Events
No upcoming events
Past events
2026
During the month of May, Professor Eitan Shamir participated in the international economic forum “The Startup Nation Model – Encouraging Creativity and Entrepreneurship,” held in Sofia, where he spoke alongside Nobel Prize laureate Professor Dan Shechtman.
Emergency Briefing: From Conflict to Consequences: Strategic Outlook for Iran, Israel, and the Middle East.
Expert panel on Zoom: Asia and “Roaring Lion” in the Persian Gulf – March 18, 2026.
At the beginning of May, Professor Eitan Shamir participated in the Delphi Economic Forum in Greece, in a fascinating panel titled “The Eastern Mediterranean in Search of a New Security Architecture.”
The Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies (BESA Center) proudly congratulates Professor Eitan Shamir and Brig. Gen. (res.) Eran Ortal on being awarded the prestigious Chechik Prize for Research in Israeli Security Studies—one of the most important and influential awards in the field of security research in Israel.
Today (20/1/26) we held a research seminar on the Russia–Ukraine war and its implications for strategic and security thinking.
The Embassy of the Czech Republic in its capacity of the NATO Contact Point Embassy in Israel in cooperation with the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies and the Institute for National Security Studies INSS Israel hosted a working breakfast for Ambassadors and Defence Attachés on Thursday, January 22 2026, The topic of the panel was NATO’s Southern Neighbourhood: Lebanon and Syria on the New Geopolitical Map of the Middle East and the broader What are the broader implications of thechanges to the geopolitical balance for Europe and NATO?
2025
The Begin Sadat Center and the Department of Asian Studies is pleased to invite you to: Indo-Pacific conference Challenges and opportunities.
Yesterday we had the pleasure of hosting The Indo-Pacific Conference: Challenges and Opportunities at the BESA Center.
Professor Eitan Shamir, Director of the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies (BESA), delivered a lecture at IFRI in December on key strategic and operational lessons from the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. The BESA Center extends its sincere thanks to Élie Tenenbaum, Director of Ifri’s Security Studies Center, and Amélie Férey, Head of the Defense Research Unit, for the invitation and for an insightful and stimulating discussion.
During the month of May, five researchers from the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies, together with ISPK, a German research institute, participated in an international conference that focused on geopolitical issues in the Red Sea region.
From May 30 to June 3, Professor Eitan Shamir, BESA Managing Director, visited Seoul, South Korea, to participate in a Middle East conference and engage with various think tanks and local media.
Perspectives on the Iran war 25.6.2025.
Enemy Intelligence, Terror, and Communication.
Innovation in the IDF. Lessons from the recent Middle East conflicts.
Conference 8.4.2025 The End of the Assad Era: The Northern Front – Opportunities and Threats.
On February 13, a special delegation from the Czech Embassy in Israel arrived at the Besa Center to discuss strategic issues. The discussion was interesting and fruitful.
On Tuesday, March 25, 2025, the BESA Center held a conference on the topic: Trump 2.0.
The purpose of the conference was to examine how Trump’s second term would affect the world, the region, and Israel.
On Thursday, April 3, the BESA Center held a briefing for diplomats on the topic of strategic changes in the Middle East.
On January 8 Deputy Ambassador of India to Israel and the political advisor met the Director of BESA Center, Prof. Eitan Shamir, and other members of the center today at Bar Ilan University. Had an interesting discussion on the center’s research on the evolving geopolitical scenario as well as its future projects.
On Tuesday, January 30, 2025, the Swiss Ambassador to Israel visited the BESA Center. The ambassador met with the head of the BESA Center, Prof. Eitan Shamir, as well as with other senior researchers from the center.
On February BESA Center delegation conducted a Southeast Asia tour to promote collaboration between the BESA Center and its Asian counterparts. Professor Eitan Shamir, BESA’s Managing Director, began the tour in Singapore, where he met with colleagues at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), a global graduate school and think tank focusing on strategic studies and security affairs at Nanyang Technological University. He also delivered a lecture at the Middle East Institute, National University of Singapore.
2024
In late September 2023, Professor Eitan Shamir, embarked on an academic tour in the Netherlands. His visit included two high-profile engagements that highlighted the ongoing importance of understanding the complexities of Middle Eastern conflicts.
Professor Eitan Shamir, BESA’s managing director, conducted several high-level engagements in Greece.
On the 2-3 September Professor Eitan Shamir and USN Commander David Levi Participated in the 3rd Indo-Pacific Security Conference 2024.
On September 4 the Institute for Security Policy at Kiel University (ISPK) hosted a delegation from the BESA Center for Strategic Studies in Kiel, Germany.
On September 5 Professor Eitan Shamir, Director of the BESA Center, was hosted by Dr. Adrian Hänni, Senior Researcher at the Leibniz Institute for Contemporary History (IfZ) in Munich, along with a team of German historians. During the visit, Prof. Shamir delivered a lecture on his recent book about Moshe Dayan.
On Thursday, July 25, the BESA Center and the Association of Military-Society Researchers in Israel held their annual seminar, this time on the topic of “Military-Society Relations in the Shadow of War and Dispute.”
On 30 July 2024, the BESA Center had the pleasure of hosting Japan’s Ambassador to Israel, H.E. Ambassador ARAI Yusuke, and his team for a strategic dialogue.
On 30 July 2024, the BESA Center hosted Dr. Jean-Loup Samaan, a Senior Research Fellow specializing in Middle East strategic affairs, with a particular focus on the Israel–Hezbollah conflict and the evolution of the Gulf security system.
On June 18th, the book launch event of Dr. Raphael G. Bouchnik-Chen took place.
On July 4th, Professor Shamir gave a briefing at the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, accompanied by Israel’s Ambassador to the Czech Republic, H.E. Anna Azari. The briefing and subsequent discussion focused on Israel’s challenges and options regarding the war in Gaza.
On Monday, July 8th, the launch event for Prof. Efrat Aviv’s book took place.
On Thursday, the 16th of May, the Basa Center held a conference on the topic: The Controversy of the Draft Law.
On May 22, Mr. Daulet Yemberdiyev, Ambassador of Kazakhstan, visited Bar-Ilan University and had a meeting with Prof. Eitan Shamir.
On May 28 the BESA center hosted the leading strategic thinker Dr Edward Luttwak for a special lecture for faculty, researchers and MA students in Security Studies. Luttwak spoke about the view from the White House and the Pentagon on the war in Gaza on context of other world crisis such as the war in Ukraine and Taiwan.
On February 28-29, Dr. Shay Attias, a senior researcher at the BESA Center, participated in the Brand-Finance World Conference on “Soft Power” held in London.
On March 6-8 the head of the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies at Bar-Ilan University, Professor Eitan Shamir, and Dr. Elai Rettig recently visited Tbilisi to take part in the Rondeli Security Conference, which was attended by experts from around the world.
On May 5th, the BESA Center in Tel Aviv hosted a conference on the topic: ‘The Challenges of the Druze Society in Israel 2024 – ‘Brothers by Blood, Brothers for Life.’ The conference aimed to clarify fundamental issues in the relations between the Druze and the Israeli society.
On February 18, Prof. Eitan Shamir, Director of the BESA Center, and senior researcher Mr. Ran Segev participated in a discussion initiated by Knesset members Idan Roll and Sharren Haskel on the topic “The Day After Abu Mazen – Challenges to Israel.”
Professor Eitan Shamir participated in a seminar on Israel and the war in the Middle East at the German Command and Staff Academy in Hamburg on February 21-22.
Professor Shamir shared a panel discussion with Brigadier General (Ret.) Udi Dekel from the INSS, Col. (Res.) Ron Tira of the IAF Planning Department, and Col. DG Kraus from the Austrian Army, former Defense Attaché in Israel.
On February 26, Singapore Ambassador Mr. Ian Mak Jung-I visited Bar-Ilan University. While he was here, the ambassador paid a visit to the BESA Center, where he met with BESA Center Director Prof. Eitan Shamir
Mr. Stockwell Visit: On January 10th, The Besa Center in collaboration with the Management Conflict Negotiation and Resolution Program and the Bar Ilan International School hosted Mr Day Stockewll a former senior Minister and MP with the Canadian Conservative party and an opposition leader for a guest lecture and a discussion with Bar Ilan’s students. Mr. Day spoke about Canadian-Israeli relations he help to foster and the support Canada should provide to Israel in this difficult time.
On Thursday, January 25, 2024, a meeting was held on the topic of political and environmental insights from the Climate Conference in Dubai.
The BESA Center hosted Dr. Michael Eisnetstadt, Director of the Military & Security Studies Program in the Washington Institue
for a seminar on the 13th of February. The seminar title was:” When are wars decisive, what is the relative contribution of military and non-military factors to achieving a decisive outcome, and what are the implications for Israel’s war with Hamas?”.
2023
Guest Speaker at the Center for Foreign Policy Planning, Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Athens – Professor Eitan Shamir was invited to speak to Greek senior diplomats on December 1st. The event took place at the Center for Foreign Policy Planning, Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and was chaired by the center’s director and host Mr. Alexandros Dimitrakopoulos. The discussion focused on the possible future of regional realities in the Middle East following the Israel-Hamas war.
On September 10th, The BESA Center conducted a conference in collaboration with the Association of Civil-Military Studies in Israel. During the event, the findings from a survey examining public attitudes toward the IDF and the Police in the context of judicial reforms were unveiled. These results indicated that there continues to be a strong level of trust in the IDF among the public. Furthermore, participants at the conference engaged in discussions regarding potential scenarios for the future, exploring the potential impacts of judicial reforms on civil-military relations.
From September 12th to 14th, the BESA Center welcomed a delegation from the RUSI Military Sciences research group and an esteemed expert from Exeter University for a strategic dialogue focused on various facets of modern warfare. The primary aim of this collaboration between BESA and RUSI is to cultivate a more profound comprehension of the dynamics of contemporary warfare and establish the foundation for forthcoming cooperative initiatives. The successful execution of this event was made possible thanks to the generous support of the Academic Study Group on Israel and the Middle East.
Athens Security Forum – Professor Eitan Shamir, BESA’s Managing Director, was invited to be a guest speaker at the Athens Security Forum, which was organized by the Institute for International Relations (IDIS) and took place on 29-30 November. Professor Shamir spoke after a speech by Israeli Ambassador to Greece Noam Katz on Israel’s war against Hamas. Professor Shamir’s remarks focused on the regional implications of the war and the alliances that have been formed and reinforced following the 7 October attack, such as the strategic alliance between Israel and Greece.
On July 2 Besa hosted the Israel’s First “Hybrid Warfare” Conference at Bar Ilan University.
The conference marked the initiation of an innovative international research initiative, funded with 380,000 euros by the EU, aiming to address the complex challenges posed by the era of hybrid warfare comprehensively.
Read more:
On July 5 Besa researchers participated in a strategic dialogue on mutual collaboration with colleagues from Turkey, Bahrain, UAE, SaudiArabia, Georgia and Qatar in Baku Azarbijan. Hosted by the AIR center in Baku.
On June 8, the BESA Center hosted the 16th IAIS conference at Bar-Ilan University. More than 100 members of the association attended the conference, at which fascinating and varied research was presented.
On June 28 Besa hosted a group of Cadets and Proffesors from the US Military Academy , West Point. Besa researchers had a lively discussion with the cadets on the Middle East conflict and recent developments In the region.
השקת ספרו של פרופ איתן שמיר : משה “דיין – התפתחותו של אסטרטג”
יום ראשון ה 2.7 בין השעות 17:00-19:00, אודיטוריום ננוטכנולוגיה, בנין 206
On June 14 BESA hosted an important strategic dialogue with a distinguished team from the US Embassy to Israel. This dialogue emphasizes the crucial role of diplomacy in building strong and meaningful relationships between the two nations.
On May 24, the BESA Center had the pleasure of hosting Michael Eisenstadt, the Kahn Fellow and Director of the Washington Institute’s Military and Security Studies Program.
The topic under discussion was Iran’s Nuclear Hedging Strategy: Shaping the Islamic Republic’s Proliferation Calculus.
On June 11 BESA researchers held a seminar with Professor Kunihiko Miyake, CIGS, and a delegation from the Japanese embassy that included DCM Mr TAKAHASHI SEIICHIRO and the cultural attache Mr. HIGUCHI YOSHIHIKO.
Professor Kunihiko Miyake gave a lecture on Japan and East Asian Security. Dr, Alon Levkowitz briefed the delegation on the Korean perspective on regional threats.
On June 20 Dr. Elai Rettig of the BESA center gave a talk before members of the “Israel-Hellenic Forum” in Nicosia, Cyprus. The forum is an annual meeting between academics, diplomats and policymakers from Israel, Cyprus, and Greece designed to strengthen relations between the three countries. He talked about new energy cooperation opportunities in the Eastern Mediterranean.
On April 27, Dr. Ilai Rettig was invited to be the keynote speaker at a closed meeting of the AIPAC organization. The meeting addressed the promotion of the Abraham Accords through cooperation in the field of energy
מרכז בגין-סאדאת למחקרים אסטרטגיים באוניברסיטת בר-אילן שמח להזמין את הקהל הרחב לכנס בנושא:
צבא בסערה ממשלת הרפורמה והשלכותיה על יחסי צבא-חברה
יום רביעי 31.5.2023 בשעה 14:00
BESA Center hosted a delegation from The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies and the Dutch Military Attache Mirjam Grandia on the date June 6 for a strategic dialogue.
Director Dr. Eitan Shamir and BESA Senior Researcher Major General Gershon Hacohen participated in The Philip Merrill Center for Strategic Studies at Johns Hopkins
Dr. Shamir met with a team of NESA researchers led by Col. David Lamm.
On April 17, the BESA Center held a roundtable on NATO together with the Division for Political Planning at the Israeli MFA. It was a busy and interesting meeting at which we explored new horizons for Israel-NATO relations.
Does the IDF need protection from Israeli society?
Prof. Stewart Cohen, 17.1.2023
On the 21 March The BESA Center hosted Proffesor Beatrice Hesuer from Univesity of Glasgow for a guest lecture to the MA in Startegy, Military and Cyber Security. The lecture title was: “What can Historian Contribute to Forcasting? The Russian Ukraine war Example”
The BESA Center conducted a joint Strategic Dialogue with the Führungsakademie der Bundeswehr, FüAkBw, German Armed Forces Staff, and Command College in Hamburg.
2022
2020
סיפוח – הזדמנות או איום? 13.7.20 אלוף מיל’ גרשון הכהן
נקמת איראן – מבצע שהיד סולימאני – לקחים לישראל 17.8.20 ד”ר עוזי רובין
הסכם השלום בין ישראל לאיחוד האמירויות 1.9.20 ד”ר מרדכי קידר
The Possible Consequences of the US Election on Its Relations With Israel 23.9.20 Prof. Eytan Gilboa
American Cities after Coronavirus and Black Lives Matter 21.10.20 Dr. Alex Joffe
The US Elections – The Day After 4.11.20 Prof. Mark Meirowitz & Prof. Eytan Gilboa
מדיניותו של ביידן במזרח התיכון 7.12.20 תאל’ מיל’ יוסי קופרווסר
עשור לאביב הערבי 23.12.20 פרופ’ רמי גינת ,פרופ’ אייל זיסר, הפרשן אהוד יערי, אלוף מיל’ גרשון הכהן
Academic Freedom In Palestinian Universities 13.1.21 Prof. Cary Nelson
כנס לציון יום השואה הבינ”ל 25.1.21 פרופ’ דליה עופר, ד”ר אסף רומירובסקי, פרופ’ מאיר ליטבק, ד”ר צילה הרשקו.
השקת ספרו של ד”ר אדי כהן – המופתי והיהודים 1.2.21 ד”ר אדי כהן
הרומן בין נתניהו למגזר הערבי – הילכו שניים יחדיו? 10.3.21 ד”ר דורון מצא
The International Criminal Court at the Hague VS the State of Israel: Ways of coping 22.3.21 Prof. Avi Bell
הדרום הפרוע: האלימות בנגב בהעדר ריבונות 12.4.21 תא”ל מיל’ צביקה פוגל, מר עקיבא ביגמן
הסקר ככלי לעיצוב דעת קהל 19.4.21 מר רועי כ”ץ, ד”ר שרון חלבה עמיר, פרופ’ אודי לבל, פרופ’ יצחק כ”ץ
What Have We Learned from Biden’s first 100 days? 6.5.21 Prof. Mark Meirowitz, Shmuel Rosner
השבת הריבונות – מציאות או חלום? 10.5.21 ד״ר פיני יחזקאל, אלוף מיל’ גרשון הכהן
פרעות תשפ”א: סיבות והשלכות 15.5.21 אלוף מיל’ גרשון הכהן, ד”ר מרדכי קידר
What Have We Learned from Biden’s first 100 days? 6.5.21 Prof. Mark Meirowitz, Shmuel Rosner
השבת הריבונות – מציאות או חלום? 10.5.21 ד״ר פיני יחזקאל, אלוף מיל’ גרשון הכהן
פרעות תשפ”א: סיבות והשלכות 15.5.21 אלוף מיל’ גרשון הכהן, ד”ר מרדכי קידר
Can Civil War In Israel be Avoided? 16.5.21 Dr. Mordechai Keidar
מבט על סבב הלחימה האחרון 8.6.21 ג’קי חוגי, אלוף (מיל’) גרשון הכהן
יום עיון לציון 30 למותו של אבי הר אבן ז״ל 8.7.21 – יואב הר אבן
יום עיון לציון 30 למותו של אבי הר אבן ז״ל – אלוף מיל׳ גרשון הכהן
יום עיון לציון 30 למותו של אבי הר אבן ז״ל – ד׳׳ר עוזי רובין
יום עיון לציון 30 למותו של אבי הר אבן ז״ל – פרופ׳ יצחק בן ישראל
יום עיון לציון 30 למותו של אבי הר אבן ז״ל – ד׳׳ר דורון מצא
יום עיון לציון 30 למותו של אבי הר אבן ז״ל – ד׳׳ר מוטי קידר
יום עיון לציון 30 למותו של אבי הר אבן ז״ל – פרופ׳ הלל פריש