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 — The selection of Giorgia Meloni as the Italian prime minister has produced a slew of commentary, pointing to the ascendance of the right across a number of polities. And where is Israel’s Labor Party? Once the selector of the country’s prime ministers, but the last was Ehud Barak, […]
By Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D JERUSALEM — At the start of a new Jewish year, there are good signs and other signs in our corner of the world. Attacks continue, more or less daily, mostly by individual Palestinians or small groups. Recently an 84 year old Israeli was clubbed to death on the street near her
Positive Signs in Israel for 5783 Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Israel, OpinionOver the years the Education Ministry has winked at partial compliance with its requirement. The schools of some Ashkenazi Haredi movements teach math, English, and Hebrew, less than described in the formal requirements, and others teach almost entirely religious matters, dedicating perhaps two hours per week to secular subjects. And all in Yiddish. [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]
Math English, Hebrew Get Short Shrift in Haredi Schools Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Israel, Science, Medicine, & Education
By Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D JERUSALEM — They seem to be on an upswing, but Palestinian attacks against Israelis are a continuous phenomenon. For a summary of attacks since May 2016 and through July 2022, provided by the Israeli government, in English, you can look here. A graphic display appears below. The first graph shows the
Terror, the Queen, and the deadline for Parties to Run in Israel’s Election Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Israel, Middle East, OpinionBy Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D JERUSALEM — Remember the disaster at Mt. Meron? It occurred in May,2021. Forty-five individuals died in a crowd crush and the collapse of the structure. According to newspaper reports, “Planning and safety officials expressed serious concerns over the wellbeing of pilgrims at Lag B’Omer festivities at Mount Meron last year, days
Is Mt. Meron Investigation the Last Straw for Netanyahu? Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Israel, Middle East, OpinionWe’re surrounded by a number of uncertainties. Nothing grand seems to be happening, but a number of issues have to be decided, one way or the other. [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]
Teacher Strike? Iran Pact? Israel Election? Much Is Uncertain! Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Israel, Middle East, USA
By Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D JERUSALEM — While many countries have adopted a separation of powers, the American case is an extreme example of a distinct executive, not associated with a parliament, as well as a further division between the federal government and 50 states. The full story of the United States must include the division
Separation of Powers Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Opinion, USABy Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D JERUSALEM — Israel has had primaries for the Labor Likud parties. There were changes in the line-ups of both. But most prominent was the success of former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Likud. His close supporters did well, in filling eight of the first 13 places on the ticket. Bibi’s critics
Unpacking the Israeli Primaries Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Israel, Middle East, OpinionBy Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D JERUSALEM — Currently, Israel is in the midst of what might be called an operation or a mini-war. It’s been going on for several days, and came in response to threats from Islamic Jihad in Gaza to attack Israel. That came in response to Israel’s arrest of an Islamic Jihad activist
Assessing the Conflict Between Islamic Jihad and Israel Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Israel, Middle East, OpinionBy Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D JERUSALEM — Israeli media have focused on the case of Rabab Abu Siam, an Arab woman, recently divorced, who was shot to death near her home in the city of Lod. She had been warned by police, who urged her to relocate. She did, but returned home to visit her three
Minorities and Murder Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, Opinion, USABy Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D JERUSALEM — It’s been a while since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Roe v Wade, and a bit less time since the same Court invalidated New York’s law against concealed weapons. But enough time for states’ actions to take their own course. A number of states — mostly in the
The Not-So United States Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Opinion, USABy Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D JERUSALEM — He’s 79, eligible for residence in our retirement village. But still active. A resident of Delaware, and a U.S. senator then vice president since 1973. Israeli politicians are claiming that he’s visited Israel more times than any other president, but that may reflect little more than his long service
Joe Biden and His Visit to Israel Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, Opinion, USAapid’s first words were his call for national unity. That hardly fits the image of a divided Israel, but it may work. The election is several months away, on November 1st, and that’s a long time in politics. Meanwhile, there’s been testimony about Netanyahu receiving and demanding gifts, especially cigars and champagne, worth hundreds of thousands of shekels. Despite that, there’s a poll published by Ma’ariv, showing Bibi with 61 seats in the Knesset for him and his allies. [Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D]
Lapid new PM, Netanyahu First in Poll as Biden Visit Approaches Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Middle East, USABy Ira Sharkansky JERUSALEM — The Supreme Court has rejected Roe v. Wade. Roe v. Wade occurred in 1973, and has served as the law of the land for almost 50 years. It was based on the 14th Amendment: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are
Abortion: Where Are We? Read More »
Ira Sharkansky, Opinion, USA