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Explainer Videos

Brief videos — some animated, some compilations, some excerpts from longer webinars or presentations — enabling quick understanding of various topics related to modern Israel.

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Explainer: Declaration of Independence (4:48)

Israel’s Declaration of Independence which was issued by David Ben-Gurion in Tel-Aviv on May 14, 1948 was drafted by a small committee. This video highlights the similarities and differences between the Israeli and American declarations of independence and outlines the Israeli Declaration’s contents including the state’s intentions towards its citizens, the historical connection of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel, and the right of the Jewish people to determination.

Explainer Videos|May 9, 2019

Explainer: Haredim and the IDF (4:31)

Our latest Whiteboard video explores the history and context of ultra-Orthodox deferments from the Israel Defense Forces. Beginning with the 1947 status-quo agreement between David Ben-Gurion and Agudat Israel, we explain the origins of the policy and why it has become so divisive in contemporary Israeli society.

Explainer Videos|January 25, 2019

Explainer: How Israel Votes (4:34)

Our latest 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 Videos|February 28, 2019|Spanish

Explainer: The Presidency (6:18)

On June 2, 2021, Isaac Herzog was elected over Miriam Peretz to a seven-year term as Israel’s 11th president. When he takes office in July, succeeding Reuven Rivlin, he will become the first second-generation Israeli…

Explainer Videos|June 2, 2021|Spanish

Explainer: Education System (4:52)

This whiteboard video explains the structure of Israel’s education system, including the country’s commitment to early childhood learning programs, challenges of educational equality and funding for different segments of the population, and a comparison of Israel’s academic success with other nations.

Explainer Videos|September 10, 2019

Explainer: Israel’s Economy (4:08)

The second video in our new Israel on Board series focuses on a brief overview of Israel’s economy. The video emphasizes how Israel turned challenges in the country’s early years into opportunities for economic growth and investment. Additionally, we look at Shimon Peres’ role in helping Israel transition from an agricultural based economy to become the start-up nation.

Explainer Videos|December 13, 2018

Explainers: Hezbollah and the Hamas-Israel War (4 videos)

Hezbollah has used its stronghold in southern Lebanon to launch continual attacks on northern Israel since October 8, 2023. Hezbollah says it is motivated by its support for Hamas, a fellow member of Iran’s Axis of Resistance surrounding Israel. While Hezbollah is Shia and Hamas is Sunni, both are devoted to Israel’s destruction, and both receive funding from and coordinate with Iran.

Explainer Videos|September 2024

Explainer: 13 Days at Camp David 1978 (6:39)

Our second animated white board video covers in detail what took place during the thirteen days of negotiations at Camp David in September 2018. The video begins with Egyptian President Anwar Sadat’s priority on getting back the Sinai Peninsula which Egypt lost to Israel in the June 1967 War and the origins of direct negotiations between Israel and Egypt following Sadat’s visit to Jerusalem in November 1977.

Explainer Videos|September 17, 2018

More Explainer Videos

Explainer: Natural Gas (5:07)

The discovery of rich fields of natural gas beneath the eastern Mediterranean Sea has given traditionally resource-poor Israel the chance to supply its own energy needs, help wean the European Union off its dependence on Russian energy, and build closer economic and diplomatic ties with Egypt, Jordan, Cyprus, Greece and even the Palestinian Authority. But Israel only has a quarter-century or so to make the most of its newfound energy wealth.

Explainer Videos|April 24, 2019

Explainer: Eurovision Contest (6:12)

This whiteboard video focuses on this week’s (May 14-18, 2019) Eurovision music competition taking place in Tel-Aviv. The video explores the history of the event and Israel’s participation competing and hosting; examines why Tel-Aviv was chosen over Jerusalem to host the festival; and covers attempts by the BDS movement to generate controversy and protests.

Explainer Videos|May 7, 2019

Explainer: Hezbollah’s Presence in Lebanon (video, 3:09)

Hezbollah emerged in Lebanon in the 1980s, rooted in the historical marginalization of the country’s Shiite community. Today, Hezbollah is a major player in Lebanese social and political life, wielding significant influence over both the government and the military situation.

Explainer Videos|September 25, 2024

Explainer: Hezbollah’s Response to the Oct. 7 Attacks (video, 2:52)

Hezbollah and Hamas have significant ideological and religious differences, but they are united in the goal of destroying Israel and in their alliance with Iran. Before Hamas’ attacks on October 7th, the two terrorist organizations had significant coordination, although Hamas did not warn Hezbollah what it planned for that day.

Explainer Videos|September 25, 2024

Explainer: Hezbollah’s Assault on Israel Explained (video, 4:05)

On October 8, 2023, Hezbollah launched a barrage of rockets at northern Israel that escalated tensions in the region and prompted a substantial increase in the IDF presence along the border with Lebanon. It was not the first instance of such hostilities, however, as both sides have a long history of conflict.

Explainer Videos|September 26, 2024

Explainer: 2019’s Do-Over Election (4:05)

With the inability of Prime Minister Netanyahu to form a governing coalition in the spring, Israeli voters will head back to the polls just five months after April’s Knesset elections. This whiteboard video explains what’s different this time around emphasizing which political parties have joined together, which ones have new leaders, and which ones have decided not to run.

Explainer Videos|August 12, 2019

Explainer: Quick Tips for Remote Learning (6:12)

How has the shift to distance learning affected Jewish learning environments, and what are some best practices to make the most of education from afar? A head of school, a synagogue rabbi, a JCC and Jewish Federation chief, and an expert on remote learning offer answers and insights during the 19th CIE/ISMI Enrichment Workshop on Modern Israel.

Explainer Videos|August 31, 2020|Spanish