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.
Previous seminars include: "After Palestinian and Israeli
Elections", "The New Israeli Government’s Policy
Implications", "After the Hezbollah Israel War".
In the autumn of 2007, the AIA sponsored a conference on Israel
at the Royal Institute of International Affairs and various
seminars on the Middle East East in 2008 - see below.
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.
Click
on the PLAY
Button to hear
Session I
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”?
Click
on the PLAY
Button to hear
Session II
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?
Click
on the PLAY
Button to hear
Session III
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?
Click
on the PLAY
Button to hear
Session IV
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
Click
on the PLAY
Button to hear
Session V
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.
Click
on the PLAY
Button to view The Video
of The Seminar
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”.
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
59th Annual Dinner, this year commemorating the 60th anniversary
of the founding of the State of Israel, was held at the
Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane on Thursday 11th December,
2008. Guest of Honour and Speakers were, Mark Regev, the
Prime Minister of Israel’s International Spokesman
and Sir Andrew Burns KCMG, former British Ambassador to
Israel and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Anglo-Israel
Association. 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 appropriate
button to hear the speeches or watch the video.
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
Centre for New Diplomacy
The Anglo-Israel Association and the Centre
for New Diplomacy (CfND) have decided to co-operate in improving
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.
The Centre for New Diplomacy is a non partisan
organisation that partner with opinion leaders with impact
capabilities throughout the world by invitation, bringing
them to Israel and the Palestinian Authority. The Centre
understood that first hand local experience fosters a richer
and more complex understanding of the country and the regional
issues. They aim to expose delegates to the best interdisciplinary
information in the world putting local and regional economics,
sociology, psychology, history, politics, grass roots and
culture into context. Their global pool of experts on regional
issues, are available to consult clients from positions
of leadership throughout Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
CfND believes that when decision makers are equipped with
excellent input, they are able to make confident relevant
decisions in the region.
This exciting joint venture will 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
