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On July 12, 2010, the Knesset’s Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee approved a controversial draft bill on conversion reform. Presented as an effort to make conversion more accessible to hundreds of thousands of Israeli citizens who were allowed to become Israelis by the Law of Return but are not Jewish according to state and religious law, the bill stipulates that converts must "accept the Torah and the commandments in accordance with Jewish law." Should observance of Jewish law – a prerequisite that has enraged Reform and Conservative Jews abroad – be required of those wishing to join the Jewish faith? IDI Vice President Prof. Yedidia Z. Stern explores this question in "From Ruth to Natasha: On the Future of Conversion in Israel."

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IDI's International Advisory Council Gathers in Jerusalem

On May 30-31, 2010, members of IDI's International Advisory Council convened for two days of intensive discussion centered around the major challenges of democratic state-building in Israel and IDI's role in addressing them. Find out more about the issues discussed by reading background articles prepared for conference participants.

IDI Convenes 18th Caesarea Economic Policy Forum

On June 16-17, 2010, IDI convened the 18th Annual Caesarea Economic Policy Planning Forum. Topics explored included employment in the Arab sector, employment in the ultra-Orthodox community, the employment of foreign workers, and Israel's third sector and its relationship to the public and business sectors.

IDI Mourns the Loss of Prof. Asher Arian

The Israel Democracy Institute mourns the loss of Senior Fellow Prof. Asher Arian, who stood at the helm of IDI's flagship political reform program and spearheaded the inclusion of The Guttman Center in IDI's activities. Prof. Arian was a leading figure in political science and applied social research in Israel.