Conference Presentation
Equality under Emergency: Arab Citizens, Minority Rights and Israeli Constitutionalism after October 7
Speaker
Prof. Barak Medina
Date & Time
Monday, 25 January 2027
15:00–16:00 CET
Format
Live Online via Zoom
Contact
barak.medina@mail.huji.ac.ilProf. Barak Medina
Landecker-Ferencz Chair in the Study of Protection of Minorities and Vulnerable Groups
Faculty of Law
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Israel
Presentation Details
Monday, 25 January 2027
15:00–16:00 CET
Christians and Muslims in Israel — Facts, Myths and Lived Reality
Religion, Society & Interreligious Studies
International Academic Conference Series
Institute for Hebrew Language and Literature
Belgrade, Serbia
Live online via Zoom
Academic Profile
Prof. Barak Medina holds the Landecker-Ferencz Chair in the Study of Protection of Minorities and Vulnerable Groups at the Faculty of Law, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
He previously served as Dean of the Faculty of Law from 2009 to 2012 and Rector of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem from 2017 to 2022.
His academic research focuses on constitutional law, human rights, minority protection, the right to equality, freedom of expression, judicial review, constitutionalism, and the economic analysis of law.
His scholarship addresses theoretical, comparative, and doctrinal questions concerning constitutional rights, democratic institutions, and the relationship between legal principles and public policy.
He has authored numerous scholarly articles and several books, including major works on Israeli constitutional law, human rights law, and law and economics.
His academic career has also included visiting professorships at Columbia University and the University of California, Berkeley.
Abstract
The October 7 attack against Israel and the war that followed it did not result in a formal change in the constitutional commitment to treat the Arab Israeli citizens as equals to the Jewish citizens. While many in the Arab community in Israel raised concern of the situation in Gaza during the war, there were hardly any expressions supporting the October 7 attack and no terror activities by Israeli Arab citizens. To the contrary, the war resulted in a greater willingness of the Arab minority to integrate into Israeli society.
Nevertheless, the state of emergency has increased the tendency of many among the Jewish majority and the government to express distrust in the Arab minority. This position has translated to violations of the right to free speech and to a political campaign delegitimizing the political parties representing the Arab minority as coalition partners. While the Supreme Court did adopt these positions, it did not offer the Arab minority sufficient protection of their rights and freedoms.
Research Interests
- Constitutional Law
- Israeli Constitutional Law
- Human Rights Law
- Minority Rights
- Protection of Vulnerable Groups
- Equality Before the Law
- Freedom of Speech
- Judicial Review
- Constitutionalism
- Law and Economics
- Democratic Institutions
- Comparative Constitutional Law
Academic Background
LL.B. in Law, cum laude
Tel Aviv University, Israel
B.A. in Economics, cum laude
Tel Aviv University, Israel
M.A. in Economics
Tel Aviv University, Israel
LL.M. in Law
Harvard Law School, United States
Ph.D. in Economics
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
Academic Appointments and Leadership
Dean, Faculty of Law
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Rector
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Landecker-Ferencz Chair in the Study of Protection of Minorities and Vulnerable Groups
Faculty of Law, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Academic Director, Minerva Center for Human Rights
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Selected Academic Publications
Medina, Barak. (2026). "On Constitutional Identity, Democratic Legitimacy, and Judicial Review in Times of Democratic Backsliding: The Case of Israel." International Journal of Constitutional Law, 24(2), 681–708.
Medina, Barak. (2024). "Legal Challenges of Mass Demonstrations: The Case of Israel." Jahrbuch des Öffentlichen Rechts, 72, 239–252.
Zamir, Eyal, and Barak Medina. (2010). Law, Economics, and Morality. Oxford University Press.
Medina, Barak. (2016). Human Rights Law in Israel. Hebrew-language publication.
Rubinstein, Amnon, and Barak Medina. (2005). The Constitutional Law of the State of Israel: Institutions. Sixth edition, Hebrew-language publication.
Official Academic Profiles
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem — Faculty of Law
https://en.law.huji.ac.il/people/barak-medina →The Hebrew University of Jerusalem — Research Information System
https://cris.huji.ac.il/en/persons/barak-medina/ →ORCID
0000-0001-6643-5646 →Conference Participation
Prof. Barak Medina presents "Equality under Emergency: Arab Citizens, Minority Rights and Israeli Constitutionalism after October 7" at the Religion, Society & Interreligious Studies International Academic Conference Series on Monday, 25 January 2027, from 15:00 to 16:00 CET.
The conference, "Christians and Muslims in Israel — Facts, Myths and Lived Reality," is organised by the Institute for Hebrew Language and Literature, Belgrade, Serbia, and takes place live online via Zoom.
The presentation examines constitutional equality, the legal position of Arab citizens of Israel, minority rights, freedom of expression, and the protection of constitutional rights during states of emergency.
Keywords
Suggested Citation
Medina, Barak. "Equality under Emergency: Arab Citizens, Minority Rights and Israeli Constitutionalism after October 7." Presentation at Christians and Muslims in Israel — Facts, Myths and Lived Reality, Religion, Society & Interreligious Studies International Academic Conference Series, Institute for Hebrew Language and Literature, 25 January 2027.
Attend Prof. Barak Medina's Presentation
Join Prof. Barak Medina's live online presentation on Monday, 25 January 2027, from 15:00 to 16:00 CET.