Israel’s Democratic Civil Society in Times of War and Democratic Backsliding
Datum
26.11.2025
13:00 Uhr - 14:00 Uhr
Backsliding democracy refers to the gradual dismantling of democratic rights, values, and institutions. This process is often driven by populist or authoritarian actors who deliberately instrumentalise social crises for their own gain. These developments have far-reaching consequences for civil society’s agency worldwide, the rule of law, and international cooperation.
Next date: Wednesday, 26. November 2025, 1:00 PM (CET) Online via Zoom
As part of our ongoing event series on backsliding democracy, we are pleased to invite you to the online discussion Israel’s Democratic Civil Society in Times of War and Democratic Backsliding. Since the massacres of 7 October 2023 in Southern Israel, the country’s democratic civil society is facing multiple challenges. The current situation poses a threat not only to the integrity of Israel’s democratic institutions, but also to the broader possibility of a political future grounded in equality, rights, and coexistence – for both Israelis and Palestinians. Together with expert speakers, we will explore current political and social developments.
Speakers
- Prof. Benjamin Gidron is a Professor Emeritus at the Guilford Glazer Faculty of Business and Management at Ben Gurion University of the Negev and currently the Head of the Research Authority, The College of Management Academic Studies (COLMAN). He pioneered the study of the Third (Nonprofit) Sector in Israel and was the Founder-President of the International Society for Third sector Research (ISTR) 1992-96, founded the Israeli Center for Third sector Research at BGU and directed it for 12 years (1997-2009). He led or was a part of seven international/comparative studies.
- Hovav Yannai is the director of the safeguarding and civil right and democracy program in the New Israel Fund. In previous positions he was the director of the center for policy change and the policy specialist int the field of civil rights and democracy. He also worked as the Knesset coordinator of the social guard – grassroots based organizations for social justice. Besides that, Yannai the representative of the HaMaapil, the kibbutz he is living in, in the regional municipality of Emek Hefer.
- Sana Ibn Bari is a Grants Managers at the New Israel Fund, and has worked with different organizations, including as an attorney with the Association for Civil Rights in Israel. She also served as a project manager on matters affecting Israel’s Palestinian community at the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, a German organization focused on political education. In her various roles, Sana has participated in several United Nations delegations, representing the Arab Bedouin community in the Negev-Naqab on issues such as unrecognized villages and women’s rights.
- Maja Sojref is the Executive Director of the New Israel Fund Germany and will moderate the talk. She holds degrees in both Political Science and Modern Middle Eastern Studies.
The event will be held in English. A Zoom access link will be sent to all registered participants one day prior to the event
