IDI News: February, 2011 - The Israel Democracy Institute

February 2011

IDI Hosts Roundtable on Establishing an Appeals Court in Israel

Does Israel need a court of appeals to relieve the burden of its Supreme Court? On January 31, 2011, IDI’s George Shultz Roundtable Forum convened to discuss this question. Broadcast live on the IDI website and covered extensively in the Hebrew press, this event brought together the State Prosecutor, two former Supreme Court judges, leading lawyers and academicians, and a member of the current Knesset to discuss this possibility.

Read the summary and view the Hebrew video

Human Rights and Judaism Project Gains Momentum

IDI's Human Rights and Judaism Project seeks to infuse new meaning into the concept of Israel as a "Jewish and Democratic State." Headed by IDI Vice President Prof. Yedidia Stern and Senior Fellow Prof. Shahar Lifshitz, this project reveals the tensions and commonalities between the Jewish tradition and the liberal doctrine of human rights.

Read the summary of IDI's Conference on Human Rights and Duties

Explore the connection between "Robinson Crusoe, Just Distribution, and the Image of God"

View IDI's Conference on People with Disabilities (contains video in English)

Recent Events at IDI

Roundtable on Reforming Israel’s Planning and Building Law
The Justice Ministry is proposing to reform Israel's Planning and Building Law. On February 24, IDI convened supporters and opponents of the bill for a debate about its benefits and shortcomings. Find out more

Public Panel on Human Rights and Judaism
On February 28, IDI and the Cardozo Law School at Yeshiva University co-sponsored a panel discussion in New York in which experts from Israel and the U.S. explored human rights discourse in Jewish tradition and thought. Find out more

More News from IDI

Status of Refugees Focal Point of IDI Study

Protest for rights for refugees and asylum seekers

Israel ratified the UN Convention on the Status of Refugees decades ago, but has yet to incorporate it into Israeli law. Faced with an unprecedented influx of African refugees, Israel must make up for lost time. Adv. Reuven (Ruvi) Ziegler surveys Israel's current regulations in light of the Convention. Read the article >

Religious Incitement: A Test Case for Freedom of Speech?

Poster of conflict between Torah and State law

Should rabbis be allowed to say whatever they please in the name of religion? In this op-ed, IDI Vice President of Research Prof. Yedidia Stern responds to the "Dov Lior Bill" and voices opposition to the notion that clergymen be held above the law when expressing religous opinion. Read the article >

Terrorism Newsletter Surveys HCJ Rulings The February 2011 issue of IDI’s Terrorism and Democracy Newsletter surveys three recent decisions by the Israeli High Court of Justice: one concerning the confiscation of terror-related funds, another dealing with the use of artillery shells near civilians, and a third regarding a targeted killing that took place in December 2000. Read the February 2011 Newsletter		IDI Scholars Continue Conversion Advocacy In a recent op-ed, IDI's Prof. Yedidia Stern called upon Israel’s rabbinic leaders to issue broad-minded rulings in response to current challenges in Israeli society. In particular, he urged them to reach out to the thousands of non-Jewish soldiers who wish to convert during their military service, and thus partner with the state in strengthening Jewish sovereignty. Read the article in Haaretz
IDI Bids Farewell to Joseph Flom With great sadness, IDI bids farewell of a great visionary, dear friend, and tireless supporter of Israel, Mr. Joseph Flom. One of the first contributors to IDI, Mr. Flom was instrumental in creating the American Friends of IDI and in developing lasting relationships between IDI and American institutions such as the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington, D.C. He will be sorely missed. Dr. Arye Carmon remembers Joe Flom		Landmine Bill Passes First Reading In early 2010, IDI launched a public debate on the problem of old landmines strewn across stretches along Israel’s borders. The Institute hosted a roundtable attended by policy makers, NGO representatives, victims of landmine accidents, and scholars of international law. Due to the advocacy of IDI and other organizations, the Knesset recently voted to create a civilian authority for landmine removal. Read more in the Jerusalem Post

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