‘Unprecedented achievement’ for Israel joining European Social Survey October 15, 2019Israeli Minister of Science Ofir Akunis (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)Yonatan Sindel/Flash90‘Unprecedented achievement’ for Israel joining European Social SurveyThe survey measures the attitudes, beliefs, and behavior patterns of diverse populations in more than 30 nations. By Aryeh Savir,TPSThe European Social Survey (ESS) voted last week to add Israel to its ranks, making it the first non-European country to join the organization.Israel has until now retained the status of an ancillary state but, last Thursday, became the 25th member state of the ESS.The ESS is an academic cross-national survey that has been conducted through Europe since its establishment in 2001. Every two years, face-to-face interviews are conducted with newly selected, cross-sectional samples.The survey measures the attitudes, beliefs, and behavior patterns of diverse populations in more than 30 nations.Israeli Minister of Science and Technology Ofir Akunis lauded the development as “another unprecedented breakthrough achievement in Israeli science.”Israeli membership in the ESS “proves once again both its excellent capabilities of science, technology, and innovation, as well as the huge international demand for Israeli knowledge and research in the professional community around the world,” he said. Ofir Akunis