The Struggle for Israel’s National Identity

With Dr. Shuki Friedman – Director General, Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI), Jerusalem, Faculty of Law, Peres Academic Centre, Israel.  

Israeli society is currently facing an unprecedented crisis, marked by the convergence of two severe challenges: a deep social crisis and an acute security threat. As Israel contends with external enemies, its Jewish-democratic identity is under significant strain domestically. For the first time in the nation’s history, the government is composed solely of right-wing and religious parties.

Since coming into power, this government has pursued an agenda that many perceive as undermining the democratic foundations of Israel and threatening its pluralistic character. This approach has sparked unprecedented protests from opponents, further deepening the pre-existing divisions within Israeli society.

The upcoming lecture will explore the fault lines that define Israeli society today—cultural, social, and political. It will not only delve into the challenges facing the nation but also propose potential pathways for Israeli society to emerge from this crisis and regain its footing.

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Dr. Shuki Friedman - Director general of the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI) and faculty member at the School of Law of the Peres Academic Centre.  Dr. Friedman is a jurist and public intellectual who has been working in recent years to promote policy solutions aimed at mitigating the divides in Israeli society.

Dr. Friedman is a leading researcher and activist in the fields of religion-state relations, the integration of the ultra-Orthodox community, and public law in Israel. He also engages in public international law, with a focus on enforcement regimes of international norms and compliance regimes at the state and international levels, and advises various bodies in the field.

Previously, Dr. Friedman served as the Head of International Law at the Prime Minister’s Office and chaired the government committee on sanctions against Iran (2005-2013). He later directed the Center for Nation, Religion, and State at the Israel Democracy Institute (2015-2021).

Dr. Friedman is a lawyer and Orthodox rabbi certified by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel. He holds a bachelor’s degree in law, economics, and Middle Eastern studies, as well as a master’s and doctorate in law from Bar-Ilan University, Israel (2008). His doctoral dissertation focused on public law in Islam Sharia public law.