Conference Summaries
/ Israel and the Middle East
Building Hope: Choosing the Diplomatic Path
The 8th Annual Conference of the Mitvim Institute
Conference Summary
At the 8th Annual Mitvim Conference, held in partnership with the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), over 300 participants from Israel and abroad joined senior diplomatic, political, and civil society leaders to engage in strategic discussions on Israel’s future direction. The event brought together 17 foreign and Israeli ambassadors, including EU Ambassador to Israel Michael Mann and Israel’s Ambassador to Turkey Irit Lillian, alongside dozens of senior diplomats from six continents.
The conference opened with the chair of the democrats, Yair Golan, and featured six prominent MKs (Members of Knesset) from three parties, as well as leading members of the international and regional policy community, including former Jordanian Foreign Minister Jawad Anani, Mitvim’s senior Saudi policy fellow Aziz Al Alghashian, and policymakers from Egypt, Palestine, the UAE, and Jordan. A wide array of influential civil society organizations participated, such as the New Israel Fund (NIF), EcoPeace, the Berl Katznelson Foundation, J Street, Diplomeds, Standing Together, Mehazkim, and others.
The depth and diversity of expertise, from diplomats to academics to practitioners, created an exceptional platform for advancing a shared strategic vision: promoting diplomatic pathways over confrontation, strengthening regional partnerships, and safeguarding the future of Israeli democracy. We welcome you to watch the conference highlights. To view videos with subtitles, please activate the Auto-Generated AI YouTube Subtitles option in the player settings, and note that each panel is also accompanied by a written summary for those who prefer a text-based format. We look forward to seeing you again next year as we continue shaping policy alternatives and regional cooperation.
Dr. Gil Murciano
“Standing between great danger and great opportunity”
Dr. Gil Murciano opened the conference by emphasizing that Israel currently stands “between great danger and great opportunity,” following two years of war and amid escalating regional risks. He called for a strategic shift from short-term military responses toward long-term diplomatic initiatives and reconstruction efforts, stressing the role of civil society and political alternatives in shaping a more secure and hopeful future.
Dr. Ralf Melzer
“Hope as a Driving Force for Change”
Dr. Ralf Melzer highlights the strong partnership between the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung and the Mitvim Institute, emphasizing their joint efforts to promote dialogue, stability, and political progress in the region. He underscores “hope” as a powerful societal force in Israel—embodying aspirations for humanitarian improvement, democratic resilience, the return of hostages, and a renewed diplomatic path, with Europe playing an active role in moving forward.
Yair Golan
“Israel is lying to itself that it is still part of the global moderate camp”
Yair’s speech focused on the critical moment facing Israel and the region, warning that the current government has led Israel away from the global moderate camp toward the radical axis, undermining its strategic position. He argued that to ensure long-term security and restore international legitimacy, Israel must return to the moderate axis through a rational leadership that advances a two-state solution, regional cooperation, and strategic agreements as integral elements of national security.
The Israeli Former Ambassadors Panel
“Hope as a Driving Force for Change”
The panel discussed Israel’s unprecedented diplomatic isolation and declining legitimacy worldwide, examining its deteriorating standing across Europe, the United States, the United Nations, and the regional arena. Former ambassadors emphasized that reversing this trend requires internal democratic renewal, restoring commitment to international norms, and presenting a credible political vision, particularly regarding the Palestinian issue, to reengage the global community and rebuild strategic partnerships.
Ambassador Michael Mann
“Strained Friendship Under Criticism”: EU–Israel Relations After the Gaza War
The panel explored the strained state of EU–Israel relations, highlighting how Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank have led to unprecedented mistrust, with the EU considering restrictive measures while still emphasizing its long-standing friendship and support. It also examined Europe’s potential role in shaping the “day after” in Gaza, moving from a financial backer to an active political actor, by conditioning aid on Palestinian Authority reforms and aligning efforts with international partners to advance diplomatic solutions.
The Reconstruction Experts Panel
“Reconstruction Cannot Begin Before We Undergo Fundamental Internal Repair”
The panel featured MK Karin Elharar, Prof. Manuel Trajtenberg, and Sharon Ben-Gio (EcoPeace Middle East), moderated by Liel Maghen, and focused on the concept of “reconstruction” in the Israeli–Palestinian context. The discussion emphasized that rebuilding must begin with deep internal repair within Israel, be rooted in transformative rather than nostalgic approaches, and integrate regional cooperation and political processes to create a sustainable and hopeful future.
Ambassador Irit Lilian
“Turkey Stands on the Line Between Regional Interests and a Democratic Abyss”
Ambassador Irit Lillian, interviewed by Dr. Nimrod Goren, offered a candid assessment of Israel–Turkey relations, warning that ties are at one of their lowest points ever, with Turkey emotionally aligned with Hamas and increasingly viewing Israel as a primary threat. She stressed that despite the crisis, dialogue must be preserved to enable future cooperation in areas such as energy, economics, and regional stability, while also cautioning that Turkey’s democratic decline illustrates the dangers of abandoning core values.
The Israeli-Palestinian Peacemaking Experts Panel
“The problem is not the public, but rather the lack of leadership”
The panel, titled “From War and Annexation to Secure Peace,” featured MK Gilad Kariv and Hiba Qasas (CEO of Principles for Peace), moderated by Dr. Omer Zanany, and focused on the regional landscape and political-security strategies for the day after the war. Participants emphasized that while there is growing regional and international willingness to advance a political framework, progress is hindered by a crisis of Israeli leadership unwilling to engage in a serious regional and bilateral process toward resolution.
The Civil Society Panel
“Civil Society Is What Will Give Backbone to a Political Agreement That Can Survive”
The panel was moderated by Reef Itzhaki, and featured former MK Sundus Saleh, as well as Eran Nissan, representing the Phoenix Framework and Mehazkim. It focused on the role of civil society in the “day after,” highlighting its capacity to fill the leadership vacuum, bridge societal divides, and support a sustainable political process by empowering those most affected by the conflict.
The Regional Panel
“Perpetual war does not have to be Israel’s fate in the region”
The panel, moderated by Dr. Roee Kibrik and featuring regional experts and policymakers including Dr. Jawad Anani (Jordan), Dr. Aziz Alghashian (Saudi Arabia), Mohamed Baharoon (UAE), Farah Bdour (Jordan), and Ambassador Abd Al-Rahman Salah Al-Din (Egypt), explored how Middle Eastern states view the current moment and the conditions for regional stability after the Gaza war. Speakers emphasized that while unprecedented regional cooperation offers new opportunities, Israel’s long-term security depends on diplomacy, engagement with Arab partners, and a credible political path toward resolving the conflict.
The Lebanon-Syria-Israel Panel
Between Military Power and New Diplomatic Opportunities
The panel, moderated by Eitan Ishai and featuring MK Ram Ben Barak, Prof. Elie Podeh, and Dr. Carmit Valensi, explored the shifting dynamics in Syria and Lebanon and assessed how Israel can leverage recent regional changes. Speakers emphasized that while military strength has created a rare opportunity to pursue new diplomatic frameworks, Israel must act strategically and not miss the narrow window to transform emerging openings into long-term security and regional stability.
Videos: Constantin Grossman
