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Israel

Monthly Updates

April 2023 | Inter-religious violence mars holy days

Christian, Jewish and Muslim holidays coincided in April, and it was a particularly deadly month in Israel and Palestinian territories. Tensions escalated after the Israeli military stormed al Aqsa Mosque on 5 April, triggering a spike in violence from both sides that continued throughout the month. Israeli authorities carried out multiple raids and attacks on worshipers at the mosque, resulting in hundreds of injured individuals and arrests. Palestinians’ religious freedoms were further limited as the Israeli government extended the closure of the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strips, restricting access to the mosque. Christian activities and places of public gathering were also affected by government restrictions on visits to Jerusalem's Church of Holy Sepulchre and heavy-handed tactics used by Israeli police blocking entrance to the site. According to community leaders, hostility and violence towards the Christian community has increased since the start of 2023. A Relief Web report revealed that  the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli authorities during the first quarter of 2023 compared to the same period of 2022 increased by approximately 400 per cent. 

March 2023 | Judicial reform plans postponed as tensions continue to escalate

Two weeks after the government’s proposed judicial reform legislation passed a first vote in the Israeli Knesset, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the postponement of the reforms. The controversial bill has been met with international criticism, months of protests across Israel and growing opposition from within government. On 25 March, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant called on the government to halt the reforms, citing concerns over national security. Prime Minister Netanyahu responded by dismissing Gallant, a decision that intensified anti-government demonstrations overnight and triggered nationwide labour strikes that paralyzed the country on 26 March. In response to increasing popular discontent, Netanyahu reinstated Gallant on 10 April. In an effort to alleviate escalating tensions and reach a broad national consensus, further parliamentary votes were delayed and will be taken up again during the Knesset’s summer session.

February 2023 | Worst violence seen in decades in Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Violence and tensions continued to rise in the West Bank this month as  Israeli authorities intensified settlement operations by conducting a series of daily raids that resulted in deadly clashes with Palestinians. On 22 February, Israeli forces conducted the deadliest raid in years, in which 11 Palestinians were killed and hundreds injured. This prompted a wave of protests and Palestinian attacks against Israelis, killing two settlers. In retaliation, a mob of Israeli settlers rampaged through several Palestinian villages, burning dozens of homes and cars, leaving one man dead and nearly 400 injured. In the first two months of 2023, 62 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli troops and civilians, making it the deadliest start to a year since 2000. In an attempt to relieve tensions, Israeli and Palestinian officials met in Jordan and issued a joint statement pledging to de-escalate surging violence. Israel vowed to pause new settlement discussions for four months but denied it would suspend settlement expansion. Also in February, Israel announced the legalization of several settlements in the West Bank and approved an amended Citizenship Law that permits the removal of Israeli citizenship and residency of Palestinians convicted of terrorism.

January 2023 | New government agenda sparks mass anti-government protests

A month into office, Benjamin Netanyahu’s new government has pursued numerous policies that have been met with nationwide anti-government protests. In one of the largest protest movements ever seen in Israel, more than 100,000 people took to the streets of Tel Aviv on 21 January against PM Netanyahu chanting ‘No to dictatorship’ and ‘Democracy.’ Protestors have particularly reacted to the proposed judicial reforms package that would politicise the Supreme Court and limit its powers. Many analysts fear these changes could foster corruption, set back minority rights, and could lead to an institutional crisis and erosion of democracy. Other proposed legislation includes a bill that would enable the removal of Arab-led parties from the Knesset for voicing solidarity with Palestinian victims of Israeli government actions.

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GSoD Indices Data 2012-2021

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Basic Information

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Population Tooltip
9 364 000
System of government
Parliamentary system
Head of government
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (since 2022)
Head of government party
Likud
Electoral system for lower or single chamber
List Proportional Representation
Women in lower or single chamber
23.3%
Women in upper chamber
Not applicable
Last legislative election
2022
Effective number of political parties Tooltip
7.99
Head of state
President Isaac Herzog
Selection process for head of state
Indirect election (assembly)
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) date
23/01/2018
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) percentage of recommendations supported
29.17%
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Human Rights Treaties

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State Party State party
Signatory Signatory
No Action No action
United Nations Human Right Treaties
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
State Party
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
State Party
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
State Party
Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
State Party
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment
State Party
Convention on the Rights of the Child
State Party
International Convention on Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families
No Action
International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance 
No Action
International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
State Party
International Labour Organisation Treaties
Forced Labour Convention
State Party
Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention
State Party
Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention
State Party
Equal Remuneration Convention
State Party
Abolition of Forced Labour Convention
State Party
Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention
State Party
Convention concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment
State Party
Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention
State Party
in
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Attributes Over Time

Representative government neutral Representative Government
Nov 2022
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr 2023
Representative government neutral Fundamental rights
Nov 2022
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr 2023
Representative government neutral Checks on government
Nov 2022
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr 2023
Representative government neutral Impartial administration
Nov 2022
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr 2023
Representative government neutral Participatory engagement
Nov 2022
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr 2023

GSoD Indices

Regime type
0 10