Watch each session by clicking on the corresponding title.
Opening Remarks
Dov Waxman: The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation Professor of Israel Studies and Director of the UCLA Y&S Nazarian Center for Israel Studies
Aluf Benn, Haaretz Editor-in-Chief
Session I: The Impact of October 7 on Israeli–Palestinian Relations
Major General (res.) Yair Golan—Former IDF Deputy Chief of Staff and currently running for leadership of Israel's Labour Party—in conversation with Hilo Glazer, Haaretz Weekend Magazine journalist
Panel Discussion
Hussein Ibish: Senior Resident Scholar, Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington (AGSIW)
Dr. Rula Hardal: Political scientist, research fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem, and Co-Director of A Land For All: Two States, One Homeland
Anat Saragusti: Israeli journalist and commentator
Chuck Freilich: Former Deputy National Security Adviser in Israel now senior fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv
Moderated by Haaretz journalist Netta Ahituv
Session II: The Impact of October 7 on Israel’s Foreign Relations
Thomas Friedman, The New York Times Foreign Affairs Columnist in conversation with Haaretz Editor-in-Chief, Aluf Benn
Ahmed Maher: Senior political editor at Al Majalla
Yael German: Former Health Minister and former Israeli ambassador to France
Alon Pinkas: Haaretz senior writer
Dr. Nimrod Goren: Senior fellow at the Middle East Institute & President of the Mitvim Institute
Moderated by Editor-in-Chief of Haaretz English, Esther Solomon
Session III: The Impact of October 7 on Israeli Society and Politics
Major General (ret.) Noam Tibon—Former Commander of the IDF Northern Formation—and Haaretz Diplomatic Correspondent Amir Tibon in conversation with Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Haaretz English, Maya Lecker
Ahmad Tibi: Knesset member and Co-Chairman of Hadash-Ta'al party
Maoz Inon: Peace Entrepreneur
Moran Zer Katzenstein: Founder of the Bonot Alternativa (Building an Alternative) women's movement
Ravit Hecht: Haaretz political analyst
Moderated by Haaretz journalist and host of the Haaretz podcast, Allison Kaplan Sommer
Session IV: The Impact of October 7 on Israel–Diaspora Relations
Joshua Leifer: Author of the forthcoming book Tablets Shattered: The End of an American Jewish Century and the Future of Jewish Life
Emily Tamkin: Journalist and author of Bad Jews: A History of American Jewish Politics and Identities
Rabbi Gesa S. Ederberg: Rabbi to the Jewish communities of Berlin and Masorti Germany
Jonathan Freedland: The Guardian columnist and co-host of the Unholy podcast
Moderated by Haaretz's New York and Jewish World Correspondent, Judy Maltz
Closing Remarks
This panel will focus on the critical water issues that are directly linked to the development and sustainability of agriculture as impacted by water resources, the impact of global climate change, shared water resources, irrigation technology and challenges and opportunities for assuring food security in the Middle East and Africa.
This panel will explore the impact on human health and the environment associated with human, industrial and agricultural activities on water quality and impairment of water supplies. The panel will also address approaches to reducing adverse impacts associated with water scarcity and quality on human health and the environment.
This panel will address efforts toward water sustainability in growing urban centers in water-scarce regions in the Middle East and Africa. The panel will also review current and planned efforts to improve water treatment and delivery in urban areas, issues of water transfers and multinational cooperation.
This panel will focus on regional and transboundary conflicts and collaborations with the aim of identifying opportunities that may exist for establishing beneficial relationships among neighboring countries and alleviating water stress in water-scarce regions. Political and economic drivers will also be discussed in relation to water security and sustainability.
Rita Colwell is a Distinguished University Professor at both the University of Maryland at College Park and at Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School of Public Health. Her research on global infectious diseases, water, and health has earned her some of the world’s most prestigious awards throughout her career, including the 2006 National Medal of Science Award, the 2010 Stockholm Water Prize Laureate and most recently, the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize, which recognizes outstanding contributions to solving global water challenges. Colwell has been a leader in her field by taking a holistic approach to global health, including accounting for environmental variables like climate change. She uses this pioneering approach in her current work focused on developing an international network to address emerging infectious diseases and water issues, including safe drinking water for both the developed and developing world. Colwell previously served as the eleventh director of the National Science Foundation from 1998 to 2004 and, as director, also held the position of co-chair of the Committee on Science of the National Science and Technology Council. Colwell has also held a number of advisory positions in the U.S. government, nonprofit science policy organizations, and private foundations, as well as in the international scientific research community. An internationally-respected scientist and educator, Dr. Colwell has authored or co-authored 17 books and more than 750 scientific publications. She produced the award-winning film, "Invisible Seas," and has served on editorial boards of numerous scientific journals. Dr. Colwell is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Stockholm, the Royal Society of Canada, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the American Philosophical Society. She is immediate past-president of the American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS).