1. Raphael Cohen-Almagor June 13, 20161

2. 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

3. Preliminaries June 13, 20163

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

5. 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

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

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

8. 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

9. Challenges: Security June 13, 20169

10. Challenges: Security Normality? Tranquillity? 1948 1956 1967 1973 1982-2000 June 13, 201610

11. Challenges: Security Normality? Tranquillity? 1987-1993 Intifada 2000-2003 Palestinian terror 2006 December 2008 - January 2009 2012 – Gaza2 2014 – Gaza3 June 13, 201611

12. June 13, 201612 Army/National Duty Army service – 3 years for men; 2 years for women Arabs are exempted; some volunteer

13. Challenges The occupation Strengthening democratic values June 13, 201613

14. 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, 2016 14

15. Society’s Profile - Palestinians 47% as religious; 27% as not very religious; 18% secular; 8% define themselves as very religious. June 13, 2016 15

16. 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, 2016 16

17. June 13, 2016 17 Main Schisms Between Jews and Arabs Between secular and religious people Between Israel and the Occupied Territories Between socialism and capitalism

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

19. 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.

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. June 13, 2016June 13, 2016June 13, 201623 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

24. June 13, 2016June 13, 2016June 13, 201624 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

25. Political Culture and Social Norms Zionism Holocaust Hostile neighbourhood State under Stress Small state mentality Insecurity June 13, 2016June 13, 2016June 13, 201625

26. Political Culture and Social Norms Judaism as religion Judaism as culture National pride Independence June 13, 2016June 13, 2016June 13, 201626

27. June 13, 2016June 13, 2016June 13, 201627 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

28. June 13, 2016 28 Thank you