Israel Democracy Institute

The restructuring of the Judicial Selection Committee, set to take effect under the next government, will politicize the selection of judges across all Israeli courts. IDI expert Lital Piller warns that the Committee is likely to operate “based on political, ideological, and partisan considerations rather than a commitment to diversity or representation.” The new mechanism, she explains, incentivizes the nomination of extreme candidates on both sides of the political spectrum - undermining professionalism and consensus. As a result, the appointment of Arab judges will become increasingly less likely. Read the column: https://bit.ly/3FRajUN #arabsociety #equality #justice #israel #israeldemocracyinstitute

With 1,500 community workers facing dismissal due to the government’s recent budget cuts, entire neighborhoods across Israel will be left without protection. The National Authority for Community Safety - whose work across the country focuses on preventing various forms of violence and harmful behavior, such as drug and alcohol addiction, bullying, severe violence and suicide - is facing deep cuts that will lead to the dismissal of most of its employees. IDI experts Dr. Yael Litmanovitz and Tomer Lotan warn that while the entire public will be harmed, the impact on Arab communities in particular will be especially devastating. Read the column: https://bit.ly/41UDDlN #arabisraeli #crime #budget #israel #israeldemocracyinstitute #security

IDI expert, Prof. amichai cohen, spoke with Dan Senor on Call Me Back and underscored one of the main tensions in the role of the Shin Bet, Israel’s security agency: the vast powers it holds and the danger of these powers being manipulated for political purposes. Listen here: https://bit.ly/43DgBkR #shinbet #israelsecurity #israel #israeldemocracyinstitute

IDI’s VP of Strategy, Dr. Jesse Ferris, discussed the role and contribution of philanthropy in a world of democratic uncertainty at the Jewish Funders Network's annual conference.

What if the pilot of your flight announced mid-air that he’d be testing brand-new, untested technology – while flying? And what if he added that while safety rules exist, anyone powerful enough could simply ignore them? That’s the dilemma we face with AI today. At the Observer Research Foundation’s Raisina Dialogue, IDI expert Dr. Tehilla Shwartz Altshuler highlighted the urgent need for clear and enforceable regulations on AI development. Furthermore, she stressed that as innovations roll out at breakneck speed, open channels for communication between nations and regions are essential to ensure the world can respond to emerging risks and challenges in real time. Watch the panel on DeepSeek vs. the West: https://bit.ly/3XurKk4 #AI #deepseek #raisinadialogue #israeldemocracyinstitute

Although thousands of Israelis continue to take to the street, their voices have yet to significantly influence government policy. According to IDI expert Prof. Ofer Kenig, structural reform that would expand the arenas for democratic participation – such as elections for regional representatives, establishing an upper house, or similar mechanisms common in other democracies – could help restore the public’s trust in its elected officials and decentralize power. Such reforms, he argues, are essential for safeguarding Israel’s democratic resilience. Read the column:  https://bit.ly/4iDQheN #electoralreform #decentralization #israel #protests #israeldemocracyinstitute

As the government moves forward with efforts to dismiss the Attorney General, IDI VP of Research Prof. Suzie Navot spoke with Fran Kelly on Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Radio National Hour to explain the role of Attorney General in Israel and shed light on the recent steps taken by Israel’s government that weaken checks and balances and undermine the rule of law. Listen to the full interview: https://bit.ly/4iFJz8k #attorneygeneral #checksandbalances #israel #israeldemocracyinstitute

See here my article, which is trying to make sense of the government's actions this week. https://lnkd.in/dusYmbBa

The Israeli government is currently advancing three key initiatives that threaten judicial independence and the rule of law: the dismissal of the director of the Shin Bet, the dismissal of the Attorney General, and the restructuring of the Judicial Selection Committee. IDI expert, Dr. Guy Lurie, explains in a column that “What these three moves have in common is that they undermine the foundation of the rule of law in Israel.” By promoting the idea that legal officials should merely represent the will of politicians - who will alone determine what the law requires – the government is challenging a core democratic principle: that all branches of government must operate within a system of checks and balances and remain subject to the rule of law. Read the column: https://bit.ly/4hKFFd6 #attorneygeneral #ruleoflaw #democracy #israeldemocracyinstitute #judicialindependence

“The attempt to remove the director of the ISA should also be viewed as part of the ongoing struggle in Israel regarding the control of the executive branch.” IDI expert Prof. amichai cohen spoke with Mark Weiss on Kan English podcast and stressed the importance of viewing the Prime Minister’s announcement that he intends to dismiss Shin Bet director Ronen Bar as part of a broader set of decisions that centralizes power within the Israeli executive branch. Read an explainer by Prof. Cohen and Dr. Dr. Eran Shamir-Borer: https://bit.ly/41HQrut