-Orthodox society in Israel. Until last year, Zicherman managed the ultra-Orthodox campuses of the OAC, where thousands of Haredi students – male and female – study. In recent years, Zicherman has coordinated the development and management of the "Israeli Identity" course available to all undergraduate students in Israel.

Focus Areas and Research

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Dr. Shuki Friedman

Dr. Shuki Friedman

Director General

Bio

Dr. Shuki Friedman is the Vice President of the Jewish People Policy Institute. He is a member of the Faculty of Law at the Peres Academic Center and formerly served as secretary of the Locker Committee for Examining the Defense Budget. He was also chairman of the government committee on the sanctions against Iran, and headed the international and foreign law department for the legal division of the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office. Areas of expertise The relationship of religion and state; processes of religionization; secular-religious-ultra-Orthodox relations; ultra-Orthodox employment; the defense budget; Islamic law; international law; the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement.

Focus Areas and Research

Articles by Dr. Shuki Friedman

Last minute strike: Israel’s attack on Iran prevented an existential threat

Golan, Olmert’s comments are making it easier to arrest IDF soldiers abroad

Israel’s not a dictatorship, but it’s headed toward becoming one

Even against beasts, the IDF must uphold its character

The double standard of Gaza’s migration ban

The lawless road to anarchy

IDF needs to act on recruiting haredim

A new Middle East requires striking Iran’s nuclear program

Another step towards a Halachic state

Biden’s Sanctions Will Damage the Economy of West Bank Settlements

Biden Admin Can Destroy Islamic Republic’s Nuclear Program, Secure its Legacy

The government’s decisions only worsen the divide in Israel

Protests are justified. Blocking roads is not

Don’t arrest haredi draft resisters

ICC prosecutor’s filing may affect Israel’s character as liberal state

Drafting Haredim Is Now an Existential Issue

Resolve and Optimism between Yom HaShoah and Israel’s National Holidays

A People that Dwells Alone? We Will Not Survive

Rest of Israel’s population cannot be ultra-Orthodox’s flak jackets regarding IDF service

Biden’s sanctions set ominous precedent for the settlement enterprise

Moderate Israelis Need Moderate Leaders – Not Messiahs

The dangerous fantasy of independence from the US

Genocide and the Hague

Acknowledge the Religious Zionist Community’s Sacrifices in the War

Protest politics endangers the hostages

The Haredi Needle Isn’t Moving

Thank you, American Jewish community

A war for the Jews’ right to live

October 7 was awful, but this is not a second Holocaust

Faith restored…in Israelis

The American Jewish heart beats in time with Israel’s

The War – An Opportunity for a Turnaround in Relations Between Haredi and Non-Haredi Israelis

If the Declaration of Independence Falls, Israeli Unity Will Fall Too

Israeli settlers, ultra-Orthodox will pay for trampling over Israel

An unreasonable law

Freedom of speech at risk for haredi critics

Do not give up on Judaism: It’s what makes Zionism profound

The IDF – a model of morality in combat

Haredi leaders must take responsibility

New proposed draft exemption framework for haredim endangers Israel 

US Jews issue penalty card to the Israeli government

Judicial revolution endangers settlement enterprise

The unhealthy law against chametz in hospitals

The Religion and Law Wars endanger us

New bricks in the ultra-Orthodox ghetto wall

Israel – Two Perspectives and the Zionism of the 21st Century

A constitutional coup will backfire

Will the return of the ultra-Orthodox parties to the government curb the integration of the ultra-Orthodox in workforce?

Pin a Medal on Goldknopf

In a contentious election season, Israelis should look to our shared covenant

High Court Snuffs Out Hope for Tech-Savvy Haredim

The Blessing of Unity

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Prof. Yedidia Stern

Prof. Yedidia Stern

President

Bio

Professor Stern is President of the Jewish People Policy Institute and a full professor in the Faculty of Law at Bar-Ilan University. He is an alumnus of the Kerem B'Yavneh hesder yeshiva (1973-1978); holds a law degree (summa cum laude) from Bar-Ilan University (1982), and a doctorate in corporate law from Harvard University (1986). Stern has served as dean of Bar-Ilan University's Faculty of Law (1994-1998), and was a Senior Fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute (1989-2000). For a decade he served as the IDI's Vice President for Research. His areas of expertise are corporate law (merger and acquisitions, corporate finance and corporate governance), and public law (constitutional law, religion and state, human rights, law and halacha or Jewish law). He has lectured and been a visiting scholar at universities abroad (including Harvard, Columbia, Brandeis, and Princeton), and was Distinguished University Professor at Monash University in Australia (2009-2011). Stern has served as advisor to the Knesset Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee; has participated in numerous committees and public entities, among them the Commission of Inquiry on the Treatment of Residents of Gush Katif (2009); the National Committee for Civic Studies (2009-2011, committee chair); the Takana Forum for the prevention of sexual harassment in the religious community (founding member); the Government Committee for Equality in the Burden of Service (2012); the Committee for Regulating Governance in Higher Education (2014). He has served on the boards of multiple companies, including (currently) that of Bank Leumi. Stern has been awarded the Zeltner Prize for Excellence in Legal Research (2009), and the Gorny Prize for Outstanding Activity in Public Law (2012). Professor Stern has written and edited over twenty books; has published over fifty research articles in five languages; is the coeditor (with Professor Sagi) of the journal Democratic Culture (19 volumes to date); regularly publishes essays and articles in the Israeli and international press, and is interviewed by the Israeli and international media on issues of law and society, religion and state, Judaism and democracy, Jewish identity and Israeli culture. Born in England (1955), married to Dr. Karen Friedman-Stern, father of eight.

Focus Areas and Research

Articles by Prof. Yedidia Stern

Israel’s Successful Opening Strike Against Iran

Netanyahu and High Court gamble with Israel’s future over Shin Bet head

Flashing Red Lights in Boston

A sober look at the 5 wedge issues setting Israel ablaze

Dividing Israel: How politics of trust threatens inquiry into October 7

Splitting the Attorney General role would be a win-win all around

Turning the Shin Bet into a political battleground would be a detriment to all of Israel

We should all compromise to protect Israel’s judiciary from political strife

To stop the Israeli exodus, we need a constitution

The promise and pitfalls of the latest judicial reform outline

The wrong priorities: The absurdity of today’s Israel is on full display

Netanyahu’s trial – To mediation

Israelis can only fortify the national home by reconciliating among ourselves

Israel’s Resilience: Uniting in Celebration on Simchat Torah

Yariv Levin and his judicial reform have failed. Here’s why

Israel is in desperate need of a hostage deal and strategy

A Hostage Deal – How Will We Decide?

Europe and the Jews

Drafting Haredim – Coercion Is Not the Answer

We need a broad national emergency government now

A Decision is Required

Encouraging Haredi Participation in the IDF

Do we deserve our IDF soldiers?

Israel cannot afford to stop the war in Gaza

Israel requires a thin constitution

The Gaza War Should Set a New Tone for Israeli Unity Going Forward

Israel’s Achilles’ Heel

Harvard is Risking Moral Bankruptcy and Opposes Human Rights

What is the price of Israeli sovereignty?

The Genesis War

Israel – from adolescence to adulthood

Restoring the covenant of fate

Israel is in danger from a radicalized Center

How to Avoid a War over the Law of Return

To prevent another Tisha B’Av, we must learn something from the past

Can equality be enshrined in an Israeli constitution now?

Can Israel’s political strife be solved by a ‘thin’ constitution?

Israeli conservatism has collapsed

Do not alienate those who disagree with you politically

Dialogue should prevent Israel’s slide into civil war

Neither side can win on judicial reform

The time for dialogue is now!

No to Levin’s revolution, yes to changes in the legal system

Israel’s judiciary shows its limited power

Israel’s Knesset must leave the Law of Return alone – opinion

A Public Yom Kippur

Rosh Hashanah or January 1st?

Herzl and the First Zionist Congress: Then and now

How Much Should Israel Value Jewish Interests Over its Own?

On Freedom

The Haredim: What Was Is Not What Will Be

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