Activities

Max Planck Center for Democracy, Security, and Human Rights

Meetings of the Joint Seminar

• June 16, 2026
  Prof. Tali Gal, “Children’s rights and needs during war: the case of adolescents in Israel”
  Using surveys in Hebrew and in Arabic, Prof. Gal has explored the impact of prolonged war on adolescents across different parameters, based on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Her study reveals shifts in exposure to verbal violence, fear of other groups, and the sense of freedom to express one’s opinion, among other things. We will discuss the implications of the study for children’s rights.

• May 4, 2026
  Prof. Badi Hasisi, “An integrative problem-solving approach to policing”
  Prof. Hasisi discussed policing and under-policing in East Jerusalem and other Arab-Palestinian municipalities in Israel. He made the case for adopting proactive policing strategies that have shown positive results in crime reduction, particularly in the category of political offenses. The integrative approach includes focused deterrence, place-based policing, cognitive behavioral therapy, diversion to non-enforcement tracks, and interventions at the community level. 

• April 13, 2026
  Prof. Ralf Poscher “Introduction to German Police Law”
  Police law is essentially concerned with danger prevention. It regulates the powers of the police as the central authority responsible for danger prevention. Prof. Poscher will take us through the central elements of police law: how danger prevention is authorized, the task of the police and of other general security authorities, police measures, the assessment of danger—as well as the role that proportionality and individual rights play in checking excessive power.
   
• March 17, 2026
  Chief Justice (emeritus) Prof. Aharon Barak, “The German Constitutional Law: An Israeli Perspective”
  Prof. Barak discussed the influence of the German Grundgesetz on Israel’s constitutional law from its early days to present times, particularly the principles of militant democracy, human dignity, and proportionality. Among his valuable insights and anecdotes, Prof. Barak shared his thoughts on the fundamental role of constitutional courts in defending liberal democracy.
   
• March 2, 2026
  Marc Bovermann, “Introduction to German Constitutional Law”
  Mr. Bovermann provided a brief English-language overview of German constitutional law, which included an introduction to key Basic Law provisions, an analysis of their associated Federal Constitutional Court jurisprudence, and a discussion of freedom of expression and militant democracy in German law.
   
• February 9, 2026
  Prof. Barak Medina, “On Constitutional Identity, Democratic Legitimacy, and Judicial Review in Times of Democratic Backsliding: The Case of Israel”
  Prof. Medina introduced the Israeli Supreme Court’s recent decisions invalidating constitutional amendments that were part of government attempts at “Legal Reform,” which relied on the concepts of democratic legitimacy and constitutional identity. According to Prof. Medina, explaining the decisions according to these concepts contributes to a better understanding of the developing doctrine of unconstitutional constitutional amendment, and helps to justify the Israeli Supreme Court’s approach.