Raphael Cohen-Almagor June 13, 20161

Preliminaries Population: 8,465,000 Territory: 22,145 square kilometers (8,550 square miles) Size of Wales, or Massachusetts. (Levy Eshkol’s visit to Lyndon Johnson’s farm) June 13, 20162

Preliminaries June 13, 20163

Preliminaries Year of Independence: 1948 Head of State: President Reuven Rivlin Head of Government: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu June 13, 20164

Preliminaries Official Languages: Hebrew, Arabic English is popular Religions: Jewish (80%); Muslim (15%); Christian (3); Druze (1.7%); Circassians and Samaritans (0.3%) Currency: New Israeli shekel Life Expectancy: 79 GDP per Capita: U.S. $19,500 Literacy Percent: 95 June 13, 20165

Preliminaries Israel was established as a Jewish democracy Based on Social/Liberal-Democratic values AND Jewish values June 13, 20166

Preliminaries Israel is a young democracy. It is still in process of development and undoubtedly it will face further tests. June 13, 20167

Preliminaries The key factor for its success is its relationships with its neighbours: Egypt; Gaza; Jordan; PA; Lebanon and Syria. With Egypt, PA and Jordan, Israel signed peace agreements (1979, 1993 and 1994) Security expenses exhausts a third of our budget, leaving insufficient resources for the development of other spheres. June 13, 20168

Challenges: Security June 13, 20169

Challenges: Security Normality? Tranquillity? June 13,

Challenges: Security Normality? Tranquillity? Intifada Palestinian terror 2006 December January – Gaza – Gaza3 June 13,

June 13, Army/National Duty Army service – 3 years for men; 2 years for women Arabs are exempted; some volunteer

Challenges The occupation Strengthening democratic values June 13,

Society’s Profile - Jews 42% define themselves as secular; 25% as traditional; 13% as traditional-religious; 12% as religious (mainly Orthodox); 8% as Haredi (ultra-Orthodox). June 13,

Society’s Profile - Palestinians 47% as religious; 27% as not very religious; 18% secular; 8% define themselves as very religious. June 13,

Society’s Profile No shared raison d'être 20% wish to transform democracy into theocracy 20% do not endorse the Zionist ethos 20% of the population are immigrants from the former Soviet Union where no democracy existed June 13,

June 13, Main Schisms Between Jews and Arabs Between secular and religious people Between Israel and the Occupied Territories Between socialism and capitalism

Israeli-Palestinians Formal v. Full Citizenship Formal v. Full Citizenship Discrimination Discrimination Racism Racism 18 June 13, 2016June 13, 2016June 13, 2016

19 June 13, 2016June 13, 2016June 13, 2016 Israeli-Palestinians Need for accommodating the interests of the Israeli-Palestinians, striving to safeguard equal rights and liberties for all citizens notwithstanding nationality, religion, race or colour, and insisting that citizens have also duties to fulfil. Need for accommodating the interests of the Israeli-Palestinians, striving to safeguard equal rights and liberties for all citizens notwithstanding nationality, religion, race or colour, and insisting that citizens have also duties to fulfil.

Israeli-Palestinians Arabic is one of the two official languages of the State of Israel. Therefore it should enjoy a dominant status and have the importance it deserves. Arabic is one of the two official languages of the State of Israel. Therefore it should enjoy a dominant status and have the importance it deserves. Should Arabic be taught at every primary and high school (together with English)? Should Arabic be taught at every primary and high school (together with English)? 20 June 13, 2016June 13, 2016June 13, 2016

Israeli-Palestinians Palestinians demand that delegates of the minority be represented in accordance with their size in society in the Knesset and in the government. Palestinians demand that delegates of the minority be represented in accordance with their size in society in the Knesset and in the government. 21 June 13, 2016June 13, 2016June 13, 2016

Israeli-Palestinians Guaranteeing representation for a minority Guaranteeing representation for a minority Devolving power to local levels in just ways by just means Devolving power to local levels in just ways by just means 22

June 13, 2016June 13, 2016June 13, Occupied Territories Demands for ending the occupation Demands for ending the occupation Withdrawing settlements and the IDF Withdrawing settlements and the IDF Two state solution Two state solution 1967 Borders 1967 Borders The Fence The Fence

June 13, 2016June 13, 2016June 13, Occupied Territories Ending terrorism and Qassam missiles Ending terrorism and Qassam missiles The Right of Return The Right of Return The refugee problem The refugee problem Jerusalem Jerusalem

Political Culture and Social Norms Zionism Holocaust Hostile neighbourhood State under Stress Small state mentality Insecurity June 13, 2016June 13, 2016June 13,

Political Culture and Social Norms Judaism as religion Judaism as culture National pride Independence June 13, 2016June 13, 2016June 13,

June 13, 2016June 13, 2016June 13, Conclusion No shared raison d'être No shared raison d'être Significant schisms Significant schisms Not-so-friendly neighbours Not-so-friendly neighbours Terror Terror Iran Iran

June 13, Thank you