Ira Sharkansky is professor emeritus of political science and public administration at Hebrew University.
His books, which are available on Amazon, include:
*Alternative federal solutions to the problem of the administered territories
*Ambiguity, Coping, and Governance: Israeli Experiences in Politics, Religion, and Policymaking
*Ancient and Modern Israel: An Exploration of Political Parallels
*Coping with Terror: An Israeli Perspective
* Governing Israel: Chosen People, Promised Land and Prophetic Tradition
*Governing Jerusalem: Again on the World’s Agenda
* Israel and its Bible: A Political Analysis
* Maligned States: policy accomplishments, problems and opportunities
* Policy Analysis in Political Science
* Policy and Politics in American Governments
* Policy Making in Israel: Routines for Simple Problems and Coping with the Complex
* Politics and Planning in the Holy City
* Politics and Policymaking in Search of Simplicity
* Public Administration: Agencies, Policies, and Politics
* Public Administration Policy Making in Government Agencies
* Public Administration (2nd Edition): Policy Making in Government Agencies
* Regionalism in American Politics
* Rituals of Conflict: Religion, Politics, and Public Policy in Israel
* Spending in the American States
* The Policy Predicament: Making and Implementing Public Policy
* The Political Economy of Israel
* The Politics of Religion and the Religion of Politics
*The Politics of Taxing and Spending
* The Routines of Politics
* The United States: A Study of a Developing Country
* The United States Revisited: A Study of a Still Developing Country
* Urban Politics and Public Policy [Robert Lineberry]
* What Makes Israel Tick: How Domestic Policy-Makers Cope with Restraints
* Wither the State: Politics and Public Enterprise in Three Countries
By Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D JERUSALEM — More than 350,000 reservists have been called up. Many have been sent to the north, and many have been practicing an invasion of Gaza. But there are delays. Some, with the support of the U.S., say that we should wait until the return of hostages. Others say that […]
Waiting for the Invasion of Gaza Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Israel, Opinion, USA
By Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D JERUSALEM — The longest serving leader in Israel’s history. A senior minister, leader of the opposition, or prime minister since 1996. Currently with a tiny Knesset majority of four seats. Last weekend’s poll shows a tie between the government and the opposition, which is an improvement over earlier polls. Benny Gantz
Netanyahu Remains Elusive Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Israel, Opinion
By Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D JERUSALEM — Is it a sign of trouble? Or another wave of indecision? Itamar Ben-Gvir has demanded more control over the police, and threatens not voting with the coalition if it is not given. Apparently, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Bibi) has said “go ahead,” or “find a better home for yourself.”
Israel’s Government: Another Wave of Indecision? Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Israel, OpinionBy Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D JERUSALEM — There were 150,000 Israelis demonstrating in support of judicial reform. That’s about as big of a crowd as provided by opponents. So it’s close to a tied score. Right-wing extremists are excited. Yari Levin, Bezalel Smotrich, Itamar Ben-Gvir, and Simcha Rothman are pressing for action. Reports from before this
Close to a Tied Score on Judicial Reform Protests Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Israel, Opinion, USABy Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D JERUSALEM — Last week was Yom HaShoah, Israel’s day to remember the Holocaust. There are fewer each year who tell their stories. For the most part, they were very young. Some did not realize what was happening. Christian families received them, and their parents went elsewhere. Christian Churches helped, including the
Israel’s Painful Holidays Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Israel, OpinionBy Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara are said to have demanded that son Yair stop posting on social media, and avoid speaking with politicians. Apparently, those demands came after Yair ignited tensions within Israel and overseas, especially with the United States. Whatever? Yair was last seen walking
A Problem in the Netanyahu Family: Limiting Dad’s Capacity to Manage? Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Israel, Opinion, USABy Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D JERUSALEM — It’s Pesach. And Ramadan. It’s also Easter, but the Christians here are below the line of violence, and all is peaceful as far as they are concerned. There has been some killing. Two sisters gunned down in the Jordan Valley, with their mother in a very serious condition. And
Israel Operating on Less Than a Full Tank Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Israel, OpinionBy Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suspended new judicial reform legislation until after the holidays. That means until close to the end of this month. Meanwhile, demonstrations continue around the country, with tens, if not hundreds of thousands gathering to protest what may happen when the suspension ends. Criticism continues, focused
Waiting and Wondering in Israel Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Israel, OpinionBy Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D JERUSALEM — Minister of Finance, with some power over defense, Bezalel Smotrich, has inspired anger from American and other foreign officials, for his call about destroying the Arab settlement where two Jews were murdered. Itamar Ben-Gvir, the Minister of Security, with power over the police, has quarreled, and gotten only partial
A Shaky Government in Israel Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Israel, OpinionBy Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D JERUSALEM — Israel seems mired in a context of reform proposals, which would increase the power of politicians over the judiciary. One proposal would increase the power of the government in naming judges; another would provide the ruling party the power to override decisions of the Supreme Court. A third proposal
More Noise Than Action in Israel Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Israel, OpinionBy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — For the seventh consecutive week, as Sabbath ended, hundreds of thousands of Israelis protested what the government is proposing on judicial reform. Seeing it as politicians taking over the judicial process by increasing their control over nominations to the Supreme Court, and limiting the Court from overturning Knesset enactments.
Protests Continue in Israel. What’s Next? Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Israel, OpinionBy Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D JERUSALEM — The protests are mounting in Israel. Street demonstrations, on the bridges over main highways, as well as known personalities commenting against the government and its recommendations. And major investors, threatening or actually taking money and themselves away from Israel. All due to proposals, and actions, against the judiciary: giving
Protests Mounting in Israel. What Does it Mean? Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Israel, OpinionBy Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D JERUSALEM — Israel’s government has an edge in the Knesset, but it’s only four seats. And there is substantial opposition to what its extreme members are proposing to do with the judiciary. One option is for a Knesset majority able to override the Supreme Court’s opposition to a Knesset law or
Substantial Opposition and Continued Uncertainties in Israel Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Israel, Opinion, USABy Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D JERUSALEM — The latest round of violence in Israel began last week, when Israeli security forces killed 10 Palestinians in a raid on Jenin, said to be focused on Palestinians planning a raid on Israeli targets. According to Palestinian reports, one of the dead was an elderly woman. On the eve
Israel’s Cycle of Violence Flares Up Again Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Israel, Opinion