We are pleased to present the December New Year newsletter of the Institute for Zionist Strategies. At the heart of the newsletter is an up-to-date survey of data and opinions about the influx of non-citizen foreigners in the State of Israel. Also in this newsletter: An update about the activities of Blue & White Human Rights and a host of articles about the basic law of the nation-state. Enjoy!

New Publication


Given the infiltration of the country's southern border by refugees, the proper treatment of this group by the state has become a matter of public interest but an informed discourse on the subject is often absent and occasioned by extensive manipulations and partial truths.

The goal of this document is not to suggest specific policy but to gather, organize, and 
summarize the main data and to present the range of opinions on the subject. The document hopes to serve as a foundation for serious discussion as part of policy development, and does not attempt to resolve the differences of opinion.
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Blue & White Human Rights


Blue & White Human Rights members are working on a new educational program, “For the spirit,” which is intended for youth on the verge of enlistment into the army. The program is based on the values expressed in the “Spirit of the IDF” document and its goal is to instill these values in the youth both as soldiers and as citizens.
 
Tzachi Kirshberg, project manager for Blue & White Human Rights’ Weapons Purity project, published an open letter protesting the decision to allow materials by “Breaking the silence,” an organization which vilifies the State of Israel and the IDF throughout the world, to be taught to candidates at the IDF Officers Training School at Training Base 1.
Interested in hosting a discussion of Zionism and the ethics of war? Know of groups coming from abroad who would be interested in learning about safeguarding human rights from a nationalist-liberal point of view? Please write and let us know.
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Basic Law: The Nation-State

The political debate in Israel has recently been focused on the proposed Basic Law: The Nation-State. We are proud of the IZS' role in conceptualizing the law and providing its intellectual justification. Below, we present a number of articles on the topic published over the past month. The intensity of the debate was unusual, as can be gleaned from this sample.

-A widely circulated article in the Wall Street Journal by Joel Golovensky, founding president of the Institute, he explains why the new law comports with the model of a democratic nation states and why the US system is not the natural template, but an exception. 

-Institute chairman Dr. Yoaz Hendel published a political analysis of the storm surrounding the proposed law in the Yediyot Acharonot newspaper.

-Former minister Avi Dichter wonders how those who were the strongest supporters of his original proposed law turned into its fiercest opponents.

-Israel Harel, founding chairman of the Institute, explains the urgent need for the Nation-State Basic Law. (In Hebrew)

-Institute member Prof. Asher Cohen explains that the Nation-State Basic Law creates the legal balance necessary for the state of Israel to serve as both a Jewish nation and as a democracy.

-Prof. Gideon Sapir presents the main arguments heard against the law and analyzes them so they can be evaluated honestly. (In Hebrew)

-Prof. Shimon Shitreet admonishes Israel's leaders to unite behind a single draft which will anchor Israel as the nation state of the Jewish People. (In Hebrew)

-Dr. Yoram Hazony argues that the proposed law is compatible with the political principles of national self-definition. 

-Dr. Einat Ramon shows how the Nation-State Basic Law can serve as a groundbreaking way to protect human cultural, community, and religious rights. (In Hebrew)

-Dr. David Weinberg justifies the need to legislate the basic law.

-Dr. Emmanuel Navon compares the legal definition of a nation-state across a variety of Western democracies. (In Hebrew)

-Dr. Chaim Shine finds support for the proposed law in the history of Zionism. (In Hebrew)

-Zalman Shoval (formerly, Israel's Ambassador to Washington) amplifies the broader 
significance of the proposed legislation. (In Hebrew)

-Haviv Rettig Gur examines the background of the legislation and where it came from on the Times of Israel website.

-Boaz Haetzni explains the legal need for a basic law. (In Hebrew)

-Oded Revivi, head of the Efrat local council, in favor of the proposed law. (In Hebrew)

-Yigal Brand, Director General of the Zionist Council, justifies the Nation-State Basic Law. (In Hebrew)

-Ori Heitner proves that there is no contradiction between Israel as a nation-state and Israel as a liberal democracy. (In Hebrew)

-Omer Dostri demonstrates how the proposed Nation-State Basic Law parallels the Israeli declaration of independence. (In Hebrew)