CIE President Ken Stein and Vice President Michael Jacobs present the basics of the Israeli electoral system, the formation and fall of Israeli governments, and the issues motivating Israeli voters.
Latest articles from CIE
Election Watch 2026: Ranked Issues Motivating the Israeli Electorate According to August Polling Data
The top issues motivating Israeli voters two months before the October 27, 2026, election are national security, October 7 accountability and the cost of living, but other issues affect how those topics influence voting decisions.
Explainer: How Israel Votes (5:10)
Our Israel On Board video explains how the electoral system in Israel works. The video highlights the voting process, explains proportional representation and the electoral threshold, and describes why there are so many different parties.
Explainer: Forming an Israeli Government (4:50)
An Israeli election is just the first part of the process to decide who will lead the country. Our Israel On Board video explains what happens next and how the country’s government is formed.
Mecca Defense Agreement: A Muslim Security Pact for an Uncertain Middle East
Three powerful Muslim countries agreed to a still-vague mutual defense pact both to constrain Iran and to increase their strategic flexibility amid regional changes and U.S. concerns.
Israeli Prime Minister Rejects Gaza Roadmap, August 2026
Facing a tough election in less than three months, Benjamin Netanyahu appeared to prioritize Israeli public opinion over pleasing ally Donald Trump in rejecting the latest implementation plan for the Gaza ceasefire.
Memorandum of Conversation Between U.S. and Egyptian Delegations at Camp David, September 11, 1978 CIE+ members only
President Sadat evolved and presented the bulk of Egypt’s views at Camp David, greatly limiting his advisers’ participation. He particularly kept them from demanding Palestinian rights from Israel, which would have ended the talks without an agreement. Sadat anointed President Carter as the more willing, tougher negotiator with the Israelis. Sadat left Camp David with the U.S. at deep odds with the Israelis and Egypt as close as ever to Carter and the Americans.
Moshe Dayan and Ezer Weizman Meet With Cyrus Vance and Harold Brown at Camp David, September 7, 1978 CIE+ members only
On the second day at Camp David, the United States and Israel candidly reviewed the 1967 refugees and the relationship of the West Bank to Israel.
#161 Contemporary Readings, July 2026
July 31, 2026 By Maya Rezak and Ken Stein Videos and Multimedia John H. Cochrane, Niall Ferguson, H.R. McMaster and Bill Whalen, “Trump’s 14 Points: Epic Fury or Epic Fail,” Hoover Institution, June 18, 2026….
Rahm Emanuel, “The U.S.-Israel Relationship: Where It Stands Today and the Road Ahead,” July 2026 CIE+ members only
Originally posted July 25, 2026; introduction revised August 3, 2026. Source: https://rahmemanuel.substack.com/p/the-us-israel-relationship-where CIE+ Reliable resources for deeper Israel understanding Embrace informed content on Israel, the Middle East and the Diaspora. $39 / year JOIN CIE+…
