The Alma Center Our Vision & Mission Understanding the Security Challenges on Israel`s Northern Borders Education | Research | Media From our CEO Founding the Alma Center is a dream come true for me. Ever since I was a student of Middle Eastern Studies at the Ben-Gurion University, I felt that another perspective was needed on the way the events in the Middle East are discussed. This feeling has only intensified in recent years, during which the global media has become very polarized, with a disproportionate emphasis on the placement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a primary cause in the instability of the Middle East. As a resident of the Galilee for the past 11 years, I have developed a different perspective on the questions I dealt with as a student and later on, as an intelligence officer in the IDF. I wanted to bring an authentic and professional viewpoint to those who had never been exposed to the myriad of complexities in the Middle East, especially outside of Israel. A year ago, I established Alma, a unique Center that focuses primarily on Israel's security challenges on its northern borders. The Center's activities combine educational content – provided by the Center's diverse team of speakers, to varied groups from abroad - together with professional, qualitative and comprehensive research that highlights and analyzes events that are significant to the security of the State of Israel. The Alma Center is located in the Western Galilee region of northern Israel, and all staff members are residents of the Galilee and the Golan Heights. I can admit that I could not have imagined that in a few months from the beginning, we would establish such an impressive Center, offering interactive and one-of-its-kind experiences for visiting groups. During the early days of the Center, I came to the realization that even senior officials and other opinion makers from the Academic and media arenas in the US and Europe, are craving for the knowledge we provide - professional, coherent and spiced with a personal and authentic point of view. On a personal note, I would like to thank my team for their inspiring creativity and dedication; to our treasured clients who have believed in our vision from the outset; to the elite group of philanthropic donors who have helped me to establish Alma as an independent, non-profit organization; and to the Galila Foundation, who have supported and nurtured me from the outset and provides me with the tools to develop Alma as a globally-recognized Israeli think-tank that has gained significance and influence in the international arena. Lt. Col. (res.) Sarit Zehavi, Founder and CEO of Alma 1 What is Alma? Alma is a non-profit education and research center (501c3), founded by Lt.Col Sarit Zehavi. Alma is dedicated to researching the security challenges on Israel’s northern borders and sharing our conclusions with the world. We focus on opinion makers, research centers, academia and all those interested in an in-depth appreciation of the multi-dimensional complexities in the Middle East. Alma takes pride in providing an authentic, unique and professional perspective regarding the areas on both sides of the borders of Lebanon, Syria and Israel. Our research interweaves the special diversity of societies along those borders with geography, politics and military capabilities – all combining together to impact the ever-changing security climate in the region. Living alongside Israel`s volatile northern borders can be quite challenging but is definitely interesting and dynamic. In order to understand what is happening on the other side of the borders, we personally explore and study the challenges in northern Israel by visiting different sites on the Syrian and Lebanese borders, collect information from various sources in multiply languages and analyze meaningful events that can directly influence Israel`s security in the future. In the ever-changing Middle East, it is very important to stay on guard and be updated. No day seems like the one before. We at Alma provide significant, original and well-illustrated research material, based on a deep understanding of the security situation. All of Alma`s researchers and speakers are residents of Israel`s northern border communities and together with their personal and professional experiences, they hold an authentic view point of the developments in the neighborhood. 2 Production of research products and accessories _ Social Media: thousands were exposed to our daily publications _ Research Department Our Publications – Alma develops exclusive analysis based on integrating found on our information from social networks and sites in Arabic. website Our research department focuses on the security israel-alma.org challenges along Israel's northern borders and we are and in enhancing our expertise in better understanding the international developments on the border zone with Syria and media Lebanon daily - considering the ever-changing situation on these borders. _ Our Research Department follows media outlets and social Podcasts - Q & A media in the region on a daily basis. This ability to follow style interviews daily events enables us to provide updated briefings and publish relevant research products. _ Publication of translated video materials and analysis reports on YouTube 3 Research topics – Lebanon: • Who actually runs Lebanon? - Hezbollah's control of the Lebanese government and the population in southern Lebanon, following the results of the Lebanese parliamentary elections in May 2018. • Hezbollah's indoctrination of the Iranian Islamic Revolution ideology among the population in southern Lebanon. • UNIFIL and its role in enforcing UN Security Council Resolution 1701 & Hezbollah's use of civilians as human shields. Research topics – Syria: • The Shi’ite Axis' involvement, deployment and influence in the Syrian Golan Heights. • The Shi’ite Axis' ground corridor from Tehran to Beirut via Damascus. • The final stages of the civil war in Syria and the rehabilitation efforts - with an emphasis on the border area adjacent to Israel. • International involvement in the Syria’s southwest region - Russia, UN and US influence. Research Products: Visual products: Infographics, mapping, translated video materials, news articles and special reports. 4 Education Department Thousands of visitors, coming from all over the world, are exposed to Alma`s educational content every year. Last year has been a challenging and exciting year for the staff of the Education Department. Alma has evolved from a "one woman show" to a comprehensive non- profit center employing 7 staff members, all residents of northern Israel. We collaborate together to generate accurate analysis and interpretation of the northern borders' security challenges to global opinion makers and political leaders. This year, we have carefully reviewed the needs of our target audiences and developed new, informative programs, alongside the development and improvement of our on-location security briefings. We were pleased to learn that so many people, groups and institutes from around the world are yearning for knowledge on the dynamic events along Israel’s northern borders. Our speakers met with politicians, diplomats, leading academics, journalists, businessmen, families, students and youth - all of whom were exposed to the unique content of the Alma Center and learned about Israel's security challenges on the northern borders. Field Geopolitical Panels with speakers from the briefings on & Cultural human mosaic of the border seminars the Galilee `Security Crisis simulation` in Interactive Indoor Alma`s unique workshops lectures `Situation roon` 5 Meet Alma`s speakers: Lt. Col (Res.) Sarit Zehavi – founder and CEO Lieutenant Colonel (Res.) Zehavi served for 15 years in the Israeli Defense Forces, specializing in Military Intelligence – initially with the IDF Research & Analysis section and later on, within the IDF Northern Command. Sarit has briefed hundreds of groups and forums, ranging from US Senators, Congressmen/women and politicians to senior journalists and visiting VIP groups in Israel and overseas. Sarit scripts numerous position papers and updates focusing on Lebanon, Syria and Israel’s national security challenges. Sarit holds an M.A. in Middle East Studies from Ben-Gurion University. Sarit Zehavi and her husband Yaron are raising their 5 children in the Western Galilee. Lt. Col (Res.) Guy Malal – Vice President Lt. Colonel Guy Malal is a knowledgeable speaker with over two decades of experience as a Commander in the IDF and is fluent in Arabic. Guy Malal conveys an in-depth appreciation of Israel's society, diverse cultures, history and geo-political challenges. Guy gained his B.A. degree in Middle East studies and Geography and is now studying for his M.A. in Geography at Haifa University. Guy is primarily engaged in the area of tourism development, and serves as Deputy Director of Israel’s School of Tourism, where he also teaches Middle-East & Islam studies. In parallel to his civilian occupations, as part of his military (reserve) duty, he serves as commander of a training course in an IDF Intelligence operational unit. Guy is married and is the father of 3 children and lives in the community village of Yuvalim, located in the Central Galilee region. 6 Major (Res.) Avraham Levine - New Media Director & Geopolitical Speaker Major Avraham Levine (Res.) is the Media Director and geopolitical speaker at Alma. His parents are both Americans, who made Aliya to Israel in the 70`s. Avraham served in the IDF’s Golani Infantry Brigade in a number of combat roles, including stints in Lebanon as well as in Judea & Samaria. Avraham still serves as an IDF Intelligence Officer with his reserve unit every year. Married with seven children, Avraham and his family reside in the rural community of Avney Eitan, located on the Golan Heights, a mile away from the Syrian border. Having gained his B.A. degree in Organizational Psychology, Avraham’s professional experiences ranges from business promotion & marketing to tourism development in Israel.