BySHERWIN POMERANTZ

JUNE 2, 2026 14:00

This marks the concluding segment of a three-part series. Part I proposed measures to build a genuinely representative government by expanding the Knesset to 240 members, electing MKs through district representation instead of party lists, and setting a two-term limit of eight to ten years for all legislators.

Part II examined the governmental frameworks required to serve a population fifteen times larger than at the state's founding, drawn from roots in more than one hundred distinct cultures.

This final installment focuses on the social obstacles within Israeli society that require resolution to reach the centennial of independence successfully.

Israel's Declaration of Independence

The Declaration of Independence offers clear direction for building a productive society through this passage:

"The State of Israel... will foster the development of the country for the benefit of all its inhabitants; it will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex; (and) it will guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, language, education and culture."

The emphasized phrase "all its inhabitants" underscores that every resident should enjoy the advantages of life in Israel and, by extension, bear a proportional share of responsibilities alongside fellow citizens.

Following this principle, numerous matters demand attention to secure the nation's endurance.

Equality of infrastructure and services

Every resident of Israel deserves equivalent foundational infrastructure. Roads, educational facilities, healthcare access, and social services must maintain consistent standards nationwide, from affluent areas in north Tel Aviv to densely populated Umm el-Fahm.

In a contemporary society, variations in infrastructure quality between regions are unacceptable.

Equality of justice

The Torah directive "Justice, justice shall you pursue" (Deuteronomy 16:20) serves as a core imperative for maintaining fairness and equity. All individuals must face identical legal standards.

For instance, legislation that circumvents judicial processes to impose summary capital punishment on convicted terrorists, enacted by the Knesset earlier this year, deviates from this principle, particularly when crafted to apply primarily to Arab offenders.

This occurs amid more than 4,500 recorded settler incidents against Arab communities since the current government assumed office in December 2022, averaging four daily, with minimal accountability for those responsible. A lawful society must confront this disparity promptly.

Crime within Arab communities represents another urgent national concern, fueled by organized networks, inter-gang conflicts, and unlicensed firearms. Although comprising one-fifth of the population, Arab citizens experience disproportionately high rates of violent offenses and fatalities.

Arab community leaders recognize that the problem stems not solely from enforcement but from broader social shortcomings and the infrastructure disparities noted earlier. Meaningful progress calls for a coordinated national strategy, which remains absent.

Consequently, authorities should form a standing interministerial task force to tackle the violence through integrated efforts in education, welfare, employment, infrastructure, policing, and municipal administration. This approach reflects how responsible nations handle entrenched systemic issues.

Equality of service

After 78 years in a challenging regional setting and amid global instability, defending Israel stands as a paramount priority, perhaps exceeding any period since the founding war. Reserve personnel now face extended active-duty periods that approach unsustainable levels.

Military experts indicate the IDF confronts an immediate shortfall of roughly 12,000 to 15,000 personnel, including 7,000 to 9,000 in combat roles. This gap arises from sustained operations across multiple fronts and is projected to intensify without swift intervention.

The sole equitable solution requires that all eligible and fit individuals contribute through IDF service or National Service. This obligation extends to Arab citizens and the haredi community alike. Those who gain from residence here hold a corresponding duty to support defense requirements. The matter warrants resolution in a manner fair to everyone. Universal participation is essential.

Monitoring the language of dialogue

True equality and societal advancement depend on fostering mutual respect and employing constructive language in exchanges. Respectful communication features attentive listening, inclusive expressions, and courteous phrasing. It promotes security and fosters confidence. Appropriate words and tones demonstrate regard for others' views, input, and limits.

Although Israel does not qualify as a "soft" environment in personal interactions, established patterns remain open to modification.

Consider the November 12, 2015, meeting during former Mississippi governor Phil Bryant's visit to Israel, where he engaged with ORT representatives in Tel Aviv. I participated in that discussion on overcoming entrenched societal habits.

Bryant noted that habits are changeable. He highlighted how a 1995 gathering would have featured ashtrays for smokers on the table, yet by 2015 smoking had been banned in public venues such as ORT. The illustration was clear.

For Israel, serving as a light unto the nations aligns with tradition alongside the duty to reside here and develop the land. Changing habits and fully embracing the Declaration of Independence's call to "ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants" will prove necessary. Success in this endeavor remains the hope.

The writer, a 42-year resident of Jerusalem, is a former national president of the Association of Americans and Canadians in Israel, a past chairperson of the board of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, and a Board Member of the Israel-America Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM).