2026 Annual Conference – "Israel After the War: A Reboot for the Security System and Foreign Relations"
The annual conference in memory of the 11th Prime Minister of the State of Israel, Ariel Sharon, was held on February 3, 2026. Entitled "Israel After the War: A Reboot for the Security System and Foreign Relation," the conference was dedicated to analyzing the security, political, and societal challenges facing the State of Israel in the wake of the events of October 7 and the protracted war that followed. It sought to examine the necessity of an in-depth process of drawing lessons, rehabilitating, and strengthening national systems across the military, security, and international domains—in the spirit of Ariel Sharon’s leadership.
Moderated by Dana Weiss, the conference opened with welcoming remarks by the President of Reichman University, Prof. Boaz Ganor, who emphasized the need for deep national soul-searching and for drawing strategic, security, and political conclusions that will enable Israel to meet the complex challenges of this era. Next, Adv. Israel Maimon, Chairman of the Ariel Sharon Leadership Association, reflected on Ariel Sharon’s legacy as a military and political leader and the importance of cooperation between the political and military echelons.
During the conference, former senior officials from Israel’s security, political, and diplomatic establishments presented a complex picture of the challenges facing the country. The discussions addressed, among other topics, restoring the defense establishment’s preparedness, strengthening decision-making processes, maintaining operational superiority, and conducting thorough post-war debriefs. Former Head of the National Security Council Tzachi Hanegbi stressed the importance of effective decision-making mechanisms and coordination among the political, military, and intelligence echelons in confronting regional threats—chief among them the Iranian threat and the strategic alliance with the United States.
Maj. Gen. (res.) Amir Eshel stressed the need for humility in intelligence assessments and for strengthening the foundations of operational readiness—including preparedness, training, and critical debriefing—as essential to preventing future failures. Maj. Gen. (res.) Amiram Levin emphasized that operational superiority demands full professional accountability, preparedness for extreme scenarios, and long-term strategic thinking. Brig. Gen. (res.) Yuval Bazak underscored the importance of genuine, rigorous debriefing and meaningful lesson-learning, alongside strengthening the IDF’s command ranks and moral resilience.
Panel on Israel's International Standing:
- Ambassador Michael (Mike) Herzog, former Ambassador of Israel to the United States
- Dr. Michal Yaari, expert on the Arab Gulf States, Ben-Gurion University
- Ambassador Mark Regev, former Ambassador of Israel to the UK and Senior Advisor to the Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Media
- Ms. Emily Schrader, Israeli-American journalist and public diplomacy activist
The panel focused on the international arena, with an emphasis on Israel’s relations with the United States, shifts in the regional landscape, and the battle for global public opinion. The speakers highlighted the importance of preserving strategic support for Israel, strengthening its international standing, and maintaining continuous engagement in the domains of public perception and diplomacy.
Ambassador Mike Herzog presented the complexities of US-Israel relations and stressed the need to maintain bipartisan support and formulate a long-term strategy to fortify Israel's standing. Dr. Michal Yaari emphasized the necessity of a deep understanding of the region and highlighted the contribution of peace accords and regional ties as a strategic anchor during wartime. Ambassador Mark Regev offered an alternative approach to the battle for international public opinion, arguing that influence in this arena depends not only on public diplomacy (hasbara) but on policy and conduct as well. Emily Schrader focused on the digital sphere, framing it as a strategic front in the war for public perception, while calling for long-term investment in strategic communications and strengthening values-driven discourse.
In a one-on-one interview conducted by Dana Weiss with Yisrael Beytenu Chairman MK Avigdor Liberman, former Minister of Defense and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Liberman argued that the failures of October 7 were not merely operational or security failures, but the cumulative outcome of flawed decision-making processes over many years. He noted that Israel also faces a major diplomatic challenge—the erosion of international support and of its relationship with the United States - and called for greater diplomatic independence, the restoration of public trust, and the building of a shared national vision.
The conference concluded with closing remarks by Maj. Gen. (res.) Moshe Kaplinsky, Head of the Ariel Sharon Chair for National Leadership and Military Thought at Reichman University, who stated that Israel needs a dual "reboot" of both its security establishment and its political system. According to Kaplinsky, despite significant achievements, the security establishment continues to grapple with the repercussions of the war, including a crisis in the reserve forces, the failure to complete internal investigations, and ongoing tension between the military and political echelons. Drawing on Ariel Sharon's leadership, he emphasized the imperative for responsible leadership, backing for commanders, the drawing of lessons, and the rebuilding of trust between echelons, alongside fortifying Israel’s strategic alliances in the international arena.
