The Mitvim Institute invites you to our annual conference, titled “Strategies of Hope”. Speakers include, opposition Leader MK Yair Lapid, MK Naama Lazimi, German Ambassador Steffen Seibert, U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission Stephanie L. Hallett, former Palestinian Foreign Minister Nasser Al-Kidwa, former Jordanian Foreign Minister Jawad Anani, former Egyptian Ambassador and Assistant Foreign Minister Dr. Abderahman Salaheldin, Prof. Elie Podeh, Dr. Ronen Bergman, Dr. Dov Khenin, former Ambassador and MK Colette Avital, former MK Ksenia Svetlova, Hiba Qasas, Aziz Alghashian, Amira Mohamed, and Ibrahim Abu Ahmed.

Watch the entire playlist of the conference.

הפוסט Strategies of Hope – The 7th Annual Conference of The Mitvim Institute הופיע לראשונה ב-Mitvim.

1. Hezbollah’s Continued Influence: Despite recent setbacks, Hezbollah will remain a significant player in Lebanon, and international involvement will be essential to resolving the situation.

2. Military Action Alone is Insufficient: No military action can achieve the political settlement needed for both Israel’s security and the rehabilitation of Lebanon.

3. The role of the International Community: The US, France, Saudi Arabia, and the Gulf States must play a central role in a settlement, while also considering Iran’s influence.

4. Failures of Previous Initiatives: Past international attempts to stabilize Lebanon, including UN Resolutions 1559 and 1701, have largely failed.

Key Discussion Points:

1. Israel’s Security vs. Lebanese Sovereignty: Any sustainable solution must balance Israel’s security needs with respect for Lebanon’s sovereignty. Israel should not seek to directly influence Lebanese politics but support reforms with international backing.

2. Rehabilitation of Lebanon: Lebanon’s political crisis and the need for reforms, including the election of a president and strengthening of state institutions, are critical to creating a stable Lebanon. Strengthening the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) is key to diminishing Hezbollah’s influence.

3. Weakening Hezbollah’s Dominance: Addressing the political, security, and social factors that allow Hezbollah to maintain power in Lebanon is crucial. This includes diplomatic efforts to reduce Iran’s role and a robust arms embargo.

4. The role of the International Community: The US, France, and Arab Gulf States must be involved in the process. France’s engagement with all parties, including Hezbollah, is seen as vital. Iran’s influence remains a major challenge, and the international community must work together to mitigate it.

5. UN and International Forces: A stronger role for the UN and a reformed UNIFIL, along with enhanced support for the LAF, is necessary for stabilizing Lebanon. Israel’s skepticism toward the UN complicates this effort.

6. Marshall Plan for Lebanon: A comprehensive international aid package, similar to a Marshall Plan, could help stabilize Lebanon economically and politically. However, international disagreements, particularly with Iran and Russia, pose significant challenges.

7. Challenges: There is no clear agenda-setter for future peace efforts, and determining which international instruments will be effective remains uncertain. The ongoing Israel-Iran conflict further complicates efforts to stabilize Lebanon, as tensions between these two powers will continue to affect the situation.

Conclusion:

Achieving a sustainable resolution for Lebanon requires careful coordination between international actors, consideration of Israel’s security, and respect for Lebanon’s sovereignty. Addressing Hezbollah’s role, rehabilitating Lebanon’s institutions, and securing long-term international support are all essential components for peace and stability. However, the influence of external actors like Iran and the historical failures of past efforts create significant hurdles to success.

הפוסט The International Community and the Creation of a Feasible Settlement in Lebanon הופיע לראשונה ב-Mitvim.

הפוסט Regional Conference on the Infrastructural-Environmental Rehabilitation of the Gaza Area הופיע לראשונה ב-Mitvim.

The discussion, conducted under the Chatham House Rule, was initiated while taking several basic assumptions into account:

1. An all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah would have devastating consequences for both sides, and would not be sufficient on its own to bring about a long-term settlement. Furthermore, such escalation would surely have implications both in the regional and international spheres, carrying a dangerous potential for triggering an all-out war in the Middle East.

2. All the parties directly involved (Israel, Hezbollah, Lebanon) are caught in a situation from which they are unable to extricate themselves on their own and will inevitably need international involvement to do so.

3. Prevention of escalation or war will inevitably have to come as part of a broader settlement process with significant implications in both the regional and international spheres.

Given these assumptions, the discussion aimed to examine the importance of international involvement in the ongoing crisis along the Israeli-Lebanese border and to map the various relevant actors, their characteristics and interests, and their levers on other actors.

הפוסט International Involvement and Prevention of Escalation in the Ongoing Israel-Hezbollah Crisis הופיע לראשונה ב-Mitvim.

Watch the panel

הפוסט The European Parliament Elections and Their Influence on Israel- International Briefing הופיע לראשונה ב-Mitvim.

הפוסט The Israeli Initiative – International Zoom Briefing הופיע לראשונה ב-Mitvim.

Click here to watch the playlist of the conference

Opening Remarks

– Attorney Hagai Meirom, Chairman of the Berl Katznelson Foundation

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– Dr. Gil Murciano, CEO of the Mitvim Institute

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– Dr. Ralf Melzer, Director of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Israel

Spotlight

Interviews

– Interview with MK Yair Lapid

Eviatar Oren, Deputy Editor of Telem Magazine, interviewed MK Naama Lazimi from the Labor party to discuss the link between political-security issues to social-welfare priorities on the ‘day after’.

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Panels

– The Role of Israeli Civil Society in the Design of the ‘Day After’

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– What international and Regional Policies Should Israel Embrace for the ‘Day After’?

הפוסט Six O’clock After the War’: A political Vision for the Day After the Gaza Campaign הופיע לראשונה ב-Mitvim.

הפוסט A round table: formulating a strategy for stabilizing infrastructure in the Gaza Strip הופיע לראשונה ב-Mitvim.

Despite Israel’s military successes in the Gaza campaign, the achievement of political victory remains elusive. Indeed, the current Israeli government has steered clear of addressing the political objectives for the post-war period and has, in fact, made statements undermining future efforts to attain them. Prime Minister Netanyahu has recently announced that Israel will have “overall security responsibility” for the Gaza strip “for an indefinite period”, while radical right-wing Knesset Members have demanded the reestablishment of Jewish settlements after the military campaign in Gaza is over.

The role of the international community in crafting and promoting a political roadmap for Israelis and Palestinians post-war is now more critical than ever. The international community possesses the capacity and influential power needed to chart the political trajectory toward a two-state reality.

The briefing delved into the opportunities and challenges facing the international community in advancing this cause, encompassing the rehabilitation of Gaza as part of a political process, the role of a multinational task force in Gaza, and the leadership of a defensive coalition in the Middle East.

The briefing featured:

Dr. Omer Zanany | Director of the Israel-Palestinian Peacemaking program at Mitvim

        – The day-after task force and the political roadmap

Dr. Nir Arieli | Associate Professor of International History at the University of Leeds

        – Multinational task force after the Gaza Campaign

Yitzhak Gal | Economic and Business consultant for the Middle East and research fellow in the Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies and Mitvim

        – Rehabilitation of Gaza as part of a political process

Dr. Maya Sion – Tzidkiyahu | Director of the Israel – Europe Relations at Mitvim

         – The European role in the rehabilitation of Gaza

Shira Efron | Diane and Guilford Glazer Foundation Senior Director of Policy Research at Israel Policy Forum

         – The American Perspective of ‘the day after’

הפוסט Roadmap to a Political Horizon After the Gaza Campaign: The Role of the International Community הופיע לראשונה ב-Mitvim.

On October 26th Mitvim hosted a virtual briefing to discuss the regional-political perspective on the Gaza campaign. The briefing was based on a collection of analyses by Mitvim experts, offering an initial regional view of the Gaza campaign.

Watch the briefing Here.

Link to the compilation by Mitvim experts: https://mitvim.org.il/en/9915/ 

The briefing featured:

Dr. Gil Murciano- CEO, Mitvim.

Dr. Roee Kibrik- Director of Research, Mitvim.

Dr. Omer Zanany- Director of the Israeli-Palestinian Peacemaking Program, Mitvim.

Dr. Maya Sion-Tzidkiyahu- Director of the Israel–Europe Relations Program, Mitvim.

Dr. Moran Zaga- Expert on the Gulf States, University of Haifa • Policy Fellow, Mitvim.

Prof. Elie Podeh-  Professor in the Department of Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies, Hebrew University of Jerusalem • Board Member, Mitvim.

Nadav Tamir- Executive Director, JStreet Israel •  Board Member, Mitvim.

הפוסט Zoom Briefing: A Regional-Political Perspective on the Gaza Campaign הופיע לראשונה ב-Mitvim.

This year, the FPI analyzed public perceptions on the drastic changes in Israel’s foreign affairs since the formation of Netanyahu’s far-right government. The index is divided into five areas: Israel’s foreign affairs apparatus, Israel’s foreign relations, the Judicial “Reform’s” implications for Israel’s foreign relations, Israel and the region, and Israel and the Palestinians.

The briefing delved into significant insights from the FPI through an analysis of the critical gap between the public’s views and the fundamental foreign policy goals and mindset of the current government.

הפוסט The 2023 Israeli Foreign Policy Index: Netanyahu and the Israeli public at odds on foreign policy הופיע לראשונה ב-Mitvim.

It was a pleasure to host our distinguished colleagues from SWP Dr. Muriel Asseburg, Dr. Peter lintl, Dr. Guido Steinberg, Dr. Stephan Roll, Dr. Sabine Fischer, Dr. Konstantin Witschel and Dr. Lidia Averbukh (Bertelsmann Foundation) as well as our special guests – former ambassadors to Germany and France – Jeremy Issacharoff and Daniel Shek. Thank you also for Udi Evental, Dr. Shira Efron and Dr. Ofer Waldman for joining us.We feel privileged to engage in an open discussion with the SWP, and especially with our dear colleague Muriel Asseburg, in a time when Israeli Far Right supporters were trying to prevent such discussion from happening.

הפוסט Mitvim – SWP Expert Dialouge 2023 הופיע לראשונה ב-Mitvim.

Click Here to Register.

הפוסט Launching the Liberal Partnership: how To Successfully Stand Up Against Democratic Backsliding – Lessons From Czech Civil Society הופיע לראשונה ב-Mitvim.

הפוסט Virtual Briefing: Ramadan, the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, and the Netanyahu-Smotrich Government: Heading Towards an Inevitable Escalation? הופיע לראשונה ב-Mitvim.

Among the speakers: Tamar Zandberg, Minister of Environmental Protection, Alon Ushpiz, Director General of Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Amb. Tor Wennesland, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle Ease Peace Process, Mitvim’s researchers, former diplomats, journalists and more.

Watch the full conference here.

Watch the English parts here.

הפוסט Mitvim’s Annual Conference: Israel’s Foreign Policy Between Change and Continuity הופיע לראשונה ב-Mitvim.

הפוסט EU-Israel Relations During the Czech Presidency of the EU הופיע לראשונה ב-Mitvim.

The panel opened with analysis from Tal Schneider, a Political Correspondent at The Times of Israel. She discussed the importance of the visit for US-Israel relations, and stressed the low likelihood of a serious agenda from Washington to progress a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine. Dr. Lior Lehrs, Director of Israeli-Palestinian Peacemaking at Mitvim, added to this point, emphasizing that the policy reversals under the former Trump Administration make it difficult for President Biden to reinstate Obama-era initiatives. Later, Dr. Gil Murciano, CEO at Mitvim, emphasized the importance of the US-Israel relationship for regional ties, both in balancing Iran, expanding normalization, and including normalization countries in peace efforts.

The experts also explored the position of Israeli democracy after the recent collapse of the Bennett-Lapid coalition. Michael Koplow, Chief Policy Officer at Israel Policy Forum, mentioned that the diversity within the Lapid-Bennett coalition was a strong step forward for Israeli democracy. However, the killing of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, as well as charges of apartheid from the American left-wing, has caused a strain in perceptions. Koplow suggests that US-Israel relations have typically been built on shared values of democracy and liberalism, but that this relationship could be in peril if Americans perceive Israel as adopting illiberal values.

The webinar concluded with a question and answer session moderated by Victoria Solkovits, Director of External Relations at Mitvim, where the experts gave their recommendations for the President on his upcoming visit. Dr. Lehrs said that Biden should use his visit to create new momentum in the peace process between Israel and Palestine, and promote concrete efforts that could bring peace to the region. Koplow suggested that Biden should reframe the conflict in nationalistic terms to shift perception in the United States. Gil Murciano, CEO of Mitvim, said that if he were to meet with Biden, he would convince him to take a more active role in the normalization process and use it as leverage to promote regional peace.

View the full event here.

הפוסט President Biden’s Visit To Israel: Insights and Implications הופיע לראשונה ב-Mitvim.

In the event participated researchers and managers from Mitvim Institute, and representatives from the Center of the Middle Eastern Studies, Foreign Policy Council “Ukrainian Prism” and Israel friends of Ukraine.

The discussion was opened by the Ukrainian Ambassador to Israel Yevgen Kornichuk, and former Israeli ambassadors in Russia – Arkadi Milman and Zvi Magen. There were debates about policy, economy and communication. The participants discussed issues of food security, questions regarding the tariffs against Russia and the expectations of image that exists in both sides of the conflict.

הפוסט For the first time – a roundtable with Ukrainian research centers הופיע לראשונה ב-Mitvim.

The potential for European Strategic Sovereignty and the EU’s new ‘Strategic Compass’ in the light of the Ukraine Crisis, and its significance for Israel and the Middle East.

הפוסט What Future for European Security? הופיע לראשונה ב-Mitvim.

View the full dialogue:

הפוסט A panel on Israeli-Turkish Relations: Challenges and Opportunities הופיע לראשונה ב-Mitvim.

To watch the recording of the event, please click here.

הפוסט The Israel-UAE Agreement and its Regional Implications הופיע לראשונה ב-Mitvim.

הפוסט Renewed Partnership with the Southern Neighbourhood: Implications for Israel הופיע לראשונה ב-Mitvim.

הפוסט Israel-Jordan 2nd Policy Dialouge הופיע לראשונה ב-Mitvim.

In March 2020, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres issued an appeal for a global ceasefire. “There should be one fight in our world today, our shared battle against COVID-19,” he said. In the weeks that followed, leaders, organizations and citizens from different countries have voiced their support for a global ceasefire. In some conflicts around the world, there were signs of reduced escalation and increased humanitarian cooperation. Israelis and Palestinians have also stepped up their cooperation these days, as both sides work to confront the health crisis and its domestic implications. However, the current political climate poses obstacles for additional progress. Statements about an upcoming Israeli annexation of Palestinian territories raise the likelihood of escalation over the coming months. In light of this background, the conference introduced the UN’s call for a global ceasefire, explored the impact it has made so far on international conflicts, assessed its relevance to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and discussed ways to increase Israeli-Palestinian cooperation and to advance peace. This document sums up the main points presented by the speakers at the conference.

H.E. Nickolay Mladenov, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process: The UN’s call for a global ceasefire came in a timely manner and received significant support from leaders and organizations. However, despite the initial enthusiasm, the initiative has recently lost some momentum. We need to reinvigorate it, because the situation continues to be extremely fragile and complicated. COVID-19 is the biggest global crisis since World War II, with both health and socioeconomic repercussions. Unfortunately, in a time when we most need multilateralism to deal with this crisis, we are faced with rising nationalism and isolationism. As a result, we might see heightened tensions and an increased need for peacebuilding across the globe, including in the Middle East. COVID-19 has enabled some exemplary Israeli-Palestinian cooperation on the ground, especially in health-related issues, but it did not create the necessary political drive to resolve the conflict. In contrast, annexation is a big threat. It is prohibited under international law, and will undermine the rules-based international order. It will have legal, political and security implications that will be difficult to deal with, damage prospects for peace, and encourage radicalization on all sides. Annexation will also diminish the prospects for normalization of ties between Israel and Arab states.

Mr. Richard Gowan, UN Director, International Crisis Group: The UN Secretary-General’s call for a global ceasefire on 23 March was a compelling response to COVID19, but it has since lost momentum. Some armed groups that initially welcomed the appeal have reverted to violence. Overall levels of conflict worldwide appear undiminished. There are a number of reasons for this. In some places one party to a conflict offered a unilateral cessation of hostilities, but its opponents did not see tactical benefits in reciprocating. This has been the case in Yemen, where the Houthis have not taken up a Saudi ceasefire offer. It has also been difficult for diplomats and international mediators to engage with conflict parties to set up frameworks for managing potential ceasefires, given COVID-19-related travel restrictions. Overall, the pandemic has not yet had the catastrophic effect on fragile states and warzones that might force combatants to pause violence out of desperation. Finally, the Security Council has failed to pass a resolution endorse the ceasefire appeal – mainly because of splits between the US on whether to include positive language on the WHO – reducing the idea’s credibility. The council has marginalized itself over COVID-19.

Dr. Nimrod Goren, Founder and Head of Mitvim – The Israeli Institute for Regional Foreign Policies: The UN Secretary General’s call for a global ceasefire did not make a significant impact on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It also did not get much public attention in Israel. When the UN speaks, Israelis do not tend to listen. Despite repeated successes by UN Special Coordinator Mladenov over the last few years in preventing wars between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, there is still a prevailing negative image of the UN in Israel. The coronavirus crisis did lead to increased Israeli-Palestinian cooperation – official and unofficial – to confront the shared challenge. The political reality, however, and first and foremost Netanyahu’s annexation plans, does not enable to expand this cooperation and create a positive momentum. On the contrary, it increases chances of escalation. In this context, the UN and the international community should voice clear opposition to annexation, collectively introduce parameters and incentives for Israeli-Palestinian peace in contrast to the Trump plan, and step up their support for Israeli and Palestinian pro-peace initiatives and organizations.

Prof. Dan Miodownik, Director of the Davis Institute, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem: Natural disasters create opportunities for change. The urgency of overcoming their damage may supersede political “blame games” and may lead to attempts to resolve conflicts. However, research has shown that, so far, COVID-19 has not changed the frequency of violence on a global scale. In the absence of abiding (more or less) decisions of international institutions (like the UN Security Council), there is only a minor chance that the UN Secretary General’s call will have the desired effect on conflicts. This is even more true as long as local leaderships are willing to compromise their constituents, neglect short- and long-term interests, and ignore the opportunities that catastrophic events, like the COVID-19 crisis, bring about. This is also true for Israel, which is set on a path leading to annexation, which might have negative outcomes: a new cycle of violence with the Palestinians, political condemnations by countries and institutions, revoking of peace agreements with Jordan, the end of quiet cooperation with Gulf states, and potential sanctions by Europe.

Dr. Yael Berda, Department of Sociology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem: The UN Secretary General’s important call for a global ceasefire, in Israel/Palestine, must address the situation on the ground, and include the use of bureaucratic weapons of war. As the transnational pandemic alters concepts of mobility, borders and sovereignty, it is critical for the international organizations and states to acknowledge the situation on the ground , which has been called “the one state reality” due to the Israeli government’s de facto annexation in the West Bank.  Studying the mobility regime, clarifies that the Israeli government has full control and governs Israelis and Palestinians in the entire territory, based on separate legal regimes, for different populations, in the same territory. Such a situation, of de facto annexation and indeterminate occupation must be addressed legally and politically. Legally, Palestinians should be granted political participation until their right to self-determination is realized. Politically, the possibility of a confederation, for instance, as is suggested by “land for all” should be considered as a way forward.

הפוסט The UN’s Call for a Global Ceasefire: Can It Help Advance Israeli-Palestinian Peace? הופיע לראשונה ב-Mitvim.

December 2019

הפוסט Meeting with China’s Special envoy to the Middle East הופיע לראשונה ב-Mitvim.

הפוסט Presentation of findings to senior Foreign Ministry forum הופיע לראשונה ב-Mitvim.

הפוסט Briefing on climate change crisis הופיע לראשונה ב-Mitvim.

For videos from the conference, click here; To view photos from the conference, click here.

הפוסט Israel’s Regional Foreign Policy: An Annual Status Assessment הופיע לראשונה ב-Mitvim.

Cyprus, December 2019.

הפוסט Dr. Roee Kibrik at the opening of the Eastern Mediterranean Climate Workshop הופיע לראשונה ב-Mitvim.

הפוסט Attending the 2019 Rome Med Conference הופיע לראשונה ב-Mitvim.

הפוסט Attending the IDEA Annual Conference: The Center for Liberal Democracy הופיע לראשונה ב-Mitvim.

הפוסט Israel and International conflicts – What can be learned? הופיע לראשונה ב-Mitvim.

הפוסט Briefing with Arne Lietz, Member of the S&D group in the EU Parliament הופיע לראשונה ב-Mitvim.