Institute for Zionist Strategies
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The Institute for Zionist Strategies ( he, המכון לאסטרטגיה ציונית; IZS) is an Israeli policy and research
think tank A think tank, or policy institute, is a research institute that performs research and advocacy concerning topics such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, technology, and culture. Most think tanks are non-governmenta ...
that is ideologically
Zionist Zionism ( he, צִיּוֹנוּת ''Tsiyyonut'' after '' Zion'') is a nationalist movement that espouses the establishment of, and support for a homeland for the Jewish people centered in the area roughly corresponding to what is known in Je ...
. The IZS was established in 2005 by Israel Harel and Attorney Joel Golovensky. It is based in
Jerusalem Jerusalem (; he, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם ; ar, القُدس ) (combining the Biblical and common usage Arabic names); grc, Ἱερουσαλήμ/Ἰεροσόλυμα, Hierousalḗm/Hierosóluma; hy, Երուսաղեմ, Erusałēm. i ...
. IZS's chairman is Yoaz Hendel. The self-described goal of the IZS is "to preserve
Israel Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...
as a viable, democratic Jewish state, now and forever." For this purpose, the IZS seeks "to put forward creative policies and programs" for implementation by Israeli politicians and the general public.


Activities

The long-term goal of the IZS is the installation of a
constitution A constitution is the aggregate of fundamental principles or established precedents that constitute the legal basis of a polity, organisation or other type of entity and commonly determine how that entity is to be governed. When these princ ...
for the State of Israel. To that end, the IZS, as its first major project, drafted a constitution. It was written by a team of experts and submitted to the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee of the 16th and the 17th
Knesset The Knesset ( he, הַכְּנֶסֶת ; "gathering" or "assembly") is the unicameral legislature of Israel. As the supreme state body, the Knesset is sovereign and thus has complete control of the entirety of the Israeli government (with ...
. The IZS has organized other task forces to deal with contemporary issues in Israel:


Constitutional Task Force

A team of experts headed by Prof. Avraham Diskin that formulated the IZS draft constitution. In preparation for the opening of the
17th Knesset The following is a list of the members of the seventeenth Knesset, 2006 Israeli legislative election, elected on 28 March 2006 and inaugurated 4 May 2006, and their replacements. Knesset members 1 This title, in Hebrew ממלא מקום ראש ...
, this task force gathered a number of academics, politicians, judges, rabbis and other public figures at the IZS and drafted a proposed constitution for the State of Israel. The detailed proposal includes the various components necessary to the constitution. The draft constitution emphasizes the sections defining the State of
Israel Israel (; he, יִשְׂרָאֵל, ; ar, إِسْرَائِيل, ), officially the State of Israel ( he, מְדִינַת יִשְׂרָאֵל, label=none, translit=Medīnat Yīsrāʾēl; ), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated ...
as the national home of the
Jewish Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""The ...
people, and it significantly alters the relationship between the judicial authority and the
legislative A legislature is an assembly with the authority to make laws for a political entity such as a country or city. They are often contrasted with the executive and judicial powers of government. Laws enacted by legislatures are usually known ...
and
executive Executive ( exe., exec., execu.) may refer to: Role or title * Executive, a senior management role in an organization ** Chief executive officer (CEO), one of the highest-ranking corporate officers (executives) or administrators ** Executive dir ...
authorities. The Constitutional Task Force lists among its members: Prof. Avraham Diskin, Prof.
Moshe Koppel Moshe Koppel is an American-Israeli computer scientist, Talmud scholar and political activist. Koppel was born and raised in New York, where he received a traditional Jewish education. He studied at Yeshivat Har Etzion, received a B.A. from Yes ...
, Prof. Berachyahu Lifshitz, Judge (ret.) Uri Strosemn,
Rabbi A rabbi () is a spiritual leader or religious teacher in Judaism. One becomes a rabbi by being ordained by another rabbi – known as ''semikha'' – following a course of study of Jewish history and texts such as the Talmud. The basic form of ...
Dan Barry, Dr. Yitzhak Klein, Adv. Joel Golovensky and Israel Harel. In July 2006 the IZS submitted to the president and the Knesset its constitution, entitled "A Constitution for the State of Israel." The Constitution Committee attended the hearings conducted by the 17th Knesset's Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, headed by MK
Menahem Ben-Sasson Menahem Ben-Sasson ( he, מנחם בן-ששון, born 7 July 1951) is an Israeli politician and a former member of the Knesset for Kadima. Between 2009 and 2017 he was the president of Hebrew University of Jerusalem, succeeding Menachem Magidor ...
.


Land Task Force

This team of experts is led by
Nobel Prize The Nobel Prizes ( ; sv, Nobelpriset ; no, Nobelprisen ) are five separate prizes that, according to Alfred Nobel's will of 1895, are awarded to "those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind." Alfr ...
laureate Prof. Israel Aumann and former secretary of the United Kibbutz Movement, Dubi Hellman. This team deals with the formulation of plans for maintaining state lands. The focus is mainly on lands in the Galilee and
Negev The Negev or Negeb (; he, הַנֶּגֶב, hanNegév; ar, ٱلنَّقَب, an-Naqab) is a desert and semidesert region of southern Israel. The region's largest city and administrative capital is Beersheba (pop. ), in the north. At its sout ...
. Among the other members of this team are Prof.
Gideon Biger Gideon (; ) also named Jerubbaal and Jerubbesheth, was a military leader, judge and prophet whose calling and victory over the Midianites are recounted in of the Book of Judges in the Hebrew Bible. Gideon was the son of Joash, from the Abie ...
, Prof. Haim Gvirtzman, Prof.
Yossi Katz Yossi Katz ( he, יוסי כץ, born 19 August 1949) is an Israeli former politician who served as a member of the Knesset for the Labor Party and One Israel between 1992 and 2003. Biography Born in Haifa, Katz studied law at the Hebrew Unive ...
and Gilad Altman, founder of the Green Patrol.


'Trojan Horse'

This project studied more than 20
NGOs A non-governmental organization (NGO) or non-governmental organisation (see spelling differences) is an organization that generally is formed independent from government. They are typically nonprofit entities, and many of them are active in ...
in Israel and their donors. The Institute, in collaboration with
NGO Monitor NGO Monitor (Non-governmental Organization Monitor) is a right-wing non-governmental organization based in Jerusalem that reports on international NGO activity from a pro-Israel perspective. The organization was founded in 2001 by Gerald M. St ...
, issued a joint report, "Trojan Horse - The Impact of European Government Funding for Israeli NGOs", stating that foreign governments were funding NGOs in Israel in order to influence Israeli policy and public debate. As a result, a bill was proposed to the Knesset requiring funding disclosure by NGOs receiving support from foreign political entities. The bill was approved in February 2011 and was not well received by the
European Union The European Union (EU) is a supranational political and economic union of member states that are located primarily in Europe. The union has a total area of and an estimated total population of about 447million. The EU has often been de ...
.


Demographic Research

A number of experts on
demographics Demography () is the statistical study of populations, especially human beings. Demographic analysis examines and measures the dimensions and dynamics of populations; it can cover whole societies or groups defined by criteria such as ed ...
, such as Dr. Yitzhak Ravid, Yaakov Feitelson and Dr. Mike Wise, periodically publish studies on this subject. In 2008 the IZS published a comprehensive study by Yaakov Feitelson on demographic trends in Israel (1800–2007). In July 2011 the Institute published a study of demographic trends and their impact on the
education Education is a purposeful activity directed at achieving certain aims, such as transmitting knowledge or fostering skills and character traits. These aims may include the development of understanding, rationality, kindness, and honesty ...
al system in Israel. According to findings of the study, the data suggest a process of rapid growth in the number of first graders in
Hebrew Hebrew (; ; ) is a Northwest Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Historically, it is one of the spoken languages of the Israelites and their longest-surviving descendants, the Jews and Samaritans. It was largely preserved ...
education in the coming years, the stabilization and even decline in the number of first graders in
Arab The Arabs (singular: Arab; singular ar, عَرَبِيٌّ, DIN 31635: , , plural ar, عَرَب, DIN 31635: , Arabic pronunciation: ), also known as the Arab people, are an ethnic group mainly inhabiting the Arab world in Western Asia, ...
schools, and a fall in the number of
ultra-Orthodox Haredi Judaism ( he, ', ; also spelled ''Charedi'' in English; plural ''Haredim'' or ''Charedim'') consists of groups within Orthodox Judaism that are characterized by their strict adherence to ''halakha'' (Jewish law) and traditions, in oppos ...
students from the religious Jewish schools.


Young Leadership Program

This program aims to find and nurture young people who will become future leaders of Israel. The IZS endeavors to imbue these young people with the spirit of the values of Zionism. To do this, each year a group of about 25 young people are chosen, mostly graduate students, to serve as a discussion group that deals with issues addressed by the IZS. Under the program, members are invited to lectures and study content and articles from experts. The program requires members to deal with issues of national importance and to eventually publish their findings in position papers to be submitted to public officials. The Young Leadership Program has submitted the following position papers: *Position Paper on health disparities between center and periphery in Israel *Position Paper on support for national task nuclei Position Paper on empowerment of the youth movements in Israel *Position Paper on the challenges of technological and vocational education in Israel *Position Paper on dealing with poverty in the State of Israel The Young Leadership Program has also initiated the Re-Signing by the 17th Knesset of the
Declaration of Independence A declaration of independence or declaration of statehood or proclamation of independence is an assertion by a polity in a defined territory that it is independent and constitutes a state. Such places are usually declared from part or all of th ...
: On Independence Day, to celebrate Israel's 60th anniversary, the IZS, led by the Young Leadership group of the Institute, asked all members of Knesset to show their faith in the values of Zionism, as expressed by the founders of the state Declaration of Independence by signing it, thereby affirming they would have signed it if they were present in 1948. Ninety MKs signed.


Zionist Beit Midrash

The Zionist
Beit Midrash A ''beth midrash'' ( he, בית מדרש, or ''beis medrash'', ''beit midrash'', pl. ''batei midrash'' "House of Learning") is a hall dedicated for Torah study, often translated as a "study hall." It is distinct from a synagogue (''beth kness ...
, itself a product of the Young Leadership Program, serves to educate young Israelis about the concepts of Zionism by exposing them to Zionist thinkers and their works. The classes are conducted in groups to make the material more interactive and study it in depth. Study sessions are highly diverse in content consisting of the philosophies of many Zionist leaders (including Binyamin Ze'ev Herzl, A.D. Gordon,
Hayim Nahman Bialik Hayim Nahman Bialik ( he, חיים נחמן ביאַליק; January 9, 1873 – July 4, 1934), was a Jewish poet who wrote primarily in Hebrew but also in Yiddish. Bialik was one of the pioneers of modern Hebrew poetry. He was part of the vangu ...
,
Ze'ev Jabotinsky Ze'ev Jabotinsky ( he, זְאֵב זַ׳בּוֹטִינְסְקִי, ''Ze'ev Zhabotinski'';, ''Wolf Zhabotinski'' 17 October 1880  – 3 August 1940), born Vladimir Yevgenyevich Zhabotinsky, was a Russian Jewish Revisionist Zionist leade ...
, Rabbi Kook,
David Ben-Gurion David Ben-Gurion ( ; he, דָּוִד בֶּן-גּוּרִיּוֹן ; born David Grün; 16 October 1886 – 1 December 1973) was the primary national founder of the State of Israel and the first prime minister of Israel. Adopting the nam ...
and others), touching the various ideological currents and referring back to different issues currently facing Israel.


Index of Zionist Legislation

At the end of the 17th Knesset, the IZS published the Index of Zionist legislation, and awarded gold, silver and bronze medals to Knesset members who distinguished themselves in the enactment of Zionist laws (as regarded by the IZS). The Gold Medal was awarded to MK Ya'akov Margi, the silver to MKs Othniel Schneller, Rabbi
Michael Melchior Michael Melchior ( he, מיכאל מלכיאור; born January 31, 1954) is a Jewish leader, Orthodox rabbi, thinker, and activist. He is a former Minister of Social and Diaspora Affairs, a former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and a former ...
and
Moshe Kahlon Moshe Kahlon ( he, מֹשֶׁה כַּחְלוֹן, born 19 November 1960) is a retired Israeli politician. Between 2003 and 2013 he served as a member of the Knesset for Likud, and as Minister of Communications and Minister of Welfare & Social ...
, and the bronze medal to MKs
Amnon Cohen Amnon Cohen ( he, אמנון כהן; born 1 June 1960) is an Israeli former politician. He served as a member of the Knesset for Shas from 1999 until 2015. Biography Born in Samarkand in the Soviet Union (today in Uzbekistan), Cohen made aliyah ...
,
Gilad Erdan Gilad Menashe Erdan ( he, גִּלְעָד מְנַשֶּׁה אֶרְדָן, ; born 30 September 1970) is an Israeli politician and diplomat serving as Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations since 2020. Erdan previously serv ...
, Prof.
Aryeh Eldad Aryeh Eldad, M.D. ( he, אריה אלדד, born 1 May 1950) is an Israeli physician, politician and former medical officer. Eldad is a professor of medicine, and was head of the plastic surgery and burns unit at the Hadassah Medical Center. He w ...
,
Uri Ariel Uri Yehuda Ariel ( he, אורי אריאל, born 22 December 1952) is an Israeli politician who formerly served as a member of the Knesset for The Jewish Home (within which he chaired the Tkuma faction), and as Minister of Agriculture and Rural ...
, Rabbi
Yitzhak Levy Yitzhak Levy ( he, יצחק לוי, born 6 July 1947) is an Israeli Orthodox rabbi and politician who served as a member of the Knesset for the National Religious Party (NRP) and the Ahi faction of the National Union between 1988 and 2009. Betw ...
and Avshalom Vilan. In the 18th Knesset, medals were awarded to MKs
Orit Noked Orit Noked ( he, אורית נוקד, born 25 October 1952) is an Israeli politician who served as a member of the Knesset for Independence and the Labor Party and as Minister of Agriculture. Biography Born in Jerusalem in 1952, Noked studied l ...
,
Zevulun Orlev Zevulun Orlev ( he, זבולון אורלב, born 9 November 1945) is an Israeli politician and a former Knesset member, Minister of Welfare & Social Services and leader of the National Religious Party. Orlev is a decorated war hero who receive ...
and
Shai Hermesh Shai Hermesh ( he, שי חרמש, born 23 March 1944) is an Israeli politician who served as a member of the Knesset for Kadima between 2006 and 2013. As chairman of the Israeli branch of the World Jewish Congress (WJC), Hermesh is also a member ...
in the first session and MKs Zevulun Orlev and David Rotem in the second.


Academic Post-Zionism

The IZS, as part of the research of Dr. Hanan Moses, examined the extent of bias toward post-Zionist discourse in sociology departments throughout Israeli universities and whether the Zionist
narrative A narrative, story, or tale is any account of a series of related events or experiences, whether nonfictional (memoir, biography, news report, documentary, travelogue, etc.) or fictional ( fairy tale, fable, legend, thriller, novel, etc. ...
is given equal treatment in Israeli academia. The investigation revealed that all Israeli universities except
Bar-Ilan University Bar-Ilan University (BIU, he, אוניברסיטת בר-אילן, ''Universitat Bar-Ilan'') is a public research university in the Tel Aviv District city of Ramat Gan, Israel. Established in 1955, Bar Ilan is Israel's second-largest academi ...
have a clear
post-Zionist Post-Zionism refers to the opinions of some Israelis, diaspora Jews and others, particularly in academia, that Zionism fulfilled its ideological mission with the formation of the modern State of Israel in 1948, and that Zionist ideology should ...
bias in their sociology departments and this is particularly acute at the
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) ( he, אוניברסיטת בן-גוריון בנגב, ''Universitat Ben-Guriyon baNegev'') is a public research university in Beersheba, Israel. Ben-Gurion University of the Negev has five campuses: the ...
and
Tel Aviv University Tel Aviv University (TAU) ( he, אוּנִיבֶרְסִיטַת תֵּל אָבִיב, ''Universitat Tel Aviv'') is a public research university in Tel Aviv, Israel. With over 30,000 students, it is the largest university in the country. Locate ...
. This study set off much criticism from far left-wing Israelis who compared it to McCarthyismMcCarthyism in Tel Aviv 17 August 2010: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3938500,00.html).


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Institute for Zionist Strategies Zionist organizations Think tanks based in Israel Organizations based in Jerusalem