Jerusalem
The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom has been operating in Israel since 1983 and established its Palestinian Desk in 1994. With an Israeli-Palestinian team in a joint office in Jerusalem the foundation aims to be a platform of innovation for enhancing freedom in society, strengthening dialogue with the European Union and contribute to the advancement of Israeli-Palestinian dialogue leading towards peace. Together with our partners, we want to strengthen liberal core values like the rule of law and democracy, the respect of human dignity with civil and human rights, market economy principles and entrepreneurship and a democratic culture of tolerance and pluralism.
News
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Cautious Steps towards Democracy: The Upcoming Palestinian Local Elections
The electoral ballot boxes for the upcoming Palestinian local elections are being prepared in the West Bank following the electoral campaign that began in November. Under growing authoritarian rule, public expectations for concrete change remain shallow. Still, and despite the shrinking support for the Palestinian Authority, many Palestinians hope that local elections could be a first step for the renewal of democratic processes.
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Israel's Bennett-Lapid Government is a Victory for Democracy
The new and most ideologically diverse government in the history of Israel does not raise high expectations. It seems neither Left nor Right expect paradise from a coalition built on so much compromise. Yet to the polarized political climate of recent years, this is revolutionary. Only a month ago Israel faced one of the worst eruptions of communal violence in years.
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Gateway to the World - Jerusalem Airport 1948-1967
The exhibition “Gateway to the World: Jerusalem Airport 1948-1967" is dedicated to the golden age of the now-defunct Jerusalem Airport and sheds light on its pivotal role in the economic and social life of Jordanian Jerusalem. The juxtaposing of historic and contemporary images, “then" vs. "now”, featuring photos taken from various sources - including the family archive of Dr. Mohammad Al-Qutob and the images by photographer Arik Shraga.
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The Illusion of Peace without the Palestinians Is Fading
Ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and the Islamic Jihad so far holds after more than 4,000 rockets at Israel, with 12 dead, according to Israeli sources, and Israeli air strikes on more than 800 targets in the Gaza Strip, with more than 240 dead, according to Palestinian sources. Military experts believe that Israel achieved in one week as many tactical objectives in Gaza with targeted air strikes, as it did in seven weeks of a costly ground offensive in 2014.
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Israel One to Four: 1 Deadlock, 2 Years, 3 Lockdowns, 4 Elections
On the night of the 22nd of December 2020, the Knesset (Israeli parliament) disbanded, sending Israel to early elections only 9 months after its last. This will be the fourth round of Israeli elections in just two years, and according to current polls even a fifth round might be around the corner.
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Elections in Israel: End time for „King Bibi“
A week before elections, Israeli views on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remain divided. A repeated stalemate could result in a fifth elections within two years. Nevertheless, the end of Netanyahu's time in power is near - while a liberal center is stabilizing under Yesh Atid. Analysis by our Israel expert Julius von Freytag-Loringhoven.
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“Vaccination Nation“ Israel – A Role Model for Germany?
With over 100,000 vaccinations on Thursday with more than 4.6 Million people in Israel, half the country is vaccinated. Over 35% of the population already received their immunizing second dose. After the astonishment over the Israeli Start-Up boom of the last two decades, the international community awaits the “secret recipe” of the Israeli vaccination-miracle.
Social Media
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Another flashback from our Values & Innovation Conference: Why did Google erase its slogan “Do no evil”? Is there a generation gap in the understanding of data privacy? How to regulate companies that have more power than some states? What is the connection between bitcoin and the environment? The last session of our Values & Innovation Conference was a truly fascinating discussion about the evolution of the big tech giants from the vanguard actors challenging the old systems in the 90ies to super powers they are today. According to Prof. Ehud Shapiro from the Weizmann Institute of Science they have become something like feudal rulers. Hear what Emi Palmor, former Director-General of the Israeli Ministry of Justice and Member of the Facebook Oversight Board, Nimrod Kozlovski, Partner and co-founder of Cytactic and a lecturer at Tel Aviv University on cybersecurity studies, and Prof. Ehud Shapiro, lecturer of computer science and biology at the Weizmann Institute of Science have to say on this important topic: https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3923809,00.html #InnovationValues #Calcalist #FNFJerusalem
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We had a good reason to celebrate yesterday as our dear colleague Georgette celebrated her birthday. 🎂🤤🎂🤤🎂 Happy Birthday dear Georgette, wishing you good health, many reasons to laugh, and self fulfillment! 😍😍😍 This office would definitely not be the same without you!
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How should politicians of liberal democracies tackle the challenge of surveillance capitalism? How to keep in check the massive influence big platforms have on our societies while continuing to enjoy the benefits of their services? What should we learn from the revelations of the most recent Facebook whistle blower Frances Haugen? 🧐 Our very own Ann Cathrin Riedel thinks it is high time our politicians get their heads out of the sand and do what they are meant to do: come up with clear and effective regulation policies!💪🏽 According to Ann Cathrin, the increasing exchange between Brussels and Washington in these matters is encouraging. Defenders of liberal democracy need to find the right balance, to allow innovation to thrive while also safeguarding human rights at the same time. And we as citizens, according to her advice, need to be on alert regarding the enormous affects these platforms have on our own lives.🔎 For more, follow the link to the interview with Ann Cathrin Riedel, who is FNF’s theme manager for Digitalization & Innovation and Chairwoman of the Society for Liberal Web Policy as well as VP of European Society for Digital Sovereignty. https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3923803,00.html #InnovationValues #Calcalist #FNFJerusalem
