On May 30-31, 2010, IDI's International Advisory Council (IAC) convened in Jerusalem for two days of intensive meetings dedicated to exploring some of the primary challenges of democratic state-building in Israel and IDI's role in addressing these issues. This event followed the IAC's Inaugural Retreat, which was convened in Wye River, Maryland, in 2009.
Participants included Former U.S. Secretary of State George P. Shultz, Chairman of the International Advisory Council; IDI International Chairman, Mr. Bernard Marcus, Founder and former CEO of The Home Depot; and an exceptional cross-section of IDI’s International Advisory Council.
Issues that were discussed included the urgent need for political reform in Israel, the role of religion in the Jewish and democratic state, and the need to preserve the delicate balance between national security and human rights in the struggle against terrorism. Participants addressed these issues and more within the framework of the following meetings and activities:
- A gala opening dinner in which IAC Chairman George P. Shultz led a panel discussion on "Protecting Democracy in an Asymmetric World."
- A field trip to meet the leadership of the ultra-Orthodox community in Jerusalem
- A field trip to Nazareth to meet Israel-Arab leadership
- A session on sectarian politics and the challenge of integration
- A briefing on the progress of IDI's Forum for Political Reform
- A session on the challenges of religion and state in Israel
- A session on IDI's International Task-Force on Terrorism, Democracy and the Law
- A briefing on the current condition of Israel's economy by Minister of Finance Yuval Steinitz
- A meeting with President Shimon Peres.
During the two days of intensive meetings, members of the International Advisory Council and IDI senior researchers and leadership also devoted extensive thought and discussion to the Israel Democracy Institute's institutional strategy and the best means for implementing its vision.