Israel's System Research Articles

Nakba and the US-Israel Imperial Regime

Abstract The US-Israeli genocide is best understood as the end game of empire, the culmination of failed Anglo-American and Zionist policies in the Middle East and, indeed, virtually the entire non-Western world. It is the outcome of a US-sponsored apartheid system in Israel, largely carried out by the IDF and other militarist forces in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Gaza, and Israel itself and funded by American financial assistance and weapons transfers to the Israeli army. The threats of multipolarity to US/NATO hegemony, Britain being the major junior partner, pushed the Trump and Biden administrations, along with the British Tories and post-Corbyn Labour Party, to support de facto the “final solution” in Gaza and the rest of Palestine. This article puts the Israeli assault on the people of Gaza, the Hamas-led attack on October 7 being the main pretext, in historical perspective. It argues that it is a logical sequence of the pre-war Zionist idea of an exclusive Jewish state and US and UK post-war power politics in the Middle East and in two imperial states’ respective domestic electoral politics.

ALTERNATIVE ASSESSMENT AS A TOOL FOR IMPARTING HEBREW LEARNING SKILLS

This research explored the role of alternative assessments in highlighting students' language abilities by focusing on their strengths. Through interviews with 20 Hebrew language teachers in the Arab-Bedouin education system in Israel, the study revealed that, unlike traditional assessments, alternative methods were performance-based, student-centered, and emphasized communication over accuracy. Teachers identified authentic tasks as crucial for allowing students to assess their own learning while meeting educational goals. Key criteria for these tasks included reflecting students' interests, connecting to real-life contexts, encouraging creativity, and producing high-quality results.

Environmental assessment of industrial aquaponics in arid zones using an integrated dynamic model

Land desertification, water scarcity, and food security challenges in arid zones are intensifying, driving the need for sustainable agricultural solutions like aquaponics. This study investigated innovative water and energy-saving strategies using an integrated dynamic model for an on-demand industrial aquaponics system in Israel. The model evaluated the performance of a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS), hydroponics system (HPS), and desalination unit (DU) by adjusting physical and operational parameters to optimize water and nutrient use efficiency, energy consumption, and yield. Optimizing the system design resulted in an aquaponics system with approximately 420 m3 RAS, 6.85 ha HPS and 40 m3/d DU, achieving phosphorus use efficiency of 96 %, a water use efficiency of 97 %, freshwater input of 1.5 L/day/m2, and energy consumption of 0.56 kWh/day/m2. To mitigate the challenges of extreme arid climates, evaporative cooling combined with outdoor shading and mechanical cooling was found to be a feasible option to control temperature and humidity in the greenhouse. Dehumidification technologies further improved system performance by recovering 22 % freshwater from seawater and increasing nitrogen use efficiency by 18 %. Achieving daily energy self-sufficiency required 4500 m2 photovoltaic panels and 5000 m2 solar heating system. While the system model was initially devised with a specific focus on conditions in Israel, it has been designed with scalability, allowing it to be adapted and applied extensively across diverse peri-urban regions and arid zones globally.

On the Travel of State Crimes by Algorithm: Chinese Camera Systems in Israel

On the Travel of State Crimes by Algorithm: Chinese Camera Systems in Israel

Participative decision-making in the Arab educational system in Israel: The implications for teachers’ organizational commitment and school violence

Principals indirectly impact the achievement of school goals and the development and improvement of the school. Drawing upon Role Theory, this study proposes to examine the direct and indirect relationship (through organizational commitment) between participative decision-making and school violence in the Arab educational system in Israel. The data were collected through a questionnaire returned by a two-stage cluster random sampling of 350 teachers randomly chosen from 70 elementary Israeli Arab schools. Data were collected from three sources: self-reporting (teachers and students) and non-self-reporting to minimize measure error. The structural equation modeling and bootstrap results highlighted the positive implications of participative decision-making on teachers’ organizational commitment in the Israeli Arab education system. The findings also showed teachers’ organizational commitment was correlated to school violence. That is, teachers’ organizational commitment fully mediates the relationship between participative decision-making and school violence. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.

School Violence in the Israeli Arab Educational System: Investigating the Implications of Paternalistic Leadership and teachers’ Job Satisfaction

ABSTRACT School violence is a growing issue that adversely affects learning, academic achievement, and student growth. Drawing upon the heuristic model of school violence proposed by the study proposes to examine the direct and indirect relationship (through teacher satisfaction) between paternalistic leadership (PL) and school violence in the Arab educational system in Israel. The data were collected through a questionnaire returned by a two-stage clusters random sampling of 350 teachers randomly chosen from 70 elementary Israeli Arab schools. Data were collected from three sources: self-reporting (teachers and students) and non-self-reporting to minimize measure error. The Structural Equation Modelling and bootstrap results highlighted that paternalistic leadership was not correlated to teachers’ satisfaction but directly correlated to school violence. The findings also showed positive relationships of teachers’ job satisfaction and lessening school violence levels. Implications for theory and practise are discussed.

Quality of work life, cultural values, and Islamic work ethics: The case of the Arab education system in Israel

The study focuses on quality of work life (QWL), Islamic work ethics (IWE), and cultural values among employees in a complex organization, with a case study of Arab high-school teachers in the education system in Israel. The sample consisted of 1245 employees. To establish a reliable model of QWL, exploratory factor analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis were utilized, resulting in six dimensions. A reliable model of IWE was also established, consisting of two dimensions. Employees reported average QWL levels, high IWE levels, low power distance, high uncertainty avoidance, and a tendency toward collectivism and femininity. This study demonstrates a positive relationship between QWL dimensions and IWE, with certain cultural values—such as collectivism and uncertainty avoidance—moderating this relationship.

Teacher well-being and organizational citizenship behavior in Arab educational system in Israel: The implications of teacher collective involvement in decision making and organizational commitment.

A gradual transition from a collectivist to a more individualist identity has been noted in the Arab minority with implications for teachers' well-being and organizational citizenship behavior. This study builds on the Job Demands-Control model to investigate the mediating role of teacher organizational commitment in the relationship between the teacher collective involvement in decision making to teacher well-being and organizational citizenship behavior. Data were collected from a sample of 350 teachers randomly chosen in the Arab educational system in Israel. Structural equation modeling (using the AMOS 21.0 program) was used to test the proposed relationships. The results indicate both a direct and indirect relationships (through the mediating role of teacher organizational commitment) of teacher collective involvement in decision making on teachers' well-being and organizational citizenship behavior. The model which tested both direct and indirect relationships (through organizational commitment) between collective involvement in decision making and teachers' organizational citizenship behavior, and well-being, showed good fit indices (χ² = 62.60; χ²/df = 2.50; CFI = .947, TLI = .905, IFI = .949; RMSEA = .066). Specifically, the bootstrapping analysis reaffirmed the mediating role of organizational commitment between collective involvement in decision making and well-being (β = -.04, p < .001) and organizational citizenship behavior (β = .11, p < .001). Implications for theory and practice are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Not All about the Money: The Role of Financial Information in Promoting Residential Rooftop Photovoltaics

This study investigates the role of financial information in shaping the intention to adopt (ITA) Residential Rooftop Photovoltaic (RPV) systems in Israel—a country with a surprisingly low RPV adoption rate given the high solar irradiance, and significant governmental support for RPV. We used an online survey of 899 respondents to examine how different presentations of RPV revenues impact both RPV deal comprehension and ITA. Our results align with existing literature on the roles of early technology adopters and pro-environmental characteristics while introducing two novel findings. First, households value their roofs—especially flat ones used for leisure. This negatively impacts ITA. Second, we found a positive correlation between trust in government entities and ITA, underscoring the importance of trust in institutions. Although financial information does enhance RPV deal comprehension, it does not significantly influence ITA. This study concludes that RPV penetration should not be promoted solely by financial incentives, but also by other motivations like environmental concerns, novelty seeking, and improved institutional trust.

Fuel Smuggling in the West Bank (2018–2021): Palestinian Economic Agency under the Israeli System of Spatial Control

This article critically re-examines the narrative that the Israeli system of spatial control has an exclusive negative impact on the West Bank economy. It focuses on the burgeoning fuel smuggling industry, which grew to constitute nearly one-third of the total consumed fuel in the West Bank by 2018. The article posits that the impacts of Israeli control on West Bank-Israeli economic relations involve an interplay between structural top-down imposition and Palestinian agency exerted from below. Drawing from documentary evidence and semi-structured interviews conducted with smugglers, Israeli, and Palestinian policymakers, the research reveals a paradox, finding its theoretical explanation in borderland studies. The barriers and fragmentation meant to oppress Palestinians create opportunities for new Palestinian economic beneficiaries. The article traces the emergence of smuggling networks that expand Palestinian-Israeli connections and cooperation. It concludes considering how the structure-agency interplay, which characterizes the Israeli colonial structure, affects the study of Palestinian political economy under Israeli occupation. This includes the influence of smuggling on supply, demand, pricing, and power hierarchies within the West Bank’s fuel sector.

Circumventing Israeli Control: Palestinian Furniture Exports via Israeli Settlements

Abstract West Bank exports to Israel have faced significant challenges due to the Israeli system of spatial control, aimed at controlling Palestinians and facilitating settler expansion throughout the West Bank. The routing of Palestinian commercial freight through the separation barrier has escalated logistics costs, while settlement expansion in Area C has further impeded mobility between Palestinian self-rule areas. This article highlights the tactics employed by Palestinian economic actors to offset these challenges within the confines of intensified Israeli spatial control. Using data from observations, interviews, and documentary sources spanning 2019–2023, the study focuses on Palestinian furniture exports to Israel. It reveals that Palestinians have leveraged colonial spatial variations to their advantage by forming partnerships with Israelis to export products through Jewish settlements. The article concludes by advocating a disaggregated level of analysis that uncovers the dynamic interplay between Israeli spatial constraints and Palestinian agency in response. In the case of furniture exporters, this has led to deepening Palestinian–Israeli economic ties and increased engagement with the infrastructure of Israeli occupation to mitigate its economic impact.

An overview of recent introductions of non-native crayfish (Crustacea, Decapoda) into inland water systems in Israel

An overview of recent introductions of non-native crayfish (Crustacea, Decapoda) into inland water systems in Israel

Optimizing caesarean section use and feasibility of implementing the Robson classification system: Perspectives of healthcare providers and policymakers.

In recent decades, caesarean section rates have increased dramatically worldwide and the reasons for this trend are not fully understood. This continuing trend has raised public health concerns regarding higher maternal and perinatal risks, high costs, healthcare efficiency, and inequality of services. The current study aimed to explore the perspectives and insights of healthcare providers and policymakers in the Israeli health system regarding the factors that drive caesarean section rates and the readiness and feasibility of implementing the Robson Ten Group Classification System for the first time. Semi-structured interviews were conducted (n = 12) with purposefully selected healthcare providers and policymakers in Israel. Data was analysed inductively using a thematic analysis approach. The findings reflected the "changing landscape" in childbirth practices and attitudes that contributes to the rising caesarean section rate, including childbirth at older ages, birth planning, and a transition toward a more collaborative decision-making approach to childbirth. The participants emphasized the lack of a standardized classification or consistent data monitoring of caesarean section in the Israeli health system. Additionally, enablers to implement the Robson Ten Group Classification System in Israel (ease of use, data collection and recording, and the allocation of resources and personnel), as well as barriers (concerns over workload, limited resources, budget implications, and technological complexity), were found. This study revealed the multifaceted factors shaping caesarean section rates within Israel and underscored the perceived need for evidence-based monitoring and informed decision-making in healthcare practices. Our findings support the conclusion that empirical evidence and clear data are crucial for effective caesarean section use and are currently lacking in Israeli hospitals. Thus, it is recommended to adopt a globally standardized, accepted, and effective tool-the Robson Ten Group Classification System-to accommodate the "changing landscape" in alignment with evolving medical and societal dynamics, which consequently will assist in optimizing caesarean section use.

Israel – In Search of Constitutional Common Sense

The Israeli radical judicial overhaul program, aiming to seriously weaken the judiciary, has led the country to the brink of chaos and violence, with hundreds of thousands of demonstrators in the streets, society tearing itself apart and numerous sectors of society, such as medical service or reservists of IDF, announcing a suspension of their service to a nation they fear will no longer be a democracy. Despite the strong social protest, Knesset – representing an extremely right-wing coalition – adopted on the July 24, 2023 the amendment to Basic Law: The Judiciary to bar the judiciary from striking down decisions of the government and its ministers on the grounds of such decisions being unreasonable. The measure known as the reasonableness clause (standard) is rooted in English and American case law and it is frequently used in Israel to control administrative activity. It allows the courts to strike down governmental and administrative decisions and their regulations seen as having not taken into account all the relevant considerations of a particular issue, or not given the correct weight to those considerations – even if they do not violate any particular law or administrative rulings. The current right-wing coalition, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, argues that the clause as it stands gives too much power to the judiciary, especially the Supreme Court sitting as a High Court of Justice, to interfere with the actions of the executive, and that the powers of judges, who are not elected by the public, remain out of control in this procedure. Opponents of the government’s amendment argue that this standard is crucial in helping to protect civil rights that are not fully defined in Israeli law. Eliminating the standard of reasonableness will be another step towards giving the government unlimited power. It violates not only the separation of powers principle and the rule of law but it also harms the right to good administration. Irrespective of the Supreme Court’s decision on the constitutionality of the government’s amendment, the struggle to maintain the democratic principles of the Israeli system will continue. Despite the strong social protest, Knesset – representing extremely right-wing coalition –adopted on the 24th of July 2023 the amendment to Basic Law: Judiciary to bar the judiciary from striking down decisions of the government and its ministers on the basis of being unreasonable. The measure known as the reasonableness clause (standard) is rooted in English and American case law bless and it is frequently used in Israel to control the administrative activity. It allows the courts to strike down governmental and administrative decisions and their regulations seen as having not taken into account all the relevant considerations of a particular issue, or not given the correct weight to those considerations – even if they do not violate and particular law or administrative rulings. The current right-wing coalition, led by Beniamin Netanyahu, argues that the clause as it stands gives too much scope to the judiciary, especially the Supreme Court sitting as a High Court of Justice, to interfere with the actions of the executive, and that the powers of judges, who are not elected by the public, remain out of control in this procedure. Opponents to the government’s amendment argue that this standard is crucial in helping to protect civil rights that are not fully defined in Israeli law. Eliminating the standard of reasonableness will be another step towards giving the government unlimited power. It violates not only the separation of powers principle and rule of law but it also harms the right to good administration. Irrespectively of the Supreme Court's decision on the constitutionality of the government's amendment, the struggle to maintain the democratic principles of the Israeli system will continue.

Community engagement of underrepresented college students: Ultra-orthodox students in Israel as social change agents

This article aims to contribute to the emerging body of research on community engagement of college students from minority and underserved groups. It examines community engagement programs involving students from the Jewish ultra-Orthodox society in Israel, a minority group that is clearly underrepresented in the higher education system in Israel. Using qualitative methods, this article analyzes how ultra-Orthodox students experience their community engagement and perceive its effects on themselves and on their communities. The findings illuminate how the students' social interactions during their volunteer work enhance meaningful learning despite considerable challenges and dilemmas. Ultra-orthodox students constantly cross social and cultural boundaries, and their choice to enroll in higher education is often delegitimized in their communities. Their ability to contribute to their communities through collegiate community engagement programs helps justify their decision to pursue an academic education. This ability also empowers them in the challenging liminal state between the ultra-Orthodox society and academia. Hence, community engagement helps reinforce the academization of the ultra-Orthodox society. This case study proposes that student volunteers from underrepresented minority groups can bridge the gap between academic institutions and their minority communities, serving as agents of societal change.

ДОСВІД ІЗРАЇЛЮ З РОЗВИТКУ ІННОВАЦІЙ ТА ТУРИЗМУ В УМОВАХ ВОЄННИХ ДІЙ

The experience of Israel in the development of innovations and tourism in the conditions of military operations is considered. The indicators of the innovative activity of the country according to various global ratings are analyzed. The factors that contribute to the successful formation of Israel's innovation ecosystem, which integrates education, science, business and the state, are identified. Considered successful cases of innovative activity of the defence complex of Israel, which today is the main employer of the country and the sphere of attraction of investments. Attention is drawn to the system of assimilation, the transfer of advanced developments carried out by order of the military department to the civilian sphere, the involvement of teams of researchers and developers to develop products for non-military markets and, more often, to adapt defence technologies for civilian applications. The role in the development of the innovation ecosystem of the military departments of innovation and technology development, which attract significant investments, build incubators and accelerators for the creation and development of military innovative developments, was noted. Emphasis was placed on the need to borrow the experience of forming a system of support for innovative ideas and creating conditions for their implementation for military personnel after the end of service. It was noted that the priority for Israeli society and the state is human life at all stages, caring for it. This is laid in the basis of national security, permeates all spheres of Israeli state policy. The elements of the Israeli start-up ecosystem, which allow to support ambitious projects in the field of tourism in the conditions of military conflicts, have been studied. It is emphasized that it is the lost benefits (revenues not received and tourists who refused to travel), and not military budgets, that determine the main economic losses of tourism from the war. It was noted that Israel actively promotes the safety of most of its territories, involving other countries, which today does not make Ukraine and its tourist offices relatively safe regions. Individual start-ups in the field of tourism that offer applications, platforms, services that help in various aspects of travel, staying in hotels, planning routes, etc. are considered. It is concluded that Israel is currently the country with the greatest potential for innovation in the high-tech sector and the tourism space, thanks to an effective technological start-up ecosystem. Israel demonstrates the highest level of flexibility: the country cannot actively restore its own tourism, but it successfully offers technological solutions to the global tourism industry through a start-up ecosystem. It is completely impossible to copy the Israeli system of support for innovations, start-ups, tourism, Ukraine, and other states. However, Israel's experience in attracting funding from abroad and private investment, supporting R&amp;D, applied research, stimulating youth to innovation and creativity, supporting the education of military personnel, creating territorial centres for the support of knowledge and innovation, creating a comfortable environment for the exchange of experience and technologies, development of tourism in a country with constant military conflicts is worth studying and adapting.

The professional identity of elementary school rabbis in the national-religious education system in Israel

ABSTRACT The current study delves into the professional identity of elementary school rabbis within the national-religious education system in Israel, focusing on the perspectives of the rabbis themselves and examining how their professional identity impacts their work. In-depth interviews were conducted with 15 rabbis who were selected using a convenience sampling method. The findings reveal that their professional identity is influenced by role ambiguity and conflicts within the school’s work environment. Moreover, the study highlights the rabbis’ direct engagement with students, parents, and staff in various educational activities, providing assistance and support. These findings have significant implications for religious education, offering insights to enhance the work of rabbis in this context.

School Climate and Teachers’ Perceptions of Parental Involvement in Jewish and Arab Primary Schools in Israel

This study examines educators’ views of parental involvement in the two diverse cultural and national educational systems in Israel. Respondents include 799 teachers from 52 Jewish and Arab primary schools. Our assumption - that Jewish teachers encourage parental involvement more than the Arab teachers, because of the progressive, Western liberal orientation of Jewish schools as opposed to the authoritarian and closed school climate of the Arab schools - was refuted. The findings indicate that in both educational systems, teachers are less inclined to engage in parental involvement. Parents are generally more involved in their children's education at home, while teachers rarely encourage parents' involvement in decision-making processes or voluntary activities in the schools. The teachers' main obstacles with regard to encouraging parental involvement are that they feel disrespected and underappreciated by parents, and they believe they lack the necessary skills to successfully negotiate with parents during crises.

Israeli Students’ Evaluations Regarding Leadership Education in Post-Primary Schools

This article examines the way students attending middle and high schools in Israel evaluate leadership education in their schools and the extent to which it contributes to their leader self-efficacy. Based on 376 questionnaires completed by teenage girls (n = 243) and boys (n = 133) who attend middle and high school in the public education system in Israel, it focuses on their perceptions regarding their school as their main leadership development establishment. Using a Likert scale to measure attitudes and perceptions of youth leadership, the questionnaire was used to investigate the following topics: the school’s efforts to impart leadership and encourage leadership and leadership ability, their self-perceptions of leadership ability, and the impact of the school staff on their leadership development. Students expressed discontent with the school’s ability to impart and motivate leadership, and family members and youth organizations are perceived as more influential. Students in middle schools participate more in leadership programs but evaluate the school’s contribution to leadership development less favorably than high school students. Although girls and boys are participating in leadership programs at a similar rate, girls’ leader self-efficacy is relatively low. Implementing leadership education has some deficiencies that require policymakers to make necessary adjustments regarding age and gender.

Neo-Zionism's Vision for the Issue of the Jewishness of the State in Israel

Objectives: The purpose of the present paper is to analyze Neo-Zionism’s vision for the issue of the Jewishness of the state in Israel by tracing the foundations of this trend, the factors that helped crystalizing it in Israeli state, and the impact of that on the state’s identity. Methods: The paper is based on two approaches: the historical approach and the analytical approach, the first helps in tracing the intellectual roots of Neo-Zionism trend, while the second helps in dividing the phenomenon in question in order to identify its causes, analyze its vision's results, and explain its impact on the identity of the Israeli state. Results: The Neo-Zionism trend presented a set of coherent values and ideas towards the issue of the Jewish state. In reality, Neo-Zionism was able to achieve the following: Firstly, the idolization of its visions. Secondly, the legitimization of its ideological visions. Thirdly, the legalization of its ideology and political approach. Although the trend presented a coherent intellectual perspective on the nature of the identity of the Israeli state, its religious vision led to a deepening of the identity crisis in Israeli society and created a new crisis between the nature of the identity of the state and the democratic system in Israel. Conclusions: the study recommends more research on the opposing visions to values and ideas of Neo-Zionism trend (left and Arab parties), and the alliances they can achieve in the face of the expansion of the Neo-Zionism.