INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE Strategic Challenges in the Eastern Mediterranean

In partnership with B’nai B’rith International, the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies hosted in February the first conference of its kind in on Mediterranean security, and specifically on the Eastern Mediterranean as a strategic environment.

B’nai B’rith International executive vice president Dan Mariaschin, former Italian foreign minister Giulio Terzi, Greek minister of defense Panos Kammenos, and Conference of Prof. David Abulafia, Dr. Michael Doran and Maj. Gen. (res.) Amos Gilead, Mr. Gary P. Saltzman and Col. (res.) Presidents executive vice president Malcolm Hoenlein (l. to r.) Mr. Dan Mariaschin (l. to r.) Dr. Eran Lerman (l. to r.)

“The Eastern Mediterranean has Islam, the problematic behavior of dangers and instability, fueled by the strong commitment to the role of the on Euro-med cooperation, discussed Mediterranean terms. “Israel has an 18 become a key area for global security, Turkey, and his country’s new alliance loss of US authority in the region. sea in Israel's future, and linked it to the the role that the “Union for the interest in anchoring its identity in 19 with two dangerous challenges, and an with Israel. present challenge of protecting Israel's Mediterranean” could play in regional the Mediterranean’s multi-colored important opportunity,” says Col. (res.) This was followed by a comprehensive EEZ and sustaining regional stability cooperation. Ambassador Arye Mekel landscape; as opposed to floundering Dr. Eran Lerman of the BESA Center, Opening the conference was Prof. survey of the changing strategic against the rising threats. of the BESA Center (former Israeli as an isolated, super-modern Jewish who co-convened the conference with David Abulafia of Cambridge dynamics in the Eastern Mediterranean, envoy to Greece) focused on strategic state in a hostile and deteriorating Arab Mr. Alan Schneider, director of the B’nai University, scion of a family which and the rising danger of Islamist terror Prof. Hillel Frisch of the BESA Center commonalities between Israel, Greece Middle East environment,” Lerman says. B’rith World Center in Jerusalem. has left its mark on Mediterranean and subversion. Maj. Gen. (res.) Yaakov surveyed radical Islamist organizations and Cyprus. history, and the author of The Great Sea. Amidror offered the Israeli point of operating in the region. Dr. Amit Mor, Among the B'nai B'rith International “The challenges are the regional Abulafia reminded participants that view; former Greek Minister of Internal among Israel's leading energy experts, Dr. Lerman published a BESA Center leaders who participated in the refugee crisis due to chaotic conditions trade and cultural links have existed Security Vassilis Kikilias gave a spirited explored the implications of the gas study in March, The Mediterranean conference were Mr. Gary P. Saltzman, in Syria, Libya and beyond; and the across the Mediterranean since the explanation of his country's views; and finds in the Eastern Mediterranean for as a Strategic Environment: Learning President; Mr. Dan Mariaschin, growing hold upon Mediterranean dawn of civilization; but warned against former Israeli Ambassador in Zvi regional cooperation. a New Geopolitical Language, which Executive Vice President; Mr. Irving shores of totalitarian Islamism in its the impact of present divisive trends. Mazel sounded the alarm as to Egypt’s argues that it is time to let go of the Silver and Mr. Martin Oliner – who various forms. The opportunity lies in Dr. Michael Doran of the Hudson economic and political prospects. Avivit Bar Ilan, the leading authority old colonial concept, the “Middle generously supported the conference. energy cooperation between Israel, Institute and Prof. Efraim Inbar of the in the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs East,” and re-learn to think in Egypt, , Greece and Cyprus (with BESA Center also spoke of strategic Adding to the understanding of this a role for ); and perhaps with Turkey highly complex strategic landscape too.” were scholars and practitioners from (Bruno Tertrais, who The conference was capped by related, among other, to the West's addresses from Mr. Panos Kammenos, growing military involvement in the Greek Minister of Defense; Mr. Libya), Cyprus (DCM Michalis Firillas), Giulio Terzi, former Foreign Minister and Turkey (scholar and journalist of Italy; and Maj. Gen. (res.) Amos Burak Bekdil). The range of reaction Gilead, head of the politico-military in the international community to department in the Israel Ministry of these challenges was discussed by Dr. Defense. Visiting members of the Jonathan Rynhold; by the German DCM Conference of Presidents of Major in Israel Monica Iwersen; and by Russia American Jewish Organizations expert Dr. Anna Geifman. participated in this session. Dr. Ehud Eiran of Haifa University Kammenos offered a comprehensive presented the findings of an ongoing and very forceful articulation of project on Mediterranean security, Panos Kammenos, Greek Minister of Defense Dr. Amit Mor, Mr. Alan Schneider, Mr. Vassilis Kikilias and Ambassador Zvi Mazel (l. to r.) Mr. Martin Oliner Greece’s views on the dangers of radical reminding participants of Ben Gurion's