Israel’s next national election arrives at a moment when public confidence in democratic institutions is under real pressure. Questions about how elections are run, how public servants are supported, and how governance can remain effective in a polarized environment are no longer abstract. They are shaping the country’s political reality.

This briefing will take a close look at the state of Israel’s electoral system and civil service, focusing on the practical reforms needed to strengthen transparency, professionalism, and public trust. Prof. Gideon Rahat, Senior Fellow in IDI’s Political Reform Program, and Rita Golstein-Galperin, Head of IDI’s Civil Service Reform Program, will draw on the Israel Democracy Institute’s research and on-the-ground experience to explain what is working, what is not, and where meaningful change is possible.

Participants will come away with a clearer understanding of the challenges facing Israeli governance today, along with concrete examples of how policy reform can help reinforce democratic norms and institutional resilience.