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Institute for Policy and Strategy (IPS)
The convener of the Annual Herzliya Conference Series | Reichman University
Two Decades of Herzliya Conferences
-Special Moments-
VOD from the 2026 Herzliya Conference
Vision and Objectives
The Institute for Policy and Strategy (IPS) at Reichman University strives to contribute to the State of Israel’s national security and resilience. It realizes that contending with strategic security challenges requires not only military power, but political wisdom, national resilience, and social cohesion. The work conducted at the institute fosters an integrative comprehensive outlook that examines the mutual effects of the various components composing national security. IPS strives to present an accurate up-to-date situation report, while forming policy and strategy insights and recommendations for decision makers at key junctions in both the defense and political systems.
Core issues studied at the IPS
The expert team at IPS led by Major General (res.) Professor Amos Gilead is constantly analyzing the key arenas affecting Israel’s future
- Iran and the radical axis: The strategic and nuclear threat, the impact of Iranian proxies on regional stability.
- The strategic alliance with the United States: Preserving and strengthening Israel’s special relations with the U.S. administration as a pillar of its national security.
- The global and geopolitical arena: Analyzing the global strategic map as well as the world powers’ impact on the Middle East.
- The Palestinian issue: Exploring state-security alternatives for conflict management and resolution.
- National and social resilience: National resilience as a key component of Israel’s ability to endure both routine times and emergencies.
What's up in the Institute for Policy and Strategy
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The Herzliya Conference
Israel’s main international platform for the discussion of policy and strategy issues. The conference hosts heads of states, ministers, and senior government officials from across the globe, positioning the institute at the forefront of geopolitical discourse.
Policy Papers
The IPS publishes strategic in-depth analyses and arena mappings (Israel, the Middle East and global arena). The papers contain policy insights..
The Situation Report Podcast
A content channel focusing on opportunities and risks in both domestic and international arenas. The podcast centers on core issues, such as Iran, Israel-U.S. relations, the Palestinian arena, and national resilience.
Senior Research Fellows
The IPS research fellow team consists of top experts with vast experience who have shaped and spearheaded significant processes at the heart of Israel’s security, state, economic, and social spheres.
Policy Papers and Articals
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Can a U.S.-Iran Agreement be Reached? Implications for Israel
IPS Team | Recent Analysis
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Operation Roaring Lion - Initial Insights
IPS Team | Recent Analysis
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Between Ramallah and Tehran
Lior Akerman | Recent Analysis
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Ending the War in Gaza: A New Era of Opportunities and Challenges?
IPS Team | Recent Analysis
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Marking Two Years to the Iron Swords War Opportunities vs. Risks
IPS Team | Recent Analysis
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Israel must be prepared for US-Iranian diplomacy
Dr. Shay Har-Zvi | JPOST
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Trump-Netanyahu Meeting: A Historic Turning Point?
IPS Team | Recent Analysis
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Insights and Recommendations from the 2024 Hrzliya Conference
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Israel must respond to Iranian attempts to destabilize Jordan
Dr. Shay Har-Zvi | Maariv
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A New Era in the Middle East?
IPS Team | Recent Analysis
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A Call for Action Addressed to the Israeli Prime Minister
IPS Team | Recent Analysis
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After the War in Gaza We Will Need A Different Regional Narrative
Mr. Abdulla Al-Junaid | Special Conversation
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The Deepening Differences with the U.S. Could be Harmful to Israel
IPS Team | Recent Analysis
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Will Israel miss the historic opportunity for peace with Saudi Arabia?
Gil Tamary, Maj. Gen. (res.) Amos Gilead, Dr. Shay Har-Zvi | Podcast
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Russia-Ukraine war: Is there a Light at the End of the Tunnel?
Gil Tamary | Arkady Mil-Man | Dr.. Shay Har Zvi | Podcast
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Saudi Arabia and the Strategic Arab Axis
Dr. Shay Har-Zvi | Recent Analysis
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US-Israel Relations Tested as Gap Between President Biden, PM Netanyahu Widens
Dr. Shay Har-Zvi | themedialine
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The Absence of Strategy Could Erode Military Feats
IPS Team | Recent Analysis
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The Relations Between the Jewish People & the State of Israel
Ms. Irina Nevzlin | Podcast
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As White House Pushes for 2-State Solution, Gaps Between US, Israel Could Become More Visible
Dr. Shay Har-Zvi | themedialine
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One Hundred Days of War – Key Issues
IPS Team | Recent Analysis
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Why did Israel Back the Payments?
Maj. Gen. (res.) Amos Gilead | CNN
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The Future Risks of Recent Events in Leading U.S. Universities
Prof. Jonathan Gershoni | Podcast
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What is Biden’s Strategy?
Lior Akerman and Dr. Shay Har-Zvi | Webcast
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Jordan - Between Strategic Interests and Domestic Constraints
Dr. Shay Har-Zvi | Recent Analysis
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An Overall Exit Strategy is Required
IPS Team | Recent Analysis
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Should Israel Prepare the Homefront for a War in the North?
Dr. Shay Har-Zvi | i24
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Israel-Hamas War: Latest Analysis and Potential Outcome
Ms. Roni (Fantanesh) Malkai | Webcast
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Israel’s War Goals Shift Amid Prolonged Conflict With Hamas
Dr. Shay Har-Zvi | themedialine
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What are the Implications of the War in the Global Arena
Dr. Shay Har-Zvi | i24
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Who is Boss in the Middle East? Battle Between Qatar, Egypt Reaches Boiling Point
Dr. Shay Har-Zvi | JPost
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From Replacing the Leadership to Restoring National Unity: The Many Challenges Ahead
Lior Akerman | IsraelDefense
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The War Against Hamas – What Lies Ahead?
IPS Team | Recent Analysis
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Will Israel Miss a Historical Opportunity?
IPS Team | Recent Analysis
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U.S.-Israel Relations - A Strategic Warning
Dr. Shay Har-Zvi | Recent Analysis
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Is Civil War a Possible Scenario in Israel?
Lior Akerman | Recent Analysis
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The Palestinian System Following the Jenin Operation
Dr. Michael Milshtein | Recent Analysis
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Are We Heading for a New Strategic Era in the Middle East?
IPS Team | Recent Analysis
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Countering Iran's Regional Strategy - A Long-Term, Comprehensive Approach
Maj. Gen. Eyal Zamir
אודות המכון למדיניות ואסטרטגיה
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The first and primary one is identifying opportunities and risks for Israel in both the Mediterranean arena and global setting. The IPS strives to characterize geostrategic and geopolitical trends shaping the Middle East, including the involvement of superpowers and key regional players. Special emphasis is placed on identifying dynamic regional shifts that elevate the threat posed by Iran, alongside the development of new strategic relationships between Israel and the Arab states. In this context, the IPS also discusses the strategic implications of the deadlock in negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.
The second focus area is Israel's national resilience as a foundation for national security. In this area, the IPS seeks to promote an understanding of the risks resulting from the destabilization of liberal democracy and gatekeepers in Israel, alongside demographic processes that are reshaping Israeli society. It also aims to show that domestic weakness negatively impacts on Israel's ability to cope with internal as well as external crises.
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- The principal threat posed by Iran and its radical axis.
- The Israeli-Palestinian Relationship.
- The new era in Israel's relationships with the Arab-Sunni bloc.
- Russia as a dominant power in the Middle East: Challenges and opportunities for Israel.
- Israel's strategic relationships with the United States.
- Societal resilience as a key building-block of Israel's national security.
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The Herzliya Conference organized by the Institute for Policy and Strategy (IPS), is Israel's foremost annual global policy gathering. The Summit is bringing together the highest-ranking Israeli and international participants in government, business, and the academia to address pressing national, regional, and global issues. The insights and recommendations from the conference sessions are presented to decision-makers in the various governmental systems, as well as to the public at large.
Traditionally officiated by the President of the State of Israel, the Conference has welcomed many notable participants from abroad, including presidents, prime ministers, and senior government officials, among them: Jimmy Carter, Tony Blair, Antony John Blinken, Nicolas Sarkozy, Condoleezza Rice, Henry Kissinger, Prince Hassan bin Tallal, Governor Mike Huckabee, John C. Rood, H.E. Annalena Baerbock, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, served as the Minister of Defence of Germany; Adm. (ret.) Evangelos Apostolakis, served as Minister of National Defence of Greece; Marillyn A. Hewson, served as the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Lockheed Martin, and many others distinguished speakers.
Nearly 2,000 participants from Israel and abroad attend the conference each year, which also receives wide coverage in the media as well as on various social media platforms.
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Major General (res.) Professor Amos Gilead, former Director of Policy and Political-Military Affairs at the Ministry of Defense. As part of his 30-year-long military service in the IDF, Gilead held various senior positions, such as Chief of the Intelligence Research and Analysis Division, IDF Spokesperson, Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), Military Secretary (Aide de Camp) to Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, Yitzhak Rabin, and Head of the National Public Diplomacy Directorate.
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- A series of position and policy papers - including a multidimensional analysis of core issues of national security and resilience as well as the interactions between them. Rerad more >
- The Situation Report Podcast - The threat posed by Iran, relations with the U.S., Palestinian arena, ties with the Arab states, domestic arena, and Israel’s national resilience: How do the various parameters composing its security tapestry affect the State of Israel? What is the integrative situation report, and which strategic insights and key recommendations emerge from it? Situation Report focuses on these very issues, while identifying opportunities and risks for Israel in the domestic, Middle Eastern, and global arenas. Listen >
- IPS in the media - IPS researchers make regular appearances on leading Israeli and international media outlets. Read more >
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The Institute for Policy and Strategy (IPS) operates under Reichman University’s academic auspices, holding seminars, special discussion platforms, think tanks, simulations, briefings, as well as the annual Herzliya Conference series. Together, these gatherings form a central arena for in-depth discussions of the challenges posed to Israel in particular, and the entire Middle East in general. Its activities are performed by a small team of permanent scholars alongside a team of research fellows in collaboration with researchers and research institutes in Israel and worldwide.
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The Institute for Policy and Strategy (IPS) offers students from the Lauder School of Government the opportunity to integrate into it as part of an internship, allowing them to deepen their knowledge and hone their analysis skills in the areas focused on by the institute.
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IPS makes use of photos in the public domain and those published under Creative Commons licenses. We make every effort to comply with these licenses' terms and conditions and to provide credit as required. If you have found an error please contact us to ips2@runi.ac.il and we will make sure to correct it.