Israel Democracy Institute
@IDIisrael • 7,166 subscribers
IDI is an independent, non-partisan think-and-do tank dedicated to strengthening the foundations of Israeli democracy. [email protected]
Videos
Our July 2025 Israeli Voice Index reveals a complex picture of Israeli public opinion about the war. Our findings presented in this video just skim the surface - when you break it down, Jews and Arabs see things very differently, as do Israelis from different sides of the political spectrum. Read the full survey to see where Israel's diverse population groups stand on the key issues you see in the headlines:
Israel Democracy Institute2,244,732 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr
Ahead of Israel's national elections later this year, experts from IDI's Viterbi Center for Public Opinion, Prof. Tamar Hermann and Dr. Lior Yohanani, break down the four key issues they expect to take center stage in one of the most consequential elections in recent Israeli history – and the issues may not be what you expect. 1. Responsibility for the security failure of October 7. 2. Balance of power in the judiciary, media, and other key institutions at the heart of Israel's democracy. 3. Participation of Arab Israeli parties in the next governing coalition. 4. The role of Israel's ultra-Orthodox sector in society. “Ultimately, the upcoming election is shaping up to be a struggle over Israel’s soul,” they write. “Beyond the immediate security concerns, the campaign will be a referendum on the future of democratic institutions, the balance between religion and state, and the possibility of restoring a liberal civic consensus in an era of unprecedented polarization.” Learn about Israeli public opinion and the issues shaping the upcoming election, and how voters for coalition and opposition parties differ in their views - see the link in the comments.
Israel Democracy Institute109,666 Aufrufe • vor 2 Monaten
"IDI would not have existed without Bernie Marcus, and it's safe to say that neither would all of our achievements. But the work goes on, and everything we do is inspired by his values and ideas." – Yohanan Plesner Today would have been the 96th birthday of IDI founder and international board chair Bernie Marcus, who passed away last year. In honor of his memory, President of the State of Israel Isaac Herzog, IDI founding President Dr. Arye Carmon, and current IDI President Yohanan Plesner reflect on the remarkable impact Marcus had on them and on the State of Israel. May his memory be a blessing. Yohanan Plesner
Israel Democracy Institute204,226 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr
IDI’s latest Israeli Voice Index finds a sharp drop in the share of Jewish Israelis who believe President Trump prioritizes Israel’s security, from 64% in March to 41% last month and 26% today, a 38-percentage-point decline, marking a record low. The survey also found that, in light of the severe disagreements between the United States and Israel, 53% view this as a temporary crisis, while 36% see it as a turn for the worse; Arab Israelis are split, with 47% seeing it as temporary and 46% as a long-term trend. After Israel’s April war with Iran (Operation Roaring Lion), 38% of the Israeli public say Israel’s strategic security situation is better than before the war, while 36% say it is worse and 21% say it has stayed the same. In all Jewish political camps except those who define themselves as Strongly Right, a largest share say it has worsened. Ahead of Israel’s elections, only one-third of Israelis say a political party closely represents their views; the sense of representation is strongest among voters for The Democrats and Religious Zionism parties, and lowest among voters for the Together party.
Israel Democracy Institute18,210 Aufrufe • vor 1 Monat
A series of controversial bills are advancing through Knesset this week, as the session enters its final week before the summer recess and elections. Some of the key legislation moving forward: - Legislation to Freeze the Arrest of Draft Evaders: The bill would temporarily suspend, for three months, all arrests, investigations, and enforcement proceedings against draft-eligible yeshiva students who failed to report for military service. - The Bill Intended to Weaken the Role of the Attorney General: The latest proposal would undermine the binding force of the Attorney General’s legal opinions and remove the AG’s exclusive authority to decide whether the government may obtain separate legal representation. - Basic Law: Torah Study: The revised bill establishes Torah study as a foundational value in Israel’s Basic Laws. There is concern that this could later be used to support exemptions from military service and continued public funding for yeshivas and draft evaders. - The Communications Bill: The bill would restructure Israel’s broadcast oversight, establish a new media regulator, and introduce new rules on funding, Israeli productions, and public broadcasting content. Visit IDI's website for more info on this and other legislative initiatives at the end of the Knesset recess.
Israel Democracy Institute11,712 Aufrufe • vor 23 Tagen
As Israeli elections inch closer, many are calling them “the most consequential in Israel’s history,” yet most Israelis remain unsure how they will unfold. IDI President Yohanan Plesner and Prof. Tamar Hermann, Academic Director of IDI's Viterbi Family Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research, join Dr. Natan Sachs from the Middle East Institute to discuss Israel’s upcoming elections, why they are viewed as especially consequential, and what effectively is on the ballot. Prof. Hermann says “the level of ambiguity is high” among Israelis on both the Right and the Left, noting that this applies “not only among those who do not know what they are going to put in the ballot box on election day, but also regarding what is going to happen in general.” Additionally, Israelis on the Center-left and Left view these elections as “irreversible.” In a scenario in which the opposing party wins and forms the next government, “over 40% of people who self-identified with the Left said…that they would consider leaving Israel, as opposed to less than 10% on the Right.”
Israel Democracy Institute20,462 Aufrufe • vor 1 Monat
After more than two years of war, Israel’s economy has remained resilient, even amid prolonged periods of tension and uncertainty. Prof. Karnit Flug, IDI William Davidson Senior Fellow for Economic Policy and former Governor of the Bank of Israel, notes that perhaps the frequency of shocks over the years has helped Israel’s business sector to adapt and withstand prolonged crises, contributing to a uniquely resilient economy. Prof. Flug joined Dr. Amichai Magen, Senior Research Scholar at Stanford’s Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law (CDDRL) and Director of the Jan Koum Israel Studies Program, to discuss the complex state of Israel’s economy, what challenges may impact the economy’s long-term trajectory, and why the state budget is consequential for addressing Israel’s deficit. Watch the full webinar:
Israel Democracy Institute51,387 Aufrufe • vor 5 Monaten
This week, the Israeli government announced it would resume the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza. For any country in a time of war, humanitarian aid is a complex issue. Israel has an obligation under both Israeli and international law to allow and facilitate provisions of aid to Gaza – but what happens when the aid is usurped by Hamas for its own benefit? Director of IDI's Center for Security and Democracy Dr. Eran Shamir Borer discusses some of the complexities of international humanitarian law and Israel's Gaza aid policies on Kan Radio English. Listen to the full interview: Eran Shamir
Israel Democracy Institute113,395 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr
Israel is entering a pivotal election year—its first since the judicial overhaul and the war that began on October 7, 2023. Throughout the year, we're asking IDI experts what they're following this election season. IDI President Yohanan Plesner shares three key issues he's watching. 1. National Security: There is much left to be done to advance regional stability and investigate the failures of October 7. This will be top of mind for Israelis this election season. 2. Ultra-Orthodox Conscription: Given the IDF’s urgent manpower needs and the post-war reality, conscription of ultra-Orthodox men could emerge as a decisive electoral issue. 3. Israel's Democratic Character: With the judicial overhaul back in full swing, questions surrounding the rule of law and Israel’s system of checks and balances are once again a central issue on the public agenda. These are the key issues Yohanan Plesner will be following closely this election. What issues will you be following?
Israel Democracy Institute48,832 Aufrufe • vor 6 Monaten
In Israel and around the world, all eyes are back on the war against Hamas. In a special IDI briefing, Dr. Eyal Hulata, Former Israeli National Security Advisor and expert at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, considers the path that lies ahead. He argues that the continued fighting in Gaza, plans for reoccupation, and talk of the establishment of civilian governance of Gaza does not serve the interest of Israelis or Palestinians. The right path forward, he argues, is an immediate ceasefire that brings all of Israel's hostages home and eventually withdraws Israeli troops from Gaza—a moral imperative for the Israeli public and our norms and values as a Jewish state. Watch the full briefing here:
Israel Democracy Institute65,684 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr
A controversial hearing was held this week by a newly formed ministerial committee to fire the Attorney General. Since the year 2000, the government has been required to consult with an independent, public-professional committee before dismissing an attorney general—that is, until June 8 of this year, when the government passed a resolution putting this decision fully in the hands of its ministers. IDI Senior Researcher Dr. Amir Fuchs explains on Kan Radio English that in a democracy, it is deeply problematic to change the rules of the game in the middle of such a sensitive procedure, especially when it comes to rules that are in place to protect the independence of state institutions and impose checks on government powers. Learn more about the process, legal issues, and possible implications of the current efforts to dismiss the Attorney General:
Israel Democracy Institute49,950 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr
How are Israelis thinking about the major issues currently shaping the national and global agenda? This month’s Israeli Voice Index shows Israelis are divided over participation in a potential U.S. attack on Iran: the largest share (50%) favor involvement only if Israel is attacked, while 44% support direct military involvement coordinated with the United States from the outset. The Voice Index also finds that a plurality of Israelis believe reducing U.S. military aid would harm Israel’s security, and that Jewish and Arab Israelis are divided on President Trump’s Board of Peace: a majority of Jews (55.5%) support Prime Minister Netanyahu joining the Board, compared with 31% of Arab Israelis. Learn more about Israeli public opinion in the January 2026 Israeli Voice Index:
Israel Democracy Institute24,936 Aufrufe • vor 6 Monaten
There have been increasing reports in recent weeks of Israeli soldiers traveling abroad who are questioned or detained by local authorities. In a country in which IDF service is mandatory, this could have a major impact on the ability of Israelis to travel. Director of IDI's Center for Security and Democracy, Dr. Eran Shamir-Borer, explains what is behind many of these arrests, how local authorities get the information on these individuals, and how soldiers can properly prepare and mitigate the risks against them while abroad. Listen to the full interview on Kan Radio English.
Israel Democracy Institute40,953 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr
IDI polls from recent months have found increasing Israeli support for a deal to end the war in Gaza. One of the reasons for this is simple but often overlooked: war fatigue. So many Israelis want to see the reservists come home, the economy recover in full, and their lives return to normal. The Director of IDI's Viterbi Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research Prof. Tamar Hermann discusses this with IDI President Yohanan Plesner, as part of a special conversation last week with Eyal Hulata, FDD Senior Fellow and former Israeli National Security Advisor. Watch the full conversation:
Israel Democracy Institute38,311 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr
What will Israel look like in 2050? IDI's Dr. Gilad Malach lays out two scenarios that could have vastly different outcomes for Israel's future. The ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) population is Israel’s fastest-growing demographic group, and its continued growth is expected to significantly shape the country’s economy, social fabric, and national resilience in the decades ahead. A new IDI study by Dr. Gilad Malach, Dr. Itamar Yakir, and Roe Kenneth Portal presents two scenarios for Israel's future. In the “stagnation” scenario, current patterns of limited Haredi integration in education, employment, and military service remain unchanged as populations grow, which the experts project would result in substantially lower matriculation and higher education rates, lower IDF enlistment, and a loss of potential in terms of GDP of 10% by 2050. By contrast, in the “convergence” scenario, ultra-Orthodox Israelis align their education and employment patterns with those of non-Haredi Jews. In that case, Israel would see higher academic attainment, greater employment, higher public revenues. This comes alongside significant implications for the structure and length of military service. Read the key findings:
Israel Democracy Institute20,318 Aufrufe • vor 5 Monaten
Do you ever wonder if AI will take your job? In the "start-up nation," we've found that AI is beginning to replace humans, but to a fairly small extent. Almost 10% of Israeli businesses that use AI say they're either hiring less humans or cutting jobs because of AI. The Head of IDI's Economic Reform Program Gilad Be'ery explains on Kan Radio English that while, indeed, the phenomenon of AI replacing humans is there, it happening to smaller extent than experts have estimated, as of now. This is, he warns, a moving target, so policymakers should keep an eye on the matter and develop programs that ensure the labor market is prepared for what's to come. Listen to the full interview.
Israel Democracy Institute34,775 Aufrufe • vor 1 Jahr