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Can the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict be Solved?
This video reviews historic efforts to achieve peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
Ultra-Orthodox Jews and the IDF
This video explores the complicated relations between ultra-Orthodox Jews, the Israeli government, and the IDF, going back to 1947.
Druze community in Israel
The Druze are a unique ethnic and religious group, mostly living in northern Israel.
Members of Israel’s new Government in 2021
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American Jews and Israel
The overwhelming majority of American Jews consider themselves pro-Israel, despite what some fringe groups claim.
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American Jews & Criticism of Israel
While the vast majority of Jews are pro-Israel, they are not monolithic. Most are also critical of some Israeli policies.
http://www.trustorysocial.com/app/uploads/7d50f47a414e4fa08da740492cf4945b_2.png
Arabs were offered citizenship.
In 1948, 160,000 Arabs who lived within Israel’s borders accepted Israel’s invitation to choose peace and become Israeli citizens.
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/the-status-of-arabs-in-israel
Israeli laws safeguard religious liberty for all faiths.
Israeli laws safeguard religious liberty for all faiths.
Working Israeli Women
Fifty-three percent of Israeli women are in the workforce, similar to the percentage in the U.S.
Rule of Law in Israel
Israel is a democratic country that guarantees free speech and assembly, as well as fair and open trials.
Arab Representation in Government
Three Israeli Arabs were elected to the first Knesset (Israeli Parliament) in 1949. There were 17 Arab members elected into the Knesset in 2015.
Arab Citizenship in Israel
Today, 1.8 million of Israel’s 8 million citizens are Arab. They enjoy the same legal rights as all other citizens.
http://forward.com/scribe/346744/the-government-of-israel-is-making-arab-citizens-a-priority-are-we/
Freedom in Israel
In the entire Middle East, only Israel received a number-one rating for political rights from Freedom House, which evaluates democracy and freedom around the world.
Minority Rights in Israel
Israel protects minority rights and actively works to advance social and economic equality. Arab leaders have served in the Knesset and other prominent government positions since Israel’s reestablishment in 1948.
Israeli democracy
Israel is a diverse liberal democracy, and the only free country in the Middle East according to the human rights watchdog Freedom House.
Arab Israeli Supreme Court Justice Oversees Elections
Israel’s 2015 elections were overseen by Salim Joubran, an Arab Christian who sits on Israel’s Supreme Court.
Christians in the Middle East
Israel is the only Middle Eastern country where the Christian population has grown in the last half-century.
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/christians-in-the-middle-east
Medical Marijuana Research
According to Rolling Stone, "over the past 50 years, Israel has become the epicenter of medical pot."
How Israel's Parliament Works:
Have a few minutes to really dig into Israel's political system? Dive into this Coursera explainer on the ins and outs of Israel's wonky and wild parliamentary system!
Israel's Political System:
Israel's political system mystifies many people around the world, and even some Israelis. If you want to learn about it this brief summary is a good place to start.
2019 Israeli Election Quiz and Guide
Interested in Israeli elections and democracy in general? Take this fun quiz to see which Israeli political party you align with, and check out the other educational resources on the page.
Media rules in Israeli elections
Israel has some unique and interesting rules about how political parties are allowed to advertise during election campaigns. This page has lots of information about that and other aspects of Israel's democratic process.
https://embassies.gov.il/la/NewsAndEvents/Pages/FAQ-Elections-in-Israel0312-767.aspx
Historical Background About Israeli Democracy and Elections
This article provides valuable historical context about why Israel's democracy and electoral process works the way it does.
https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/israeli-electoral-system/
How Israeli Elections Work
This is a great resource if you're interested in how Israeli elections and democracy work
2019 Israeli Election
According to a poll conducted after the 2019 elections, 2/3 of Israelis support a center-right government with Likud and Blue & White joining forces rather than a more right wing government featuring ultra-Orthodox parties.
Shas, Bedouin, and Israeli Elections:
When Bedouin choose to participate in Israeli elections they often vote for Shas - a party primarily dedicated to representing ultra-Orthodox Jews from the Middle East. This article explains why.
Relationships between Israeli Jews and its minority citizens:
According to a 2019 poll, most Jewish and Arab citizens of Israel view their interactions with each other positively.
https://972mag.com/poll-israelis-positive-view-jewish-arab-relations/140846/
How Arab citizens of Israel identify
According to a 2019 poll, 66% of Arabs in Israel identify as Arab or Arab-Israeli, while 33% identify as Palestinian or Palestinian-Israeli.
https://972mag.com/poll-israelis-positive-view-jewish-arab-relations/140846/
LGBTQ Right in Israeli Elections
This resource created by A Wider Bridge explores the 2019 Israeli elections from the perspective of the Israeli LGBTQ community.
Israel Elections: On the Issues
The 2019 Israeli elections left many observers scratching their heads. Here’s where Israelis stood on key issues in the campaign.
Religion vs State Issues: Transportation
There is a major debate in Israel about whether public transportation should be allowed on Shabbat, the Jewish day of rest. In the absence of a strong national policy, some towns and cities like Tel Aviv are setting up their own bus services.
Israel’s Government and Legal System
This is a good outline of how Israel's government and legal system work.
https://www.upcounsel.com/lectl-the-basic-legal-system-of-israel
Shabbat and Religion vs. State
This article covers the debate over businesses in Israel operating on Shabbat, the Jewish day of rest. It offers one perspective on how to resolve this issue of religion vs. state in Israel.
Secular and Religious trends in Israel
This article offers one perspective on the competition between secular and religious influences in Israeli society.
Religion vs. State in Israel
This is an ultra-Orthodox Jewish perspective on the delicate "status quo" on issues of religion and state in Israel, which was created in an attempt to maintain unity among secular and religious Jews there.
https://hamodia.com/2013/12/31/history-status-quo-agreement/
Perspectives on the Kaminitz Law
The Kaminitz Law, passed in 2017, amended Israel’s planning code to increase the penalties for illegal construction. It was frozen by the new Israeli government that took power in 2021, after negotiations with the Ra’am party.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/lapid-inks-formal-coalition-deals-with-raam-yisrael-beytenu/
Perspectives on the Kaminitz Law
This author argues the Kaminitz Law is a crucial tool for Israeli city planners as it makes construction more predictable and organized.
Perspectives on the Kaminitz Law
This group of NGOs argues that the Kaminitz Law would in effect discriminate against Arab citizens of Israel, harm other government efforts to promote development in Arab communities, and should be revised to ensure it only applies to future construction.
The Norwegian Law
The Norwegian Law is a controversial law that allows members of Knesset to resign from the Knesset but remain a minister, with their Knesset seat taken by the next person on their political party's list. If the person who resigned leaves the cabinet, they are able to return to the Knesset and their replacement is removed.
Impact of the Norwegian Law on Israel’s government
This in depth analysis examines the impact of the Norwegian Law and other aspects of how the Israeli government works.
HRW “apartheid” Smear
International law expert Eugene Kontorovich argues that the Human Rights Watch’s 2021 report isn’t serious analysis, but rather a deeply misleading tool in a political campaign against Israel.
HRW “apartheid” smear only contributes to conflict
Former U.S. diplomats argue Human Rights Watch’s report smearing Israel will make the Israeli-Palestinian conflict harder to solve.
“Apartheid” smear is misleading and counterproductive
A former member of the Guardian editorial board argues that the “apartheid” smear against Israel exploits the suffering of South Africans and misleads the public.
https://unherd.com/2021/01/dont-call-israel-an-apartheid-state/
Druze relationship to Israel
This article offers insight about the Druze community in Israel and their relationship to the Jewish state.
https://jewishunpacked.com/why-a-druze-is-the-jewish-agencys-next-emissary/
Druze in the Golan Heights
This article explores some perspectives about Druze communities in Israel's Golan Heights, an important strategic territory that was controlled by Syria until 1967.
UN Discrimination Against Israel
This resource shows how the UN Human Rights Council has unfortunately become a corrupt body that abuses its power, discriminates against Israel, and fails to protect human rights worldwide.
UNHRC Condemnations and Resolutions
Each year at the UN Human Rights Council, Israel is condemned in at least five annual resolutions and at least five critical reports. Meanwhile, oppressive regimes like Iran, North Korea, and Belarus are criticized in only one resolution. Most of the worst human rights abusers are not mentioned at all.
Kofi Annan Criticizes UNHRC
Even former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan condemned the UN Human Rights Council for discriminating against Israel and ignoring human rights abuses around the world.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon
Even former UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has admitted that Israel faces discrimination at the United Nations.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-faces-bias-at-un-ban-says/
Background on 2022 Israeli Elections
This piece provides background about the results of Israel's national elections, held in November, 2022.
https://www.standwithus.com/post/statement-on-israel-s-2022-elections
Judicial System Debates and Protests
This is an in depth explainer that covers the intense divisions and tensions in Israel over government efforts to decrease the power of the country's judicial system.