Israel’s Foreign Policy Has Lost Its Moral Compass
When I joined the Israeli Foreign Ministry in the 1990s, I was proud to represent a country that was a beacon of values on the international stage. A country that led the fight against
Israel’s 2024 Military Successes Came at a Cost – Will It Pay in 2025?
Looking back at 2024, Israel has strengthened its strategic position in the Middle East, but this has come at the cost of deepening internal divisions within Israeli society, straining relations
An Israeli Public Turn into Pragmatism a Year Into the War May Provide an Opening for a New International Vision for Ending the War
There is a widespread perception globally that the October 7th massacre and the subsequent war have pushed the Israeli public toward the far right. This narrative suggests that while Israelis are
Inclusive Foreign Policy in Israel – Trends and Processes from a Gender Perspective
Gender equality and women’s rights are consensual values across parties and political agendas in Western democracies, of which Israel has always been proud to be a part. However,
Upgrading the Capacity of Israel’s Foreign Policy Apparatus to Deal with the Climate Crisis
The climate crisis is a formative change with far-reaching consequences for Israel’s future and its strategic policies, not simply in domestic terms of quality of life and economic structure and
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
