The 13Th Annual International Conference of The
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THE 13TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR COUNTER-TERRORISM World Summit on Counter-Terrorism: With the Support of Keren Daniel Terrorism’s Global Impact It takes a network to beat a network,” said Dr. Boaz Ganor, Ronald S. Lauder chair for Counter-Terrorism, deputy dean, Lauder School of Government, Diplomacy & Strategy, and founder and executive director, the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT), the “Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) Herzliya, Israel, speaking at the opening of the 13th Annual Conference on Global Terrorism. Dr. Ganor described how ICT’s world summit on counter- terrorism provides a dynamic platform for over 800 leading experts and decision-makers to network, establish essential cooperation and exchange views on the challenges faced by counter-terrorism officials. Scheduled to coincide with and commemorate the 9/11 terrorist attacks on America, the conference has received worldwide acclaim since its inception. 46 // IDC WINTER 2014 Special Feature: 13th Annual ICT Conference rof. Uriel Reichman, founder and presi- the IDF’s military capability.” MK Dr. Yuval dent of the Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) Steinitz, Ministry of International Relations, “Let us remember the innocent PHerzliya, proudly told conference attendees Intelligence and Strategic Affairs, said Israel was civilians murdered by that this year marked 20 years of IDC Herzliya. not involved in the chaos in Syria, but if Israel He said that IDC Herzliya has brought a revo- was dragged into the conflict, it would respond suicide bombers who did not lution to education in Israel, as it is the first pri- “with a strong hand, and an outstretched arm,” distinguish between civilians of vate academic institute and trains the future a reference to the biblical phrase. Israel. All in the name of Allah.” leadership of Israel. Prof. Reichman spoke of the dark days of the Second Intifada, when ter- The conference’s initial two days, held at the Prof. Uriel Reichman, founder and president, rorist attacks occurred in Israel on a regular Herzliya Center for Performing Arts, was devot- IDC Herzliya basis. He recalled the 2002 suicide bombing of ed to keynote lectures during the plenary ses- the Park Hotel in Netanya, in which the par- sions, moderated by Mr. Jonathan Davis, vice ents and grandparents of Shirley Fried, an IDC president for External Relations and head of the Herzliya student at that time, were tragically Raphael Recanati International School, IDC killed. Reichman explained that the intifada Herzliya. The last two days of the conference, brought about the feeling that Israel had no held at IDC Herzliya, included 16 dynamic inter- partner in peace, noting that Israel still faces a active workshops featuring expert panelists from “non-stop war” and that the surrounding region approximately 20 countries. Finally, the confer- is filled with violence. However, he said that ence concluded with a memorial service held despite the atrocities, we must believe in a dif- at IDC Herzliya on the evening of September ferent solution - negotiations - as terrorism only 11, 2013, for the victims of 9/11 and of terrorism brings about human suffering. worldwide. ✪ Dr. Boaz Ganor, Ronald S. Lauder chair for (l to r) Maj. Gen. (Res.) Aharon Zeevi Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Moshe (Bogie) Yaalon, Counter-Terrorism, deputy dean, Lauder School Farkash, former head, Military Intelligence minister of Defense, Israel, said in his keynote of Government, Diplomacy & Strategy, and Directorate, Israel, with MK Dr. Yuval speech about Syria, “We are preparing for founder and executive director, the International Steinitz, minister of International Relations, the consequences of American action or Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT), the Intelligence and Strategic Affairs, Israel. inaction,” declaring that, “there will be Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) Herzliya, Israel. consequences for us no matter the decision.” This year’s conference took place as the Israeli government was entering new peace talks with the Palestinians, and therefore according to Unless red lines that Reichman, it is imperative that we “not forget we set are crossed….The the blessed memory of those who lost their lives to terrorism.” It was also a great honor that Lt. Syrian regime knows that those Gen. (Ret.) MK Moshe (Bogie) Yaalon, min- who challenge us will meet ister of Defense, took the time, under the cir- the IDF’s military capability.” cumstances, to deliver the keynote address at the welcoming ceremony. “We are preparing for - Lt. Gen. (Ret.) MK Moshe Bogie Yaalon, minister the consequences of American action or inac- (l to r) Prof. Uriel Reichman, founder of Defense, Israel tion,” he declared, continuing: “there will be and president, IDC Herzliya, Israel, with consequences for us no matter the decision.” He Hava and Shimon Topor, longtime friends said that Israel would not intervene “unless red and supporters of IDC Herzliya. lines that we set are crossed….The Syrian regime knows that those who challenge us will meet IDC WINTER 2014 // 47 Special Feature: 13th Annual ICT Conference Sharing Expertise, Knowledge and Common Goals (l to r) Plenary session moderated by Mr. Jonathan Davis, vice president for External Relations & head of the Raphael Recanati International School, IDC Herzliya. Expert panelists included MK Yaakov Peri, minister of Science and Technology & former director of the Israeli Security Agency (ISA), Israel; Mr. Ivan Koedjikov, Counterterrorism coordinator & head of Action against Crime Department, Council of Europe; Prof. William Banks, founding director, Institute for National Security and Counterterrorism (INSCT), Syracuse University, U.S.; Dr. Qanta Ahmed, associate professor of Medicine, State University of New York, and Templeton-Cambridge Journalism fellow in Science and Religion, University of Cambridge, U.S.; and Major Dr. Bryan Price, executive director, Combating Terrorism Center, U.S. Military Academy, West Point, U.S. his year’s world summit illustrated an underlying need for widening the coun- I refuse to give up Islam to the Islamists.” ter-terror professional network in order T - Dr. Qanta Ahmed, associate professor of Medicine, State University of New York, and Templeton- to reinforce the counter-terrorist operational Cambridge Journalism fellow in Science and Religion, University of Cambridge, U.S. methods in an increasingly uncertain and radi- calized world. Amongst the acclaimed speakers was Dr. Qanta Ahmed, associate professor of Medicine, State University of New York, and ideology and its many complexities, it is taking combating terrorism: “We cannot say we can Templeton-Cambridge Journalism fellow in Muslims everywhere far longer to recognize defeat terrorism, we cannot cure an incurable Science and Religion, University of Cambridge, the consuming threat emerging from among disease, but we can combat it more effective- United States of America, who fervently said: “I them. From recent tensions in Turkey to the ly.” He cited the recent example of the Boston refuse to give up Islam to the Islamists.” Ahmed bloodshed in Egypt and Syria, it is the under- Bombing attacks, noting failures found in the began her speech during the plenary session, lying struggle marking Islamist forces against lack of collaboration between the authorities. He quoting an Islamist poem: “The mosques are our secularists as well as Sunnis against Shias that suggested that if an holistic approach would have barracks; the minarets our bayonets; the domes is fueling the fire. Ahmed said, “Make no mis- existed, perhaps the attack might never have are our helms, the believers are our soldiers.” She take, this conflict within Islam is originated by reached fruition. As Dr. Boaz Ganor remarked, said that although this sounds like something Muslims, is being waged by Muslims, and the international cooperation is the key to the coun- out of the Al-Qaeda handbook, it was in fact vast majority of its victims are Muslims. These ter-terrorism puzzle since, “Not all the agencies an inflammatory speech, read out loud by the conflicts are deepening the abyss between major have all the parts.” Therefore, by disseminating then-mayor of Istanbul in 1997. He was ejected sects in Islam. Unless we confront Islamism or knowledge, counter-terrorist professionals will from office and sentenced to jail by the Ankara unless we castrate it, we will only see a region have greater potential to coordinate all parts of High Court. However, today, that mayor, Recep with pseudo-democracies.” the puzzle and prevent attacks. This was demon- Tayyip Erdogan, is prime minister of Turkey, a strated by both speakers and participants from country with which Israel once had a strong stra- Major Dr. Bryan Price, executive director, over 40 countries, comprised of: current and for- tegic alliance. Ahmed explained that Erdogan Combating Terrorism Center, United States mer ministers, members of parliaments, heads has slowly but relentlessly pushed secular Turkey, Military Academy, West Point, United States of of security agencies and police departments, a member of NATO, towards a radical Islamist America, presented a fascinating study during first responders, leading academics, professional future. She noted that whilst Israel has long the plenary sessions, in which he compared the experts in the field of counter-terrorism, jurists, led the world in knowledge of Islamist jihadist holistic approach to treating cancer to that of businesspeople and students. ✪ 48 // IDC WINTER 2014 Special Feature: