With the outbreak of the Corona crisis, we harnessed our best effort in an attempt to present insights and possible ways of action that would make the corona crisis an opportunity that would put the State of Israel on a path of growth and well-being for all its residents. We have endeavoured to present a broad systemic analysis — the product of discussions in a forum of 50 senior scholars and experts, who reflected a variety of opinions. These insights were presented at a round table meeting organized by us and held on 02.04.2020. Immediately following, extensive work was initiated by the Center for Industrial Excellence, comprising 10 teams of experts in various fields within the Samuel Neaman Institute.
Summary of insights and recommendations:
- Decisive action to reduce social gaps, which have become more visible and more critical as a result of the crisis, with fair and respectful treatment of vulnerable sectors and disadvantaged populations and strengthening of civil society organizations.
- Opportunity for more respectful integration of the ultra-Orthodox and Arab societies into Israeli economy and society, considering the fall of divisions among us and the sharing of fate we all experienced during the coronavirus crisis.
- Reorganizing the health care system and the emergency management preparedness, recognizing that we must be better prepared for future mega events, related to health, environment or security.
- Upgrading public investment in the environmental fields, combining a taxation system that will encourage streamlining of natural resources and the maintenance of reduced pollution and carbon dioxide.
- Leveraging the crisis-shaped change of consciousness to guide the education system toward the needs of the 21st Century and strengthening its interface with academic education and encouraging active online education.
- Upgrading productivity in all sectors of the economy, utilizing technologies that are included in the fourth industrial revolution, and that will allow organizations to reinvent themselves.
- Adapting the industrial structure and job market to the new reality, considering strategic needs of local capabilities and empowering economic sectors, where we can develop and create comparative advantage.
- New National Deal plan. focusing on infrastructure investment, driving growth in the coming expected period of recession and unemployment
- Formulating the structural and cognitive conditions for the growth of credible and high-quality national leadership, striving to create social solidarity, while maintaining democratic values.
- Concern about the accelerating erosion of the global position and role of the United States, which requires us to be prepared for a new reality and its political, security and economic implications
