We are a non-political charity facilitating informed debate and seeking
to enrich the understanding of decision makers and opinion formers in
the UK regarding developments in Israel and the Middle East.
AIA
Seminars & Conferences
Our target audience includes UK government officials, members
of both Houses of Parliament, leading personalities from the electronic
and printed media, the heads of faith communities and members
of non-governmental organisations including Christian Aid and
Pax Christi.
We engage our audience in seminars and briefings on an individual
or small group basis appropriate for the provision of professional,
balanced and dispassionate analysis. We are advised in many of
these encounters by Prof. Shai Feldman, Director of the Crown
Center for Middle East Studies, Brandeis University, Boston. Prof.
Feldman was formally director of the Jaffee Institute of Strategic
Studies, Tel Aviv University.
We are also active on major university campuses and, with Prof.
Feldman’s help recently extended our programme to include
the provinces.
AIA/Sternberg
Award
This
is an annual award given for lasting contribution to the furtherance
of good relations between Britain and Israel’.
Recipients to date: Moshe and Hannah Raviv
Lady Sainsbury and Patricia Park
Canon Andrew White
Lady Cocks
Sir Patrick Moberly and Lilian Hochhauser
24th
June 2009 held at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London.
The Roundtable of Ambassadors from which we derived
rich guidance on the priorities we should adopt in the years ahead.
These will focus on seeking to influence the attitudes of intellectual
and cultural circles in this country, to combat the pervasive
anti-Israeli sentiment to be found in student and academic life,
to pursue our growing dialogue with NGO’s and voluntary
bodies working in the Middle East and as always to generate in
the press and media a more sympathetic understanding of Israel,
the realities of life there, the challenges it faces, and the
strengths and aspirations of its people, whether Jew or Arab.
A brochure was produced containing interviews
with the former Ambassadors both from the UK and Israel.
Professor
Shai Feldman was invited to debate at the Oxford Union on 30th
April 2009.
The
motion was "This House would negotiate with Hamas".
Speaking in Proposition were Dr Brian Iddon MP, Gabrielle Rifkind,
Mr David Aaronvitch, Speaking in Opposition Sir Malcolm Rifkind,
Professor Shai Feldmen, Ran Gidor.
Israel
after the Elections: Alternative Scenarios
International
Institute for Strategic Studies, London
Debate with:Professor Shai Feldman
Click
on the PLAY
Button to view The Video
Israel
at 60: What Happened to the Zionist Dream?
Institute
of Ideas, London, UK, Nov 2nd, 2008
Debate with: Professor Susser Despite its leaders' sometimes bellicose rhetoric and
international reputation for intransigence, on closer examination
Israel seems to be having an identity crisis in its sixtieth anniversary
year.
Never-ending political crises and growing economic inequalities
beg the question - does Israel risk imploding from within? - Battle
of Ideas
Click
on the PLAY
Button to view The Video
of The Debate
Conference
at Royal United Services Institute (RUSI)
The Second Lebanon War: Lessons for Modern Militaries
Session
I: Baseline: Israel’s Performance in the 2006 War. Chair:Professor
Michael Clarke, Director, The Royal United Services Institute
(RUSI) Prof. Shai Feldman, Director, Crown Center for
Middle East Studies, Brandeis University Ofer Shelah, Ma’ariv and Israel TV Channel
10
In retrospect, what were the strategic outcomes of the 2006 War?
When applying a net-assessment analysis of the war’s consequences,
what were the different parties’ gains and losses as a result
of the war? In the end, who won the 2006 war in Lebanon? This
session will address these important questions and serve as the
starting point for the other sessions of the conference by providing
a synopsis of the Winograd Commission’s findings. The main
conclusions reached from other unclassified accounts of the war
will also be elaborated.
Session
II: Lessons for Doctrine and Force Structure. Chair:Michael
Codner, Director of Military Sciences, RUSI Brig. Gen. (ret.) Shlomo Brom, Institute for National
Security Studies, former Director for Strategic Planning, IDF Ofra Graicer, SheNomad Ltd., former Senior Research
Fellow, IDF’s Operational Theory Research Institute
What lessons should be drawn from the 2006 encounter regarding a
modern military’s operational doctrine and force structure
for counter-insurgency war? In particular, what lessons should be
drawn in this realm regarding the role of airpower in such operations?
What does the war tell us about the efficacy of “effects-based
warfare”?
Session
III: Civil-Military Pathologies. Chair:Jonathan
Marcus, Diplomatic Correspondent, BBC Dr. Yehuda Ben Meir, Institute for National Security
Studies, Tel Aviv, former Israeli Deputy-Minister for Foreign Affairs
Maj. Gen. (ret.) Giora Eiland, Institute for National
Security Studies, former Director, National Security Council and
former Commander, Planning Branch, IDF
This session of the conference will explore the process by which
important decisions were made during the war. Particular emphasis
will be placed on certain pathologies of civil-military relations
in a modern democratic state which found their expression during
the 2006 encounter. What did Israel’s civilian and military
leaders understand about the war they were entering and how did
their sometimes divergent understanding affect their performance?
Session
IV: Technology and Counter-Insurgency. Chair:Professor
Shai Feldman, Director, Crown Center for Middle East
Studies, Brandeis University VADM (ret.) Yedidya (Didi) Ya’ari, CEO
of Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, and former Commander of the
Israeli Navy
Are there particular conclusions that can be drawn from the Second
Lebanon War regarding the role of technology and the efficacy
of specific weapons technologies in counter-insurgency operations?
Session
V: Concluding Remarks: Lessons for Modern Militaries. Chair:Professor
Shai Feldman, Director, Crown Center for Middle East Studies,
Brandeis University Ofer Shelah, Ma’ariv and Israel TV Channel
10 Maj. Gen. (ret.) Giora Eiland, Institute for National
Security Studies, former Director, National Security Council and
former Commander, Planning Branch, IDF Brig. Gen. (ret.) Shlomo Brom, Institute for National
Security Studies, former Director for Strategic Planning, IDF VADM (ret.) Yedidya (Didi) Ya’ari, CEO of
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, and former Commander of the Israeli
Navy
Talk
at the London School of Economics
Israel
and the Palestinians: Domestic Developments and Prospects for
Talks Speaker(s): Professor
Shai Feldman; Dr. Khalil Shikaki; Chair: Professor
Lord Wallace
This event was recorded on 13 Jun 2007 in the Old Theatre, Old
Building
Professor Shai Feldman is director of the Crown Center for Middle
East Studies at Brandeis University, Boston. From 1997-2005 he
served as head of the Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies at Tel
Aviv University. He also serves as a member of the Board of Directors
of Harvard University's Belfer Center for Science and International
Affairs. In 2001-2003 he served as a member of the UN Secretary
General's Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters. Dr. Khalil Shikaki
is director of the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research
(PSR), Ramallah
Click
on the PLAY
Button to hear
The Seminar
Talk
at the FrontLine Club
Insight
with Professor Shai Feldman: Israel at Sixty - What Chance for
Peace? Moderated by: Paul
Adams (BBC) Location: 13 Norfolk
Place, London W2 1QJ
May 14th marks the 60th anniversary of the State of Israel. We
talk to Professor Shai Feldman, one of the world's leading experts
on the Middle East, who talks about the political and ideological
challenges that face Israel in its 60th year.
The Association mounts a Colloquium every other year bringing together
a select number of people from the UK and Israel to discuss topics
of mutual interest. These gatherings have played an important role
in bringing together prominent British and Israeli academics and
leaders in industry, science and the media.
The
Anglo-Israel Colloquium was launched in 1997 at the initiative of
the Anglo-Israel Association, London, with the aim of bringing together
at regular intervals, a select number of people from Great Britain
and Israel, to discuss a particular topic which varies from year
to year. The hope is that the participants, drawn from various backgrounds
and expertise, will be able to share ideas, thoughts and practical
knowledge in the expectation that the results can be to the mutual
benefit of both.
Following each Colloquium, the proceedings are published in report
form. Copies are available from the Anglo-Israel Association in
London or Jerusalem.
A booklet listing all previous participants in the Colloquia is
also available on request.
The colloquium follows the pattern of several other similar encounters
between Britain and other countries. Each year, it brings together
some of the UK’s and Israel's most distinguished personalities
in a wide range of disciplines, for two days of intensive meetings
in an informal atmosphere. In the ten years since its launching,
the Colloquium has played an important role in bringing prominent
British and Israeli personalities together, and has helped to
promote an atmosphere of mutual understanding and create a platform
for a valuable exchange of views and knowledge.
The
First Colloquium was held in 1997 at Wiston House, Sussex,
on the Topic “The Politics of Heritage”.
The
Second, in 1998 was at Beit Gabriel, on the shores of
the Sea of Galilee on the topic “Arts and Culture –
Whose Responsibility”.
The
Third, in 2000 was at Kibbutz Ma’aleh Hahamisha
in the Judean Hills, on the topic “Power and Responsibility:
the role of the Media in the Information Age.”
The
Fourth, in 2001 at Balliol College, Oxford was devoted
to the topic “The Universities – What Are They For
and How Can We Afford Them?”
The
Fifth was held in 2004 in the small town of Mitzpe Ramon
in the Negev Desert, a fitting location for the topic “Ensuring
a Healthy Environment for Future Generations: is Development Sustainable?”
The
Sixth Colloquium in 2005 was held at Kibbutz Ginosar,
on the Sea of Galilee, on the topic “Multiculturalism –
a Comparative Perspective”.
The
Seventh Colloquium was held in November 2007 at Kibbutz
Kfar Blum in the Northern Galilee on the topic “Wealth and
Happiness in Israel and the United Kingdom”.
The
Eighth Anglo-Israel Colloquium was held at Kfar Maccabiah
from 10 – 13 September 2009 under the joint chairmanship
of Baroness Ruth Deech, a distinguished academic lawyer, and Viscount
David Samuel on the topic of ‘In Loco Parentis – who
should raise our children?’ For a report by David Elliott
the UK Co-ordinator CLICK
HERE.
Some
comments by participants
"I found the Colloquium both eye-opening and mind-opening.
Everyone I spoke to feels the same – the weekend gathering
was probably the best of its kind I have ever attended."
"I think everyone who took part agreed that it was not only
extremely productive, but entertaining as well. I have personally
followed up at least two leads on arts and education which may bear
fruit – one in Britain and one in Israel, and have managed
to extract three articles from it."
"The Anglo-Israel Colloquia are a valuable component in our
relations with Israel. They help to extend people to people contacts
and allow influential figures in both countries, who might not otherwise
come into contact with each other to share their expertise and experience."
"I
came away like all participants in the Colloquium with a reservoir
of new and strengthened friendships with people whose commitments
to and knowledge of the creative arts represent a treasure of our
individual and shared cultures."
"The Colloquium ranks high on the list of conferences I have
attended in the past few years, not only because of the spectacular
and seductive setting but also because of the particular mix."
"The Colloquium was a fascinating opportuinity to discuss a
wide range of
social policy issues... The participants were well-informed and
this plus
the informal and informal friendly atmosphere contributed much to
the
discussions."
"The Colloquium was outstanding for all sorts of reasons, not
least, the
beautiful setting. The subject was not an easy one but was superb
for
stimulating a collection of excellent minds in so many different
directions."
("(I") felt privileged to be able to participate in such
a thought-provoking
event. The high level of the presenters contributed greatly to the
success
of the venture."
"The Colloquium and the discussions and the debates were most
stimulating
and it was lovely to renew friendships and make new ones."
For UK residents wishing to participate in the next Anglo-Israel
Colloquium please contact the AIA to register your interest:
The Anglo-Israel Association
PO Box 47819
London NW11 7WD
The Association’s Annual Balfour dinner has become a major
event in the London social calendar and attracts guest speakers
such as leading British and Israeli government ministers as well
as personalities from the worlds of art and literature.
The
60th Annual Dinner, this year commemorating the 60th Anniversary
of the forming of the AIA, was held at the Grosvenor House
Hotel, Park Lane on Tuesday 8th December 2009. Guests of
Honour and Speakers were Israel Makov (see bio below) and
the author Andrew Roberts (see bio below). Their speeches
may be heard by clicking on the appropriate button. Guests
were welcomed by Sir Andrew Burns, the Chairman of the Executive
Committee, H.E. Ron Prosor, Ambassador of Israel to the
Court of St James’s congratulated the AIA on their
60th anniversary and the Earl of Balfour made the appeal.
Israel
Makov
Mr
Israel Makov is the Chairman of Netafim –
the global leader in smart water solutions for agriculture
and the Chairman of Given Imaging – the pioneer developer
and leading provider of capsule endoscopy. In 1995 Mr Makov
joined Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd and led the company’s
globalization process, and during his five year tenure as
President & CEO, the company’s Sales increased
over four-fold and its adjusted net income increased approximately
six fold – making Teva the largest Israeli corporation
and the undisputed leader in the global generic pharmaceutical
industry.
Prior
to joining Teva, Makov led a number of companies in various
industries, established and ran a boutique investment banking
firm and also founded Israel’s first biotech company
Interpharm, which went public in the US.
Mr
Makov is a member of the Board of Directors of the Israel
National Nanotechology Initiative, an initiative he also
helped establish. He is also on the Executive Board &
Management Committee of the Weizmann Institute of Science,
on the Board of Governors of the Technion – Israel
Institute of Technology, the President of the Friends of
Schnieder Children’s Medical Centre of Israel, the
Chairman of the Board, Institute for Policy and Strategy,
the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya (2008/9), the Chairman
of the Center for New Diplomacy and is also the Chairman
of the Friends of Gesher Theatre.
Please
on the button
to hear the speech.
Andrew
Roberts
Andrew
Roberts was born in 1963, took a first class honours
degree in Modern History at Gonville & Caius College,
Cambridge, where is is an honorary senior scholar. His biography
of Neville Chamberlain’s and Winston Churchill’s
Foreign Secretary, the Earl of Halifax, entitled The Holy
Fox was published in 1991, followed by the controversial
but no less well-received Eminent Churchillians in 1994.
as well as appearing regularly on British television and
radio, Roberts writes for The Sunday Telegraph and reviews
history books and biographies for that newspaper as well
as The Spectator, Literary Review, Mail on Sunday and Daily
Telegraph. In 1999 he published Salisbury: Victorian Titan,
the authorised biography of the Victorian prime minister,
the 3rd Marquess of Salisbury. In 2001 Napoleon and Wellington,
an investigation into the relationship between the two great
generals, was published by Weidenfeld and Nicolson. January
2003 saw the publication of Hitler and Churchill: secrets
of Leadership which coincided with Roberts’ four-part
BBC2 history series.
In
2005 Roberts published Waterloo: Napoleon’s Last Gamble.
The publication of A history of the English-Speaking Peoples
Since 1900 brought him an invitation to the White House
in February 2007, where he delivered the prestigious White
House Lecture.
Masters
and Commanders published in 2008, won the Emery Reves Award
of the International Churchill Society The Storm of War
was published in 2009 and reached No. 2 on The Sunday Times
bestseller list.
Roberts
is interested in public policy and sits on the boards of
a number of think-tanks and pressure groups.
Please
on the button
to hear the speech.
The Foreign Secretary, David Miliband
was unfortunately unable to be there in person, but instead
sent a video message.
If
you were unable to attend, please click on the button
to watch the video message.
Since 1988, Hay-on-Wye has been the worthy venue for a literary
festival. The festival draws over 80,000 bibliophile visitors
over 10 days at the end of May/beginning of June. Attendees
buy books, attend book launches and to see and hear big literary
names from all over the world.
High
profile visitors to the Book Fair have included former US
President Bill Clinton who aptly described the Fair as ‘The
Woodstock for the Mind’. The AIA actively promotes Israeli
culture and has for several years sponsored the appearance
of authors, poets and journalists at this Festival.
Fact
Finding Visits
The
Anglo Israel Association have decided to co-operate with a
non partisan organisation in Israel to improve the quality
and scope of experts and information available vis-à-vis
Israel and the Palestinian Authority. It has been a long-standing
practice of the AIA to arrange fact-finding delegations of
Israel for opinion leaders as a means of achieving its core
charitable aims of educating and informing people about Israel.
We hope to promote and organise, in a systematic
and modern manner, intellectual delegations to and around
Israel and (where possible) the Palestinian Territories
for groups from the UK, which are interested in developing
a three dimensional view and understanding of Israel and
the region, in the hope that this will result in more sound
policy-development and decision-making.
For delegates coming through the AIA, the
experience will be tailor made for the delegation in question
taking in the whole of Israel from the North to the South.
They will commence with welcome briefings from officials
from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Prime Minister’s
office. The programme will include visits to Jewish and
Christian Holy sites, Yad Vashem, tours of strategic Jerusalem
and a traditional Sabbath evening at a private residence.
Visits can also be arranged to Ramallah and Bethlehem, including
meetings with Palestinian Leadership.
Israeli universities have been in the forefront
of making Israel one of the leaders in technology and medical
advances and visits with briefings can be arranged according
to the group’s interest.
The all important subject of security will
be discussed with visits to border security fences and briefings
from high ranking members of the IDF. An overview of Gaza
and a tour of Sderot to see the cache of Kassam rockets
will help visitors to gain a better understanding of the
problems involved.
If you would like to arrange a tour for
a particular group or be a participant in one, please indicate
your interest by contacting Ruth Saunders, Executive Director,
The Anglo-Israel Association, PO Box 47819, London NW11
7WD Telephone 020 8458 1284 or email: info@angloisraelassociation.com
