Molad is an independent, non-partisan Israeli think tank that works to reinvigorate Israeli society by injecting new ideas into all spheres of public discourse. Our vision combines liberal values with a realistic approach to the political and geopolitical challenges of Israeli reality. We inform public debate with responsible content that meets the highest possible standards of research and analysis – the dearth of which has played a crucial role in Israel’s ongoing state of crisis.
Israel is facing weighty challenges that threaten to undermine citizens’ ability to live worthy, fulfilled lives. In the realm of foreign affairs and security, maintaining control over the Palestinian territories is increasingly pushing Israel towards international isolation, expanding its regional isolation, and compromising its future as a democratic state. Civil society is seeing an upsurge in tribal attitudes that are incompatible with the modern way of life. Socioeconomically, growing inequality is dividing a small, well-off elite from rising numbers of citizens who earn too little, pay too much for their basic needs, and can no longer rely on the state’s social safety net.
For Israeli society to meet these challenges successfully, it is imperative to fully comprehend their causes and distinguish real solutions from political spins and ideological delusions. Israeli politics often appear as little more than an arena for skirmishes over special and even personal interests. We believe that our political system must be reorganized according to rival ideas, ideological outlooks and policy proposals. By narrowing the political imagination of Israel's citizens, current political discourse cannot adequately meet the real challenges that Israel faces.
Molad’s rigorous multi-disciplinary research offers fresh alternatives to stagnant political discourse in and about Israel. While we guard our intellectual independence and reject affiliation with any political party, person, or movement, Molad does not present itself as a-political. We believe that the solutions to Israel’s security threats and social and economic ills lie in a democratic system that will embody the interests and true ambitions of its citizens.
History
Molad was founded in 2012 by Avner Inbar and Assaf Sharon, in partnership with staff members and fellows hailing from Israeli civil society organizations, academia and politics. The Center’s work quickly gained influence within Israeli public discourse. In-depth reports on Israeli hasbara, on the problem of Israel’s international isolation, and on renewal of the two-state idea received broad, positive coverage in both Israel and international media; periodical public opinion surveys and their analysis helped changed political strategy of Israeli center-left parties; Molad’s public outreach department created influential platforms for disseminating accessible, reliable public information; and Molad’s publishing house reinforces the intellectual foundations of our work. The Forum for Regional Thinking, launched at Molad in 2014, provides Israeli decision-makers and opinion-shapers with in-depth, reliable information and analysis on developments in the Middle East.
