Strengthening Israel's Foreign Policy

A Letter of Appreciation from Prime Minister Yair Lapid for the Mitvim Institute

A letter of appreciation from Prime Minister Yair Lapid for Mitvim’s work on Israel’s foreign affairs.

As tensions grow, all eyes are on the Temple Mount

As preparations accelerate for the establishment of a new Israeli government, many eyes in Israel, the region and the world are turned to the Temple Mount. This religiously sensitive site with

Israel must not let election results undermine foreign policy

Although coalition negotiations are still underway, there is little doubt regarding the identity of Israel’s next prime minister. Benjamin Netanyahu is a seasoned political hand and enjoys vast

What Netanyahu’s win in the Israeli elections means for the war in Ukraine

The results of the latest Israeli elections were widely covered — and celebrated — by the state-controlled Russian media. The results of the exit polls were announced on the evening news, and the

The Paradox of Netanyahu

Israel is once again going to the election polls on November 1, for the fifth time in less than four years with only one real issue on the agenda: “Bibi or not Bibi.” Who is this man and why did

At the Edge of the Precipice: Jewish-Arab Relations in Israel on the Eve of the 2022 Parliamentary Election

On the eve of the next parliamentary election scheduled for November 1, the Arab public in Israel is undergoing a multidimensional crisis, which is casting a long shadow over its relations with

Israel remains caught between China and the United States- opinion

The first meeting of the United States-Israel Strategic High-Level Dialogue on Technology took place in Washington, last week. According to the Jerusalem Declaration that established this forum,

The Israeli Foreign Policy Index of 2022

The Mitvim Institute’s Tenth Annual Public Opinion Survey on Israeli Foreign Policy was conducted in late August 2022, exploring four areas: the Israeli foreign policy apparatus, Israel’s foreign

Russia v. Jewish Agency: behind Putin’s curtain

Just four days into the premiership of Yair Lapid, on July 5, there were whiffs of a major diplomatic crisis between Russia and Israel in the air. The employees of the Jewish Agency in Russia had

Yair Lapid- Will He Take Down Netanyahu?

To Be Yair Lapid On November 1, Yair Lapid will cast his vote at the ballot box in the posh north Tel Aviv neighborhood of Ramat Aviv, hoping for the stars to align just right to allow him to

On Iran, Yair Lapid is practicing domestic politics

Henry Kissinger famously asserted once that “Israel has no foreign policy, only domestic politics”. Nowhere is this observation more visible than in the conversation inside Israel regarding the

Democracy and Foreign Affairs in Israel

The following paper explores the relationship between Israel’s democracy and its foreign policy. It analyzes the state of Israel’s democracy and foreign relations, the role of Israel’s internal

Holocaust denial still common in the Arab world, but views are changing

“I watched movies about Holocaust before, and I thought that generally, I have more knowledge about this issue than many in my society. But only when you come here, to Auschwitz, do you truly

The bells of the liberal world toll for Israel: Why taking a stance against the invasion is both the smart and just move

Foreign policy is the art of balancing national interests with moral variables, which express a state’s values and the identity it seeks to project to the world. Israel’s position on the

What does it mean for Israel to undermine the liberal global order?

Tensions over a potential Russian invasion of Ukraine are honing a fundamental question facing Israeli decision-makers: How does the undermining of the liberal world order impact Israel and how

A different take on the NSO Group affair- opinion

The recent report that Israeli police have been using NSO Group’s Pegasus software program against Israeli citizens, including allegations that it has been used against completely law-abiding

Israelis Still Believe in IDF but Criticism Is Growing

Citizens worry whether the ‘people’s army’ can remain the nation’s melting pot The Israeli public’s trust in the IDF is in decline, according to the 2021 Israeli Democracy Index. In October 2021,

Israel needs a diplomatic horizon to preserve the Zionist vision- opinion

The declaration by Foreign Affairs MK Yair Lapid that the current government would not advance a diplomatic process with the Palestinians is disappointing. According to Lapid, a diplomatic

The danger of Israeli panic over Iran – analysis

The renewed talks on a nuclear deal between Iran and world powers also saw renewed Israeli hysteria as reflected in the warnings by the “government of change” against the dangers of such an

Israel can use Middle East partnerships in Palestinian peace talks

According to prevailing assumptions, when Israelis think about foreign affairs, they tend to adopt a narrow perspective and focus almost exclusively on the immediate threats to their country.

Foreign Policy Plan for the 36th Government of Israel

On June 13, 2021, the 36th Government of Israel was sworn in, headed by Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, the first government since 2009 which is not led by Benjamin Netanyahu. The Mitvim

Ahead of PM Bennett’s White House visit: Six agenda items

Handling Israel’s relations with the United States, our most important ally, is one of the greatest challenges facing every Israeli prime minister. The first White House visit by an Israeli prime

The alleged American abandonment of Afghanistan

Many Israelis who do not follow events beyond our immediate neighborhood were surprised and even shocked by the American pullout from Afghanistan and its abandonment to the mercies of the

Trends in Israel’s Regional Foreign Policies, January – June 2021

Issue No. 7 Edited by Dr. Roee Kibrik and Dr. Gil Murciano Several major developments marked significant change for Israel in the first half of 2021. President Biden assumed office, Israel ramped

The ice cream (meltdown) threat

I thought, naively, that having got rid of Netanyahu, we would also be rid of his tendency to stir up panic over imagined or exaggerated threats to Israel in order to divert attention from the

Women in Israel’s key decision-making posts:
Not just numbers

“Who are you, anyway? Answer like a good girl,” former coalition whip Miki Zohar of the Likud yelled shamelessly at his successor, MK Idit Silman during a committee debate. A week earlier, MK

Lapid overturns central pillar of Netanyahu foreign policy

Foreign Minister Yair Lapid’s July 11-12 visit to Brussels differs considerably from his UAE visit last week. The message Lapid conveyed in Abu Dubai was one of continuity and praise for his

Four memorable lies in Netanyahu’s legacy of falsehoods

Oscar Wilde is reputed to have said, “Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go.” Indeed, Benjamin Netanyahu’s departure from office has made many people happy because of

Netanyahu’s political ambassadorial
appointees should resign

In an important boost to Israel’s foreign service, barely a week after being sworn in, the new government approved 36 ambassadorial and other heads of diplomatic missions, appointments that

Now that we’re rid of Trump and Bibi, what’s next?

Yes, even left-wing malcontents are sometimes allowed a sigh of relief and sense of pleasure in the return of sanity to our government. But we cannot rest on our laurels because the dramatic

Climate policy is the entry ticket into the new world order

Israel does not consider the climate crisis an important domestic or foreign policy issue. As a result, Israel is doubly missing out on its own objectives. Firstly, the climate crisis is an issue

A little friendly advice for Bennett and Lapid

Reconsider Israel’s ties to dubious friends, fix relations with the Democrats in the USA, strengthen the Foreign Ministry, and above all, take the initiative vis-à-vis the Palestinians and

How will Israel’s foreign policy change with new government?

The new government offers an opportunity for significant improvements in Israeli foreign policy. The popular belief is that this government will be ineffective in this domain due to the

The Climate Crisis as a Foreign Policy Issue:
Israeli Diplomacy and Regional Cooperation

Understanding the critical importance of climate change on both local communities and international relations, especially in the Middle East, Mitivm and EcoPeace hosted a joint conference on June

Israel’s New Government; Initial Commentary by Experts at the Mitvim Institute

Israel’s 36th government was sworn in on June 13, 2021 under the shared leadership of Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, marking the first time in 12 years that an Israeli government is not headed

Healing the rift: The road that must be taken

The Ehud Barak cliché of May 17, 1999 that this was the dawn of a new day, may have never been more accurate than it is today, with the creation of a moderate Israeli government. As the Netanyahu

The Defeat Between the Wars: Time for Diplomacy to Lead

The “War between the Wars” doctrine has become the key concept of Israel‘s national strategy over the past decade. This military campaign has provided a convenient alternative to any diplomatic

The Mitvim Institute 2020 Annual Report

This report highlights the Mitvim Institute’s activities in 2020. These activities were centered on our three program areas: improving Israel’s foreign policy; promoting Israel’s regional

How Morocco relates to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process

The recent Israeli-Palestinian tensions in Jerusalem prompted regional and international expressions of concern but did not yield mediation measures nor facilitate a solution to the problems on

Israel is unaware of the change in US attitudes towards it

The annual conference of J Street – the Jewish pro-Israel, pro-peace lobby – was held on April 18 and 19 and received impressive coverage in the US but very little attention in Israel. In a

Netanyahu Says He’s a Mega-Diplomat,
but Key Embassies are Empty

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is holding 36 designated ambassadors hostage, refusing to present their appointments for government approval. These professional diplomats with years of

Israel Must Restore Bipartisanship in the US Political System

or Israel, maintaining bipartisan support has traditionally been a central pillar of its relations with the US. Regrettably, this core component of the Jewish state’s most crucial alliance has

“Vaccine Dealers” Have Forgotten Morality

The Covid-19 crisis expanded global diplomacy’s soft power toolbox. The absence of effective international cooperation in fighting the virus, in large due to a lacking American leadership and

How to Improve Israel’s Regional Foreign Policies?
Summary of the Mitvim Institute’s Pre-Election Conference

Ahead of the general elections, the Mitvim Institute held a conference on March 9, 2021, which assessed Israel’s current foreign policy and presented goals and directions for future action. The

Foreign Policy Issues in Israel’s Current Election Campaign

For better or worse, we are not alone in this world. Opportunities, challenges, threats, friends, partners and rivals abound outside Israel’s borders – and no border can completely separate

Coronavirus: Israel must vaccinate our Palestinian neighbors

Time and again Israel demonstrates its incredible capabilities at the professional level – of civil servants, the private sector and the nonprofit sector, alongside with the failure at the

Do the Abraham Accords open up new energy opportunities?

The signing of the Abraham Accords and warming ties with Saudi Arabia open up many and varied regional cooperation opportunities for Israel. A key cooperation opportunity lies in the field of

Israel Pragmatically Responds to Global Changes,
but Without a Vision

Since its independence, Israel’s foreign policy had to cope with changes to the international balance of power in an attempt to find the most relevant superpower to rely on. The strategic

The Toll of Democratic Regression on
Israeli Foreign Policy

When democrat Joe Biden beat populist Donald Trump, the world seemed to sigh in relief. However, now more than ever it is important to remember that many in the US and elsewhere still subscribe

A Thank You Letter to Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi

The leaders of the Blue and White party have earned the widespread criticism of their political conduct. Nonetheless, I wish to take this opportunity to thank Gabi Ashkenazi for his performance

Israeli Progressives should reach out more to their international partners

The progressive camp in Israel has been trying for years to find its way back to the corridors of power and influence. So far unsuccessfully. Those seeking ways for change often wonder whether

The Importance of International Partnerships
for Israel’s Progressive Camp

The progressive camp in Israel has been trying for years to find its way back to the corridors of power and influence, so far unsuccessfully. Those seeking strategies and tactics for change often

The Broader Drivers of Biden-era Israeli-American Relations

Much of the discussion in Israel about the future of US-Israel relations in the wake of the new administration focuses on a narrow set of issues: President Joe Biden’s personal feelings toward

New antisemitism hates Jews, loves Israel

During Joe Biden’s presidential confirmation, the entire free world watched in horror and fear at the onslaught of incited crowds on the sanctuaries of American democracy – the Senate and House

Now is the time for female leadership in Israel

Now is the time to recognize the importance of female leadership for Israel to thrive in the modern world. On January 24th, the primaries for chairperson of the Labor Party will be held. The

The Israeli right: authoritarianism and ethnic supremacy

To understand Israel properly, one must get to know the political right, its characteristics, components, and the changes it has undergone in recent years. The right has been in power since 1977,

The fallacy of Netanyahu’s Iran policy

Iran’s recent decision to begin enriching uranium to 20% purity is alarming but it should come as no surprise to anyone following Teheran’s nuclear policy since Donald Trump took office in

Restoring Iran nuclear deal is good for Israel

he Biden administration, to be sworn in on January 20, will have to deal with many urgent issues at home and abroad and to repair the rubble left behind by the Trump administration. For Israel,

Sa’ar’s exit is Likud’s chance to redefine ideological boundary

The exit of Gideon Sa’ar and the formation of a new party with defectors from the Likud has the potential for a redefinition of the ideological camps on the political map. Creating a political

Netanyahu’s cooperation with far Right, Islamists unsurprising

Many were surprised by the recently formed alliance between Mansour Abbas, chairman of the Ra’am Party, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which included Abbas’s announcement that he is happy

The importance of understanding complexity
in other countries

The failures in foreign policy decision-making often stem from the natural difficulty in understanding the complexities of other countries. We tend to treat each country as a unified,

It’s time to empower Israel’s Foreign Ministry

Dr. Nimrod Goren on Jpost

Reclaiming Israel as a bipartisan issue in American politics

Dr. Ilai Saltzman on The Times of Israel

Donald Trump’s legacy leaves behind poisoned gifts for Israel

Op-ed by Nadav Tamir on Jpost

Israel’s Regional Foreign Policies: An Annual Assessment, November 2020

The Mitvim Institute presented its annual assessment of Israel’s regional foreign policies at its fourth annual conference on October 28, 2020. The conference was held in cooperation with the

How can Israel mend relations with White House following political change?

Nadav Tamir on Jpost

The Not-So-New Kid on the Block

Amb. Ret. Barukh Binah on The Times of Israel

Resumed American Leadership, Perhaps

Amb. Ret. Barukh Binah towards the U.S elections

Israel, American Jews and the Democratic dichotomy

Nadav Tamir, towards the U.S elections

Making a desperate attempt to decipher Trump’s foreign policy

Nadav Tamir on The Jerusalem Post

The Foreign Ministry deserves support from the Knesset

Op-ed by Dr. Ehud Eiran

The way Israel dealt with BDS played into the hands of its enemies

Nadav Tamir, Op-ed, August 2020

Ashkenazi revitalized the IDF, now he can do the same to Foreign Ministry

Op-ed by Dr. Ehud Eiran

Israel Should Deepen its Engagement with the UN

July 2020

Foreign Service Closing-Out Sale: Gilad Erdan’s Dual Appointment to UN and Washington

The tumult over the installation of Israel’s 35th government and the division of 36 ministerial and 16 deputy ministerial portfolios drowned out news of Gilad Erdan’s dual diplomatic appointment.

Israel and the US: Is the Special Relationship Still Special?

What would a change in the US administration in January 2021 bode for Israel? Does the symbiosis in the relationship between Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu attest to a historic high in

Hope and Optimism Should be Key Pillars of Israel’s Foreign Policy

June 2020

Initial policy recommendations for Foreign Minister Ashkenazi – opinion

Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi should lead a process of fixing the country’s regional foreign policies. In his first months in office, he should convey messages and take actions to improve

A Letter to Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi

Honorable Foreign Minister, Lt. Gen. (res.) Gabi Ashkenazi. I know you are scheduled to move on to the Defense Ministry in 18 months, but I think you would have far greater influence and

Recommendations for Israel’s New Foreign Minister: Initial Policy Messages

Israel’s new foreign minister should lead a process of fixing Israel’s foreign policy. This paper presents recommendations for messages he can convey and actions he can take to improve Israel’s

The Coronavirus Crisis Offers Opportunities for Innovative Israeli Diplomacy

Like so much else, official diplomacy has shifted to virtual communications since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. This is an opportunity for Israeli diplomacy to lead a new type of

A Very Israeli Pandemic Response

As in other countries, COVID-19 has exposed the weaknesses particular to Israel society and governance. These shortcomings are not revelatory. Instead, the coronavirus’ spread shines a spotlight

The Foreign Ministry on the Frontlines of the Coronavirus Crisis

Several days ago, thousands of families in Israel were given good reason for relief: After long, tense days, their loved ones had returned to Israel thanks to a combined operation by our national

The World Can Overcome the Coronavirus Crisis by Working Together

Humankind is facing yet another crisis. The Coronavirus pandemic has stopped the world as we knew it. We are living through growing uncertainty about tomorrow, fear and anxiety about death. What

Coronavirus crisis opens opportunity for shifting Israeli foreign policy

At present, there is no end in sight for the novel coronavirus crisis and we do not know its repercussions for the future. Despite this, it is not too soon to start thinking about possible

Israel Needs a Diplomatic Strategy

Israeli political parties and their candidates for the premiership have for years barely mentioned foreign policy in election campaigns – as if the issue is unimportant, as though Israel’s

Strengthening international systems, lesson learned from coronavirus

After we beat the novel coronavirus, we will have to rebuild international systems and strengthen democracies. The prevailing view that dictatorships deal better than democracies with

Israel-Egypt Cooperation in 2019: Strategic Warming, Civilian Coolness?

Since President Abdel Fatah a-Sisi’s rise to power in 2014, Israeli-Egyptian ties have been marked by defense-strategic cooperation. This is based on the shared perception of Iran and radical

Israel and Qatar: Relations Nurtured by the Palestinian Issue

This article focuses on relations between Israel and Qatar, analyzing them in historical context, in the context of Qatari foreign policy and in terms of their potential and the limitations

The Interests of Global Powers in the Mediterranean and Israeli Policies

This policy paper sets out the various interests and goals of global powers (the US, Russia, China and the EU) in the Mediterranean, and the measures they are undertaking to implement them. The

Assessing Israel Katz’s First Year as Foreign Minister

In February 2019, Israel Katz was named Israel’s interim foreign minister, and three months later his appointment became permanent. This ended a period of almost four-years without a fulltime

Trends in Israel’s Regional Foreign Policies, Vol. 4

This document outlines major trends in Israel’s regional foreign policies over the past six months. It is based on the Mitvim Institute’s monthly reports that cover ongoing developments in the

Israel’s Regional Foreign Policies: An Annual Assessment

The Mitvim Institute 3rd annual conference provided an annual assessment of Israel’s regional foreign policies. It was held in Tel Aviv on 14 November 2019, in cooperation with the

Time for Diplomatic Optimism

Israel has been conducting itself like a state struggling for survival ever since its establishment, and even more so in recent years, despite its indisputable standing as a regional power. While

Guiding Principles for a New Israeli Foreign Policy Paradigm

Mitvim policy guide lines

The 2019 Israeli Foreign Policy Index of the Mitvim Institute

The seventh annual public opinion poll of the Mitvim Institute on Israel’s foreign policy was conducted in September 2019. It was carried out by the Rafi Smith Institute and in cooperation with

Democracy and Foreign Policy in Israel

On 11 June 2019, the Mitvim Institute and the Davis Institute held a conference at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem on democracy and foreign policy in Israel. It included sessions on democracy,

Trends in Israel’s Regional Foreign Policies, Vol. 3