Yesh Atid Competitors

The Israel Democracy Institute (IDI) is an independent center of research and action dedicated to strengthening the foundations of Israeli democracy. IDI works to bolster the values and institutions of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state. A non-partisan think-and-do tank, the institute harnesses rigorous applied research to influence policy, legislation and public opinion. The institute partners with government, policy and decision makers, civil service and society, to improve the functioning of the government and its institutions, confront security threats while preserving civil liberties, and foster solidarity within Israeli society. Israel recognized the positive impact of IDI’s research and recommendations by conferring upon the institute its most prestigious award, the Israel Prize for Lifetime Achievement. המכון הישראלי לדמוקרטיה (ע"ר) הוא מוסד עצמאי א-מפלגתי, מחקרי ויישומי, הפועל בזירה הציבורית הישראלית בתחומי הממשל, הכלכלה והחברה. יעדיו הם חיזוק התשתית הערכית והמוסדית של ישראל כמדינה יהודית ודמוקרטית, שיפור התפקוד של מבני הממשל והמשק, גיבוש דרכים להתמודדות עם אתגרי הביטחון מתוך שמירה על הערכים הדמוקרטיים וטיפוח שותפות ומכנה משותף אזרחי בחברה הישראלית רבת הפנים. לצורך מימוש יעדים אלו חוקרי המכון שוקדים על מחקרים המניחים תשתית רעיונית ומעשית לדמוקרטיה הישראלית. בעקבותיהם מגובשות המלצות מעשיות לשיפור התפקוד של המשטר במדינת ישראל ולטיפוח חזון ארוך טווח של תרבות דמוקרטית נכונה לחברה הישראלית ולמגוון הזהויות שבה. המכון שם לו למטרה לקדם בישראל שיח ציבורי מבוסס ידע בנושאים שעל סדר היום הלאומי, ליזום רפורמות מבניות, פוליטיות וכלכליות ולשמש גוף מייעץ למקבלי ההחלטות ולציבור הרחב. המכון הישראלי לדמוקרטיה הוא זוכה פרס ישראל לשנת תשס"ט על מפעל חיים – תרומה מיוחדת לחברה ולמדינה.

Peace Now is the largest and longest-standing Israeli movement advocating for peace through public pressure. Peace Now currently works to ensure Israelis embrace the only viable solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: two states, meaning the creation of a Palestinian state alongside a secure Israel. Our activities include demonstrations, calls for action, lectures, debates, tours, public campaigns and more. Through these activities Peace Now seeks to educate the public, represent the portion of the public that shares its views, mobilize it and as a result influence the mainstream Israeli public – all out of a strong conviction that politicians are susceptible to public pressure. Peace Now’s activities are meant to ensure that issues related to Israeli Palestinian peace remain on top of the political agenda and the public discourse. Peace Now was founded in March 1978, in an act known to the Israeli public as “The Officer’s Letter.” Following the visit of Egypt’s President, Anwar Sadat, to Israel, a group of 348 reserve officers and soldiers from Israeli army combat units published an open letter to the Prime Minister of Israel, Menachem Begin, calling upon the government to make sure this opportunity for peace was not lost. In the early 1990s, after identifying settlements as one of the largest obstacles to the two state solution, Peace Now established Settlement Watch, taking upon itself to track and analyze developments in the settlements. Through research, analysis and exposure of settlement developments, Peace Now works to prevent settlement expansion and stop illegal settlement activity. Over the many years of its existence, Peace Now has consistently supported any and all steps promising to promote a resolution to the conflict that will guarantee Israel a secure, international border, in addition to pressing all Israeli parties in power to initiate steps to bring about an end to the occupation, return to the 1967 borders and negotiations for peace.

The World Union of Meretz (WUM) is an umbrella organization that directs the activities of different movements and organizations around the world that are connected to the political party Meretz in Israel. As such, the WUM acts as the representative of progressive Zionism and progressive Judaism in the diaspora and holds strong ties with the Hashomer Hatzair World Movement. Our representatives are active all around the world on issues related to progressive Zionism, progressive Judaism, the peace process, and local social and political struggles. Within Israel particularly but in other countries as well, our movement is a significant supporter of human rights within the State of Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, campaigns for full civil rights for all citizens (including Israeli Arab citizens, women, LGBT, pensioners...), shares concern on environmental and animal welfare issues, and most importantly, strongly supports an open peace process between Palestinians and Israelis for a two-state solution. The World Union of Meretz is represented at the world Zionist Congress and representation is determined by the faction key and depends on the size of the congress. The World Union is also represented at the “Hava’ad Hapoel” that assembles once every year. The World Union of Meretz has additional representation during the general assembly of the JNF. Furthermore, The World Union of Meretz is represented by position holders for the national institutions.