The Independence of Israeli Local Authority in Times of Emergency: Holon Municipality during the Covid-19 Pandemic

The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the critical role of local authorities in managing public health crises, especially within the constraints of centralized policies. In Israel, this raised questions about the appropriate level of local autonomy during emergencies. This study examines Holon Municipality as a case study, using Andreas Ladner's Local Autonomy Index (LAI) and interviews with twelve senior municipal managers conducted in early 2022. The findings reveal a strong commitment by local officials to residents' welfare, but also expose their limited legal independence and a patronizing attitude from central ministries. Local authorities were often treated as implementers rather than autonomous actors. The study calls for reevaluating the power balance between central and local governments and stresses the need for broader comparative research to understand and enhance local autonomy in times of crisis.