Israel Democracy Institute Conference Addresses Economic, Military Challenges
The Israel Democracy Institute’s (IDI) Eli Hurvitz Conference on Economy and Society opened with remarks from President Isaac Herzog, setting a focused tone for discussions on Israel’s economic and military challenges. The morning sessions included expert panels on budgetary frameworks, capital markets, and financing for rehabilitation and growth, featuring top economic and innovation specialists from government, academia, and the private sector.
US Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew participated in an in-depth conversation with IDI President Yohanan Plesner. Ambassador Lew emphasized the US’s unwavering support for Israel, particularly regarding recent developments with the International Criminal Court (ICC). “The United States rejects the notion that we can compare the actions taken by the democratic government of Israel with the actions of a terrorist organization,” he stated, highlighting the importance of distinguishing between Israel’s efforts and those of groups like Hamas.
The conference also included critical discussions on the integration of ultra-Orthodox Jews into military service and the broader civil service sector. Prof. Karnit Flug, former Bank of Israel governor, warned about the economic repercussions of inaction: “The potential damage from a lack of economic policy response is enormous. We need a profound change in budget priorities.”
Shlomi Heizler, director general of the Finance Ministry, underscored the need for a robust military: “If there is not an increase in the number of IDF soldiers, the economic burden on the State of Israel and reserve soldiers will be huge.”
Yogev Gardos, budgets director at the Finance Ministry, spoke about integrating Haredi and Arab populations into national service to share the economic and security burdens.
The conference continued with sessions on labor market impacts, economic revival in northern and southern Israel, and global trends affecting the Israeli economy. Discussions also focused on regional cooperation as a lever for future prosperity.
Yossi Shelley, director general of the Prime Minister’s Office, and Maj. Gen. (ret.) Orna Barbivai, among others, contributed to the afternoon sessions, discussing the role of civil servants and the need for comprehensive policy reforms.
The conference continues today with sessions on the effects of the war on the labor market, economic revival in northern and southern Israel, and regional cooperation as a lever for future prosperity.
