DOCSLIB.ORG

Advisory Committee and Task Forces the 4Th Conference - 2003

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Advisory Committee and Task Forces the 4Th Conference - 2003 Advisory Committee and task forces The 4th Conference - 2003 Abu Baker, Hussam Mr. Hussam Abu Baker Strategic Coordinator and member of the Senior Staff at the Abraham Fund Initiatives. A strategic development advisor and course director for Public Leadership and Management. Serves as member of the Regional Council of Maaleh Iron and Deputy to the Head of the Council for education affairs. Formerly, Founding-Director of the Marg Education for Life Association and founder of the Culture of Life Association. An expert on joint Arab-Jewish education. Received M.A. degrees in Political Science from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and in Education from the University of Liverpool, England. Abuav, Shmuel Mr. Shmuel Abuav Mayor of Kiryat Tivon since 1989. Serves as Chair of the Union of Local Authorities' Education Committee, on the Board of Trustees at the Institute for Development and Research of Public Buildings, and as a member of The Abraham Fund Initiatives Council. Graduated from Oranim College in Education. Achdut, Leah Ms. Leah Achdut Deputy Director General for Research & Planning of the National Insurance Institute of Israel. Served as Director of the Institute for Economic and Social Research, and as Economic Advisor to the Trade Union Federations. Received an M.A. in Economics from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Aldaroti, Zvi Mr. Zvi Aldaroti Partner and Chair of B.N.H. Construction, Management and Engineering Ltd. Heads a team that, supervises the implementation and development of zoning plans in Arab communities. Held various senior private and public positions including Director General of the Prime Minister’s Office and General Director of the construction company of the Jewish Agency for Israel. Served as Mayor of Migdal Ha’emek for eighteen years. Recipient of the Rosolio Prize for Public Administration. Received a B.A. in Political Science and Public Administration from the University of Haifa. Graduated from the Central Management Institute for the Civil Service Commission. Altar, Michael Col. (res.) Michael Altar Director of External Relations at the Institute for Policy and Strategy, the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya. Previously managed a private company dealing with international trade in security and civil areas. Served in the IDF and the Israel in South Africa and managed external relations יSecurity Agency for more than twenty years, where he served as Military Attach with foreign armies and military organizations. Received a B.A. in Middle East and Africa Studies from Tel Aviv University. Graduated from the IDF Command and Staff College Amidror, Yaakov Maj. Gen. (res.) Yaakov Amidror Served in the IDF for more than thirty years holding various positions, primarily in the Intelligence Directorate. Most recently was Military Secretary to the Minister of Defense and Commander of the IDF’s Colleges. Upon retirement, he was a senior research fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Published a book on military and security affairs. Received an M.A. in Political Science from the University of Haifa. Amit, Meir Maj. Gen. (res.) Meir Amit Chair, Center for Special Studies and Chair of the Boards of “Hallal” and Spark Venture Capital Fund. Previously, CEO of Koor Industries for nine years. Served in the IDF for over thirty-nine years in various command positions, after which he was appointed Head of the Mossad. Elected to ninth Knesset and appointed Minister of Transportation and Communications, where he was among the instigators of the Israeli satellite project, “Amos”. Member of the Presidium of the Herzliya Conference. Arnon, Yuval Dr. Yuval Arnon Lecturer at the College of Judea and Samaria in Ariel. Formerly lectured on Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Haifa and conducted research at the Shiloah Institute, Tel Aviv University. Worked in the Prime Minister’s Office. Author of four books on the history of the Palestinian national movement and the PLO. Received a Ph.D. in History from Tel Aviv University. Completed Post-Doctoral studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London. Azaiza, As'ad Mr. As’ad Azaiza Financial and Municipal Advisor. Served as Economic Advisor to the Union of Local Authorities and General Accountant and Treasurer of a number of local authorities. A financial and budgetary consultant to a number of Arab local vis the central government. Previously Mayor of Daburia for fifteen years. Graduated-א-authorities, whom he also represented vis from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Economics and Statistics and from the University of Haifa in Accounting. Balas, Nachum Mr. Nachum Balas Educational Planning Advisor. Held senior managerial positions in education planning at the municipal and national level. Served as Assistant to the General-Director of the Ministry of Education. Published many articles on the economics of education in Israel, integration in education, implementation of changes in large educational systems and bridging the gaps in education. Received an M.A. in History from Rutgers University. Barkan, Nimrod Mr. Nimrod Barkan Director, World Jewish Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. An expert on Egypt. Held various positions in the Foreign Service since 1977, including Policy Adviser to the Director General, Director of the Bureau for Strategic and Economic Affairs at the Ministry’s Policy Research Center, Director of the Egyptian Department and a director in the Arms Control and Regional Security Department. Lectured at the National Security College and the Hebrew University. B.A. in History and International Relations and M.A. in International Relations, both from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem Baskin, Gershon Dr. Gershon Baskin Israeli Co-Director and founder of the Israel/Palestine Center for Research and Information (I.P.C.R.I.). Worked in the field of Jewish-Arab relations in Israel for the Ministry of Education also as Executive Director of the Institute of Education for Jewish-Arab Coexistence (established by the Israeli Ministry of Education and the Prime Minister’s Office). Published books and articles in the Hebrew, English and Arab press about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Received a Ph.D. in International Affairs from Greenwich University, UK. Ben Meir, Yehuda Dr. Yehuda Ben Meir Lawyer at Lipa Meir & Co. Law Offices, and a Senior Fellow at the Jaffe Center for Strategic Studies. Previously, a Professor of Psychology and the Head of the Department of Psychology at Tel Aviv University. Served as Senior Research Officer in the IDF General Staff Psychological Research Unit. Knesset member for thirteen years as a member for the Religious Party, during which appointed Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. Published two books, National Security Decision Making: The Israel Case and Civil-Military Relations in Israel. Received a LL.B. from Bar-Ilan University and a Ph.D. in Social Psychology from Columbia University. Ben-Ami, Haim Adv. Haim Ben-Ami Served in the Prime Minister’s Office for twenty-eight years in senior positions. Upon retirement appointed Managing Director of “Ort Israel”, a network of colleges and schools for the study of advanced technologies and sciences. Received an M.A. in Management and Public Policy from the University of Haifa. Graduate of Tel Aviv University’s Law School and the National Security College. Completed an advanced management course at Harvard Business School. Ben-Har, Gila Ms. Gila Ben-Har Director of the Center for Educational Technology. Served as Director of the Culture and Education Administration at the Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality. Held a number of advisory roles relating to organization, management and education at both the municipal and national levels. Formerly, a member of the educational planning committees. Received an M.A. in Education from Bar-Ilan University. Graduate of the Mandel School of Educational Leadership. Ben-Israel, Isaac Maj. Gen. (res.) Prof. Isaac Ben-Israel Head of the Morris E. Curiel Center for International Studies and Professor at the Cohen Institute for History and Philosophy of Science and Ideas and the Security Studies Program at Tel Aviv University. Former Director of the Research and Development Directorate in the Ministry of Defense. Held several positions in the operations, intelligence and development divisions of the Israeli Air Force, including Head of the Operations Research Branch and Head of the Analysis and Assessment Division of IAF Intelligence. Founded a technological and strategic consulting firm. Recipient of several Israeli national security awards and of the Singapore Defense Technology Distinguished Award. Authored numerous articles on military and defense issues. His book Dialogues on Science and Intelligence won him the Yitzhak Sadeh Prize for Military Literature. Received a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Tel Aviv University. Ben-Or, Nava Adv. Nava Ben-Or Deputy State Attorney, Criminal Division, Ministry of Justice. Served as senior attorney and Director of the Criminal Department at the Attorney General’s Office. Received a scholarship from the British Foreign Ministry and the British Council to attend a study program on dealing with police violence in London. Holds a LL.M. from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Bigger, Avraham Mr. Avraham Bigger Deputy Chair of the Caesarea Edmond Benjamin de Rothschild Foundation, owner and CEO of Bigger Investments, Chairman of Supersal, and Chair and co-owner of Kaniel Industries. Board member of several companies and organizations including Bank Leumi, the Strauss Group, and Partner Communications. Former CEO and Director of Paz Oil, Menorah Insurance, and the General Bank of Israel (Bank Clali). Before joining the private sector, he was employed by the Budget Division of the Ministry of Finance. Received a B.A. in Economics and an MBA from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Biran, Danny Adv. Danny Biran President of Koor Industries. Chairman of the Board of Directors of Tadiran, Isrex and director of a number of companies within the Koor group, such as ECI Telecom and Knafayim. Before his current position, served as Vice President of the Claridge Group.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Israel Creates First 'Army-Owned' University
    Israel Creates First ‘Army-owned’ University West Bank campus plans to double in size By Jonathan Cook In-depth Report: PALESTINE Global Research, January 25, 2010 25 January 2010 Ehud Barak, Israel’s defence minister, approved last week the upgrading to university status of a college in a settlement located deep inside the West Bank, a move certain to further undermine Palestinian confidence in the peace process. The decision, authorising the first Israeli university in Palestinian territory, is expected to entitle the college to significant extra funding, allowing it to expand its student population. About 11,000 students, most from inside Israel, already attend the college in Ariel, studying amid a population of 18,000 settlers. The expansion of Ariel, 20km inside the West Bank and close to Nablus, is likely to increase tensions with the US administration of Barack Obama. The White House has demanded a settlement freeze that is being only temporarily and partially honoured by Israel. The United States and Israel have repeatedly clashed over Israeli plans to extend its separation wall east of Ariel, effectively annexing the settlement and separating the central and northern parts of the West Bank. Peace groups have been particularly shocked that authorisation for Ariel college’s upgrade came from Mr Barak, leader of the Labor Party. Members of his centre-left faction had previously blocked attempts by right-wing parties to change the college’s status. Several Israeli academics also warned that it would add fuel to existing campaigns in Europe to boycott Israeli universities, which have been accused of complicity with the occupation.
    [Show full text]
  • The Pragmatic Dimension of the Palestinian Hamas: a Network Perspective
    Mishal 569 The Pragmatic Dimension of the Palestinian Hamas: A Network Perspective SHAUL MISHAL n the wake of the 11 September attack on the World Trade Center in INew York and President Bush’s “war on terrorism,” it is important to try to understand the cultural, political, and social dimensions of such radical Islamic groups as the Palestinian Hamas. Within political and academic circles in the Western world, it is common to portray Islamic movements in categorical terms that utilize binary classifications that mark real or imaginary social attributes rather than relational patterns.1 Much of this perception derives from the violence accompanying Islamic reli- gious fervor and the fanaticism marking some of its groups and regimes, raising fears of “a clash of civilizations” and “a threat” to Western liberal democratic values and social order.2 Hamas, an abbreviation of Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya (Is- lamic Resistance Movement), did not escape the binary perception, and has been described solely as a movement identified with Islamic funda- mentalism and suicide bombings. The objectives at the top of its agenda are the liberation of Palestine through a holy war (jihad) against Israel, establishing an Islamic state on its soil, and reforming society in the spirit of true Islam. It is this Islamic vision, combined with its nationalist claims and militancy toward Israel, that accounts for the prevailing image of Hamas as a rigid movement, ready to pursue its goals at any cost, with no limits or constraints. Islamic and national zeal, bitter opposition to the SHAUL MISHAL teaches at the Department of Political Science at Tel Aviv University, where his research focuses on Arab and Palestinian politics.
    [Show full text]
  • Undersea Park America's First
    KEY LARGO CORAL REEF America's First i~jl Undersea Park By CHARLES M. BROOKFIELD Photographs by JERRY GREENBERG ,I, ,.;;!' MO ST within sight of the oceanside ~Ii palaces of Miami Beach, a pencil-thin il- Achain of islands begins its 221-mile sweep southwest to the Dry Tortugas. Just offshore, paralleling the scimitar plor%E 6 II curve of these Florida Keys, lies an under­ qy-q sea rampart of exquisite beauty-a living coral reef, the only one of its kind in United States continental waters. Brilliant tropical ~". fish dart about its multicolored coral gardens. Part of the magnificent reef, a segment rough­ ly 21 nautical miles long by 4 wide, off Key Largo, has been .dedicated as America's first undersea park. I know this reef intimately. For more than 30 years I have sailed its warm, clear waters and probed its shifting sands and bizarre for­ mations in quest of sunken ships and their treasure of artifacts. ',." Snorkel diver (opposite, right) glides above brain coral into a fantastic underseascape of elkhorn and staghom in the new preserve off Key Largo, Florida 1~¥~-4 - ce il\ln ·ii Here is a graveyard of countless brave sail­ uncover this interesting fact until two 'years 'ti: ing ships, Spanish galleons, English men-ot­ ago, when I learned that the Willche~lel"s ~j~ war, pirate vessels, and privateers foundered log had been saved. Writing to the Public h~l on the reefs hidden fangs. In the 19th century Record Office in London, I obtained photo­ alone, several hundred vessels met death static-copies of the last few pages.
    [Show full text]
  • The Origins of Hamas: Militant Legacy Or Israeli Tool?
    THE ORIGINS OF HAMAS: MILITANT LEGACY OR ISRAELI TOOL? JEAN-PIERRE FILIU Since its creation in 1987, Hamas has been at the forefront of armed resistance in the occupied Palestinian territories. While the move- ment itself claims an unbroken militancy in Palestine dating back to 1935, others credit post-1967 maneuvers of Israeli Intelligence for its establishment. This article, in assessing these opposing nar- ratives and offering its own interpretation, delves into the historical foundations of Hamas starting with the establishment in 1946 of the Gaza branch of the Muslim Brotherhood (the mother organization) and ending with its emergence as a distinct entity at the outbreak of the !rst intifada. Particular emphasis is given to the Brotherhood’s pre-1987 record of militancy in the Strip, and on the complicated and intertwining relationship between the Brotherhood and Fatah. HAMAS,1 FOUNDED IN the Gaza Strip in December 1987, has been the sub- ject of numerous studies, articles, and analyses,2 particularly since its victory in the Palestinian legislative elections of January 2006 and its takeover of Gaza in June 2007. Yet despite this, little academic atten- tion has been paid to the historical foundations of the movement, which grew out of the Muslim Brotherhood’s Gaza branch established in 1946. Meanwhile, two contradictory interpretations of the movement’s origins are in wide circulation. The !rst portrays Hamas as heir to a militant lineage, rigorously inde- pendent of all Arab regimes, including Egypt, and harking back to ‘Izz al-Din al-Qassam,3 a Syrian cleric killed in 1935 while !ghting the British in Palestine.
    [Show full text]
  • Political Expectations and Cultural Perceptions in the Arab-Israeli Peace Negotiations
    Political Psychology, Vol. 23, No. 2, 2002 Political Expectations and Cultural Perceptions in the Arab-Israeli Peace Negotiations Shaul Mishal and Nadav Morag Department of Political Science Tel Aviv University In the various Arab-Israeli peace negotiations that have taken place since the late 1970s, each party entered the process, and continues to function within it, from the vantage point of different political expectations and cultural perceptions. These differences derive from the political features and social structures of the Arab parties and the Israeli side, which range from hierarchical to networked. Israel leans toward hierarchical order, whereas the Arab parties are more networked; these differences in the social and political environments influence the negotiating culture of each party. Hierarchical states develop goal-oriented negotiating cultures, whereas networked states have process-oriented negotiating cultures. The expectations that each side has of the other side to fulfill its part of the bargain are different as well; in hierarchical states such expectations are based on contracts, whereas in networked states such expectations are based on trust. Because it is unlikely that different cultural perceptions and the gap between the parties can be significantly bridged, it may be possible to cope with mutual problems if all parties were willing to accept a reality of perceptional pluralism (i.e., negotiating asymmetric arrangements, rather then each party insisting on mutual accommodation based on its own perspective). KEY WORDS: hierarchical states, networked states, goal-oriented negotiating cultures, process-oriented negotiating cultures, contract, trust, perceptional pluralism Much of the history of Arab-Israeli peace negotiations can be described in terms of mistrust and a lack of understanding by each side with respect to the psychological and political needs of the other.
    [Show full text]
  • Israel: Growing Pains at 60
    Viewpoints Special Edition Israel: Growing Pains at 60 The Middle East Institute Washington, DC Middle East Institute The mission of the Middle East Institute is to promote knowledge of the Middle East in Amer- ica and strengthen understanding of the United States by the people and governments of the region. For more than 60 years, MEI has dealt with the momentous events in the Middle East — from the birth of the state of Israel to the invasion of Iraq. Today, MEI is a foremost authority on contemporary Middle East issues. It pro- vides a vital forum for honest and open debate that attracts politicians, scholars, government officials, and policy experts from the US, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. MEI enjoys wide access to political and business leaders in countries throughout the region. Along with information exchanges, facilities for research, objective analysis, and thoughtful commentary, MEI’s programs and publications help counter simplistic notions about the Middle East and America. We are at the forefront of private sector public diplomacy. Viewpoints are another MEI service to audiences interested in learning more about the complexities of issues affecting the Middle East and US rela- tions with the region. To learn more about the Middle East Institute, visit our website at http://www.mideasti.org The maps on pages 96-103 are copyright The Foundation for Middle East Peace. Our thanks to the Foundation for graciously allowing the inclusion of the maps in this publication. Cover photo in the top row, middle is © Tom Spender/IRIN, as is the photo in the bottom row, extreme left.
    [Show full text]
  • Conflict in Lebanon: on the Perpetual Threshold
    Conflict in Lebanon: On the Perpetual Threshold By Tami Amanda Jacoby, PhD Fellow of the Canadian Defence & Foreign Affairs Institute and Assistant Professor, Department of Political Studies and Research Fellow at the Centre for Defence and Security Studies University of Manitoba - Winnipeg, MB April, 2007 Prepared for the Canadian Defence & Foreign Affairs Institute 1600, 530 – 8th Avenue SW, Calgary, AB T2P 3S8 www.cdfai.org © Canadian Defence & Foreign Affairs Institute Other Publications Written For Or Assisted By: The Canadian Defence & Foreign Affairs Institute Canada in Afghanistan: Is it Working? Gordon Smith March, 2007 Effective Aid and Beyond: How Canada Can Help Poor Countries Danielle Goldfarb December, 2006 The Homeland Security Dilemma: The Imaginations of Failure and the Escalating Costs of Perfecting Security Frank Harvey June, 2006 An Opaque Window: An Overview of Some Commitments Made by the Government of Canada Regarding the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces; 1 January 2000 – 31 December 2004 David J. Bercuson, Aaron P. Plamondon and Ray Szeto May, 2006 The Strategic Capability Investment Plan: Origins, Evolution and Future Prospects Elinor Sloan March, 2006 Confusing the Innocent with Numbers and Categories: The International Policy Statement and the Concentration of Development Assistance Denis Stairs December, 2005 In the Canadian Interest? Assessing Canada’s International Policy Statement David J. Bercuson, Derek Burney, James Fergusson, Michel Fortmann/Frédéric Mérand, J.L. Granatstein, George Haynal, Sharon Hobson, Rob Huebert, Eric Lerhe, George Macdonald, Reid Morden, Kim Richard Nossal, Jean- Sébastien Rioux, Gordon Smith, Denis Stairs October, 2005 The Special Commission on the Restructuring of the Reserves, 1995: Ten Years Later J.L.
    [Show full text]
  • HHRG-115-GO06-Wstate-Goldphdd
    Written Testimony Mr. Chairman, thank you for convening today’s hearing. A discussion about the Golan Heights today may seem baffling. Increasingly, in recent years, many Israelis have expressed a huge sigh of relief that previous rounds of Israeli-Syrian negotiations did not go anywhere and the Golan remains under Israeli control. They imagine that had these earlier talks been concluded, then in 2011, with the outbreak of the Syrian civil war, the forces of Jabhat al-Nusra, Da'ish (ISIS), not to mention Assad’s own ruthless forces, would have been be sitting along the coastline of the Sea of Galilee, with their weapons aimed at the city of Tiberius across the lake. What has changed today is that with the imminent victory of the forces of President Bashar Assad in the sector of South Syria, new diplomatic initiatives by outside actors cannot be ruled out. Already in March 2016, the U.N.'s Special Envoy on Syria, Staffan de Mistura, proposed a paper on "Essential Principles of a Political Solution in Syria." The first point of his paper specifically called for "the restoration of the occupied Golan Heights" to Syria. This past February at the Valdai Conference in Moscow, Vitaly Naumkin, the leading Russian authority on Syria insisted that Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights could not be accepted. He raised doubts about its very legality.1 Past US Assurances US recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights would constitute the fulfillment of a series of previous diplomatic assurances given to Israel by past administrations regarding the international status of Israel's position on that strategic plateau.
    [Show full text]
  • Europe and the Vanishing Two-State Solution
    EUROPE AND THE VANISHING TWO-STATE SOLUTION Nick Witney ABOUT ECFR The European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) is the first pan-European think-tank. Launched in October 2007, its objective is to conduct research and promote informed debate across Europe on the development of coherent, effective and values-based European foreign policy. ECFR has developed a strategy with three distinctive elements that define its activities: •A pan-European Council. ECFR has brought together a distinguished Council of over two hundred Members – politicians, decision makers, thinkers and business people from the EU’s member states and candidate countries – which meets once a year as a full body. Through geographical and thematic task forces, members provide ECFR staff with advice and feedback on policy ideas and help with ECFR’s activities within their own countries. The Council is chaired by Martti Ahtisaari, Joschka Fischer and Mabel van Oranje. • A physical presence in the main EU member states. ECFR, uniquely among European think-tanks, has offices in Berlin, London, Madrid, Paris, Rome, Sofia and Warsaw. In the future ECFR plans to open an office in Brussels. Our offices are platforms for research, debate, advocacy and communications. • A distinctive research and policy development process. ECFR has brought together a team of distinguished researchers and practitioners from all over Europe to advance its objectives through innovative projects with a pan-European focus. ECFR’s activities include primary research, publication of policy reports, private meetings and public debates, ‘friends of ECFR’ gatherings in EU capitals and outreach to strategic media outlets. ECFR is a registered charity funded by the Open Society Foundations and other generous foundations, individuals and corporate entities.
    [Show full text]
  • Justice, Politics and the ICC in Palestine
    The Politics of International Law Justice, Politics and the ICC in Palestine A normative analysis of the Palestinian Declaration to the International Criminal Court Fnaan Woldegiorgis University of Amsterdam Front page: Logo of the Palestine Solidarity Alliance (PSA), a South African based solidarity movement | 1 “The time is always right to do what’s right.” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. | 2 University of Amsterdam GSSS Graduate School of Social Science Political Science | International Relations Master Thesis | Justice, Politics and the ICC in Palestine June 2014 F. A. Woldegiorgis 10469818 Supervisor: mw. dr. S. (Sara) Kendall Second reader: mw. dr. D. (Daniela) Obradovic | 3 | 4 Acknowledgement To my parents who have done everything in their capacity to bring me where I am today, how hard their journey may have been through life. | 5 | 6 Abbreviations IBAN The International Bank Account Number ICC International Criminal Court ICCPR International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights ICESCR International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights ICJ International Court of Justice NGO Non-Governmental Organization OTP Office of the Prosecutor PA Palestine Authority PLO Palestine Liberation Organization PNA Palestine National Authority Rome Statute Statute of the International Criminal Court UN United Nations UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNGA United Nations General Assembly UNHRC United Nations Human Rights Council UNSC United Nations Security Council UPP UNESCO Programme for Palestine
    [Show full text]
  • The Hamas Military Buildup
    The Hamas Military Buildup Kobi Michael and Omer Dostri Notwithstanding the existing tension between Hamas’s political wing and the organization’s military wing, Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, over strategic priorities, and in tandem with the ongoing and concentrated effort invested by the military wing in military buildup, there is general agreement throughout the organization on the question of a direct conflict with Israel at the present time. The consensus is that under current conditions, particularly in view of the scale of the casualties and destruction in the Gaza Strip during Operation Protective Edge, another round of fighting now is not in the organization’s interest. Hamas’s military infrastructure was severely damaged in the 2014 conflict, and the Gaza population is in dire straits due to the damage caused to residential buildings and infrastructure. The overall economic situation is extremely difficult, and public criticism is directed at Hamas for inciting a conflict with Israel. Added to these constraints are the restrictions imposed by Egypt on the movement of residents to and from the Gaza Strip in the framework of its struggle against Hamas itself, and as part of its conflict with jihadists active in the Sinai Peninsula, particularly Wilayat Sinai, identified with the Islamic State. The region’s economy has also been affected by the obstruction of the smuggling tunnels on the border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip. In order to avoid another conflict with Israel, Hamas has taken action to prevent attacks against Israel by the jihad factions operating in the Gaza Strip, and the organization has even established a restraining force that prevents shooting incidents from the border area with Israel or makes arrests if shooting incidents occur.
    [Show full text]
  • Israeli Nonprofits: an Exploration of Challenges and Opportunities , Master’S Thesis, Regis University: 2005)
    Israeli NGOs and American Jewish Donors: The Structures and Dynamics of Power Sharing in a New Philanthropic Era Volume I of II A Dissertation Presented to The Faculty of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Brandeis University Department of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies S. Ilan Troen, Advisor In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy by Eric J. Fleisch May 2014 The signed version of this form is on file in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. This dissertation, directed and approved by Eric J. Fleisch’s Committee, has been accepted and approved by the Faculty of Brandeis University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of: DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Malcolm Watson, Dean Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Dissertation Committee: S. Ilan Troen, Department of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies Jonathan D. Sarna, Department of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies Theodore Sasson, Department of International Studies, Middlebury College Copyright by Eric J. Fleisch 2014 Acknowledgements There are so many people I would like to thank for the valuable help and support they provided me during the process of writing my dissertation. I must first start with my incomparable wife, Rebecca, to whom I dedicate my dissertation. Rebecca, you have my deepest appreciation for your unending self-sacrifice and support at every turn in the process, your belief in me, your readiness to challenge me intellectually and otherwise, your flair for bringing unique perspectives to the table, and of course for your friendship and love. I would never have been able to do this without you.
    [Show full text]