Dan Ben-David
Opinion Open Letter to the Next Generation: The Opportunity of Calamity
Israel’s political establishment has been leading us straight towards the iceberg for decades. Now the coronavirus pandemic actually creates opportunity for profound change
Opinion Israel’s Steady Productivity Retreat Since the 1970s
Much of the population is receiving neither the tools nor conditions to work in a globally competitive economy
Opinion Israel's 'Natural' Coalition Partners and Their Education
If the Haredim do not receive a first world education immediately, who will carry this country on their shoulders when the Haredim grow up?
Opinion The Israeli Bar Exam as a National Parable
A staggering 81 percent of graduates from 10 academic institutions failed the most recent Israeli bar exam. Greater transparency will force these institutions to up their game
Opinion The Education System That’s Endangering Israel’s Future
As a new school year begins, an expert examines the system’s root problems and their socioeconomic implications for the state
Opinion Israeli School Vacations, Shabbat and Thinking Within the Box
Israeli children have 34 more school days on average than kids in other developed countries. There is a way to reduce that and give all Israelis a two-day weekend in line with the West
Opinion You Won! Now What? A Note to Israel's ultra-Orthodox and Settlers
The Haredim and settlers need to understand: Not only will most American Jews abandon them, so will young educated Israelis - secular and religious
Opinion The Zionist Dream - Part 3
Outdated tags such as Left and Right increase divisive clustering instead of encouraging unobstructed and practical perspectives
Opinion Retooling the Zionist Dream
Today’s challenge is to look ahead and adjust the Zionist Dream to the 21st century. Part 2 of a three-part series.
Opinion A Zionist Dream Jump-starting Israel Into the 21st Century
Israelis are proud of their improvisational abilities, but that’s no way to run an entire country. Patchwork policies are no substitute for a vision that specifies where we want to go and a strategy detailing how to get there (Part I of III)
Opinion Will We Be the Next Generation's Chosen Land?
Whether the younger generation stays or leaves will determine Israel's fate
Exasperating Israel’s Patients: A Health System That Has Lost Its Way
Anyone who thinks Israel and the developed world are converging regarding health care should think again. The time has come for a different allocation of the limited national budget
Opinion The Most Important Policy for Israel's Future
Israel ranks last in the OECD in terms of students' inability to plan ahead or understand the consequences of their decisions.
The One-state Solution: Putting Jet Engines on the Titanic
The demographic and national-defense paradigms that still frame much of the Israeli debate are archaic: They ignore that even without the millions of poorly skilled and educated Palestinians, Israel is on an unsustainable socioeconomic trajectory.
Some Daylight on Western-style Weekends in Israel
Leaving Israel on daylight saving time for the entire year would resolve the weekend issue immediately.
The 'New' Politics and Economics
The lower housing prices we were promised won’t come from ignoring basic economics.
Saving the Israeli Oasis
At least half of Israel’s children already today - Arab Israelis and ultra-Orthodox Jews - receive an education at a level that is below that in many Third World countries.
Independence From Benefits - to Education
The time has come to redirect the NIS 7 billion that is currently being spent on child benefits.
Israel's Moment of Truth
A Third World economy like the kind Israel is heading toward cannot support a First World army. That's why we need an alternative to Plesner's proposals on drafting the ultra-Orthodox.
After a Turbulent Decade, What Does Israel's Future Hold?
In the realm of security and economics, this decade of illusions was too close for comfort to the 1930s.
Academic Vision and Nightmare
When the gauge is the number of Nobel science laureates per capita this decade, Israel is in a league of its own: The number of Israeli science laureates per million citizens is three times greater than in the countries that follow Israel in the rankings.
It's the System, Stupid
When the majority in Israel will not be able to independently finance its own existence, who will then be able to change the laws in order to reduce the necessary assistance - support that will be shouldered by an ever declining portion of the population?
The Other National Debt
While the country is obliged to provide financial support to those who serve it, it must completely stop all financial support to the free-riders.
The Tragic Truth of Modern Israel
The current coalition negotiations again raise the tragic truth of modern Israel: For quite a while, it has not been possible to govern in the Holy Land.
Learning the Education Basics
Over the years, Israeli society "progressed," and what we progressively forgot, the OECD is teaching us anew - the hard way.
Knesset Centrifuges
Until now, the government had preferred to turn a blind eye toward the unsanctioned curricula. From now on, they are official and will continue to be funded by our tax money.
Israeli Academia / The Bright Side
The story of higher education in Israel is a story about one of the jewels in the crown of the Zionist movement.