Ariel University Intl

What happens when a convenient smart-city app gains too much power?

A new Ariel University study by Dr. Jonathan Dortheimer and Gilad Chalfon of the Architectural Artificial Intelligence Research Laboratory examines the risks that can emerge when private smart-city software vendors operate without adequate regulation.

Using parking-payment applications in Israel as a case study, the researchers examine how insufficiently regulated software vendors may obtain and potentially abuse significant power over both their users and municipalities.

Examples examined in the study include:
🔹 Leveraging design flaws and “dark design” patterns
🔹 Using the punitive power of the law
🔹 Manipulating data
🔹 Potential breaches of existing law identified by the researchers
🔹 Mobilising users against municipalities

The research looks beyond whether an app is simply convenient or efficient and examines the power relationships that can develop when private digital platforms become embedded in everyday urban life.

The study, “Power and Ethical Concerns in the Integration of Smart City Technologies: A Case Study of Parking Payment Applications in Israel,” was published in the Journal of Urban Technology.
🔗 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10630732.2026.2655603

Beyond Anne Frank: Exploring the Representation of Jews in Dutch Cinema

How has Dutch cinema reflected and helped shape the Netherlands’ complex relationship with its Jewish community, the Holocaust and its own national identity?

In a new episode of the Tel Aviv Review podcast, Dr. Eyal Boers, Senior Lecturer and Head of the Film and Television Track at Ariel University’s School of Communication, discusses his new book, The Jew in Dutch Cinema: Images, Stereotypes and National Identity, published by Routledge Books in collaboration with Eye Filmmuseum and Amsterdam University Press.

Drawing on more than a century of Dutch film history, Dr. Boers examines how portrayals of Jews evolved from images of the outsider to representations closely connected with Dutch identity, memory and national self-perception.

The conversation also explores the important role of Jewish filmmakers in the development of Dutch cinema, changing representations of the Holocaust, and the ways cinema can both reflect and influence collective memory.

🎧 Listen to the full conversation, “Beyond Anne Frank: The Jew in Dutch Cinema”:
https://tlv1.fm/the-tel-aviv-review/2026/06/29/beyond-anne-frank-the-jew-in-dutch-cinema/?fbclid=IwY2xjawTFcZFleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFwOTVIbUE0eldpdWEzWGdwc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHkwQuiZwKXNXW3c0yMqQZqKY7ZopuT0X4Ad0Lbn7uQsUBLkwSiWTYVewUIAq_aem_9BlcYqEkRAuiL94hGfaAGA

📖 Information about the book is available through Routledge:
https://www.routledge.com/The.../Boers/p/book/9789048562510?fbclid=IwY2xjawTFccdleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFwOTVIbUE0eldpdWEzWGdwc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHuj7tm3MBpLqVuV1k29wGokWAGnGX-6zJQiyvPcGhChwVhsEIefzmf8dXmFk_aem_7qTlZvORhvWR44Ml_sKPWw

Beyond Anne Frank: The Jew in Dutch Cinema - Tel Aviv Review Dr. Eyal Boers takes us on a fascinating journey through more than a century of Dutch cinema, showing how films have reflected—and shaped—the Netherlands' evolving relationship with its Jewish community, the Holocaust, national identity, and Israel.

🇮🇱🇦🇷 Ariel University is heading to Argentina to strengthen academic, scientific and community ties between Israel and Latin America.

The visit will advance new partnerships, research collaboration, student exchanges and international study opportunities. It will also include the moving inauguration of an exhibition honouring the life and photographic legacy of Abi Korin z”l, an Argentine-Israeli murdered by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023.

Through education, innovation and remembrance, Ariel University is building lasting bridges between Israel and Argentina.

Read the full story in Itongadol.

Send a message to learn more

🇮🇳 🇮🇱 From culture and community to cyber and innovation, Ariel University is proud to be part of the growing conversation around India-Israel cooperation.

Ariel University was pleased to be represented at the recent Jewish & Indian Alliance leadership gathering in Tel Aviv, convened as part of Voice of the People, an initiative led by Israel’s President Isaac Herzog.

The gathering brought together entrepreneurs, diplomats, academics, innovators and community leaders to discuss practical ways to strengthen collaboration across education, innovation, public diplomacy, philanthropy and people-to-people engagement.

At Ariel University, this partnership is already part of campus life, through our Indian graduate student community, cultural celebrations including Diwali, Holi and Onam, the Ariel Warriors cricket team, and academic and innovation links with India in areas including cybersecurity, AI, data science, biomedical engineering and health sciences.

Thank you to the Jewish & Indian Alliance for helping spotlight this important and growing relationship.

Read the article here: https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bjn4xru7me

(Photo credit: Noa Muzzafi)

A Proud Achievement for Ariel University!

Ariel University is proud to congratulate Prof. Daniel Fitousi from the Department of Psychology on the international recognition of a paper he co-authored, which has won the 2026 British Psychological Society Cognitive Psychology Section Annual Award.

The award-winning paper, “Face Familiarity and Similarity: Within- and Between-Identity Representations Are Altered by Learning,” was authored by Dr. Robin Kramer from the University of Lincoln, UK, Dr. Alex Jones from Swansea University, UK, and Prof. Daniel Fitousi from Ariel University.

Published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, the study provides important insights into how we learn and recognize faces, showing that as a face becomes more familiar, different images of the same person are perceived as more similar, while images of different people become easier to distinguish.

This international research collaboration reflects the strength, quality, and global impact of research involving Ariel University.

Congratulations to Prof. Fitousi, Dr. Kramer, and Dr. Jones on this outstanding academic recognition.

🇫🇷 Ariel University in Paris! 🇮🇱

Ariel University was proud to take part in the Masa Israel Journey Study & Programs Fair in Paris, meeting French students and families interested in studying in Israel.

Led by Professor Dafne Guetta, Head of Ariel University’s International Affairs Office, together with Shirel Bellahsan, our team had a fantastic day of conversations about academic programs, student life, and the opportunities waiting for international students at Ariel University.

The interest was incredible, and yes, our table had one of the longest lines at the fair! 💪

A big thank you to Masa Israel Journey and the organizers for bringing together so many future students and Israel-focused programs under one roof.

Merci, Paris. We look forward to welcoming you to Ariel University soon.

Dafne Guetta מסע - Masa Israel Journey Agence Juive

It was fantastic to meet so many recent Olim and Aliyah candidates at the National Higher Education Fair in Jerusalem.

Ariel University was proud to take part in this important event and to speak with prospective students about academic opportunities, student life, admissions pathways, and the support available for those building their future in Israel.

We look forward to continuing the conversation with everyone we met and hope to welcome many of you to our campus soon.

A sincere thank you to the Israel Student Authority and the Jewish Agency for organizing such a meaningful and valuable event, and for bringing together young Olim from absorption centers across the country.

Honorary Doctorate Ceremony at Ariel University 🎓✨

Today, Ariel University held a meaningful and inspiring ceremony on campus, conferring honorary doctorate degrees on seven distinguished figures whose work reflects excellence, leadership, public impact, and an extraordinary contribution to Israeli society.

Recipients of Ariel University’s 2026 Honorary Doctorates:

🔹 Prof. Yonina Eldar
🔹 Adi Altschuler
🔹 Prof. Avraham Gover
🔹 Grandmaster Boris Gelfand
🔹 Efrat and Hanoch Daum
🔹 Brig. Gen. (Res.) Avigdor Kahalani

The ceremony reflected Ariel University’s deep appreciation for the recipients and their significant contributions to the State of Israel, academia, culture, security, innovation, and society as a whole.

We thank the guests, families, and participants who joined us for this special occasion, and we wish the honorary doctorate recipients continued success, meaningful impact, and many more fruitful endeavors. 🙏💙