January 2009 - The Israel Democracy Institute

February 2009

Israel Decides 2009

Israelis will go to the polls on February 10th. IDI scholars weigh in on the significance of these historic elections.

The 2009 Israel Election Compass

IDI's Election Compass, developed in cooperation with Y-net, is a unique interactive tool that encourages informed participation in the Israeli electoral process.

2009 Israel Election Compass

Events at IDI

January 29 - Globalization and its Impact on the Legitimacy of National Leadership
IDI's 'Trends in the Development of Contemporary Democracies' Forum held its second session on the subject of 'Globalization and its Impact on the Legitimacy of National Leadership'. Read More

February 1-2 - Inaugural Retreat of IDI's International Advisory Council
Members of IDI's International Advisory Council convened at Wye River, Maryland for two days of historic discussions about IDI's role in ensuring Israel's future as a Jewish and democratic state. IDI's International Advisory Council

February 4 - Jewish-Arab Parliament
The Jewish-Arab Parliament of Israel's central district convened to discuss local and general elections. The forum seeks to address the problem of youth indifference toward politics.

February 18-19 - Freedom of Expression and the War on Terror: An International Conference
IDI will host a two-day seminar on the war on terror and its impact on freedom of expression. Research from a variety of academic angles will be presented by a panel of international experts. Read More

February 23 - George Shultz Roundtable Forum: Freedom of Expression
IDI's George Shultz Roundtable Forum will host a meeting of leading scholars to discuss recent Supreme Court rulings concerning Freedom of Expression.

February 26 - Economic Policy During a Time of Crisis
The roundtable discussion, organized by IDI Senior Fellow Prof. Avi Ben-Bassat, aims to raise public awareness in preparation for upcoming government decisions on the matter of economic policy. Read More

For more information on upcoming events--or to inquire about participation--please contact Ms. Hagit Sharon-Agmon at 02-530-0843 or hagit@idi.org.il

'Go Vote'
In preparation for the 2009 general elections for the Knesset, IDI has embarked on a major campaign to encourage greater public participation. IDI's "GO VOTE" campaign activities include: Release of the 2009 Israel Election Compass in partnership with Israel's largest daily newspaper, Yediot Achronot; A major advertising campaign to encourage Israelis to vote, including the popular "Disappearing Israelis" advertisement; A major campaign with the Israeli Scouts to educate over 60,000 young leaders on the importance of voting;
IDI Announces Completion of First Stage of Major Government Performance Study
IDI recently completed a pilot Performance Measurement Study of the Ministry of Transportation, which evaluated the performance of public transportation in Israel. This study is part of a larger effort to develop advanced performance indicators for the executive branch in accordance with modern principles of governance. The study, made possible by the generosity of IDI Board Member Avi Naor, Chairman of Or Yarok, identified key problem areas within the Israeli public transportation system and formulated recommendations to improve the accessibility of public transportation to all citizens and all regions of the country. IDI researchers used measurement indexes to compare the functioning of public transportation systems in Israel with the State's declared transportation policies. The project was conducted in conjunction with the Ministry of Transportation and was directed by Dr. Adi Brander of the Bank of Israel. The template used for evaluating the functioning of the Ministry of Transportation will serve as a basis for similar indexes measuring the performance of other ministries in an effort to enhance transparency, accountability and overall government effectiveness.

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