ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of democracy in Israel which is based on the assumption that the hidden, yet most important component in liberal democracies is the unwritten contract between voters and elected officials, between citizens and leaders. Israeli democracy is functioning well due to the maintenance of judicial independence, which does not hesitate to bring the high and mighty to justice for corruption. Demonstrating the resilience of Israeli democracy, the elections of 1977 saw Mapai, ousted from power at the ballot box with the subsequent transition of power carried out smoothly, consensually and non-violently. One of the major strengths of Israeli democracy has been the existence of an independent judicial system. The main threats to Israeli democracy derive from the inability to resolve four main challenges: the continuous occupation of the West Bank since 1967; the status of Arab citizens in Israel; the growing socioeconomic gaps between Israeli citizens; and the unresolved issue of balancing religion and state.
