/ All Events
Opening Remarks on Behalf of the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung at the Mitvim Annual Conference, Dr. Ralf Melzer, 13.11.25
The Friedrich Ebert Stiftung cooperates closely, and in a spirit of trust and friendship, with the Mitvim Institute across various lines of work – not only within the framework of the annual conferences, but also, for example, in the context of the Joint Peace and Security Unit and other activities that aim to revive dialogue with actors on the Palestinian side and to initiate a regionally embedded political process.
Such a process should lead out of war and crisis, quickly improve the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, and bring stability to Israel and its neighbors.
Another example of the cooperation between Mitvim and FES is the Israeli Foreign Policy Index. It has become an indispensable empirical barometer of political attitudes in Israel, which receives high international attention, including in Germany, and serves as an important tool in our work.
Mitvim plays a central role as a think tank and a competent public voice within Israel’s political and academic landscape. It is constantly ranked among the top think tanks in the Middle East and as one of the world’s leading regional studies centers. For this I would like to sincerely congratulate the entire Mitvim team. You are doing excellent work.
“Building Hope” is the title of today’s event. Hope, at this moment, is a key phenomenon across many different project contexts. We encounter it on the local level in our work on shared society, as well as in efforts towards social justice and gender equality. I perceive hope right now as a fundamental mood in Israeli society.
But what does this mean in Israel? What does hope mean in Israel 25 months after October 7?
It means hope that the remaining four bodies of hostages will come home, too.
It means hope that the boycott, exclusion, stigmatization and delegitimisation to which Israelis around the world are currently exposed will come to an end.
It means hope that the country – in times of what was perhaps the greatest catastrophe in its history – will emerge and prove itself as a democracy rooted in the social and liberal tradition of Zionism.
And it means hope that, as the title of the conference suggests, the diplomatic path will finally be chosen.
Taken together, it means hope for change. And for me, as a German and European citizen representing a social democratic institution in Israel, the strength and persistence with which civil society in Israel has been fighting for exactly this change, for many months now, is deeply impressive.
We all know that we are at a decisive moment regarding the second phase outlined in the 20-Points Plan. Many obstacles remain, and many uncertainties. I believe that in this situation it is crucial that, alongside the US and Arab countries, Europe also plays an active role – not only in the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, but also in the political process.
Watch on YouTube
Photo & video by Constantine Grossman.
