Herzliya Conference Takes Center Stage in Israel

By Joel Leyden
Israel News Agency

Herzliya---December 16....The Israel News Agency has created this page so that the general public has access to the events of the 5th Annual Herzliya Conference in Israel.

The Herzliya Conference on the Balance of Israel's National Strength The Edmond Benjamin de Rothschild Herzliya Conference on “The Balance of Israel’s National Strength (hosen) and Security" is unique among the plethora of Israeli and international conferences.

Speaking at the Herzliya conference tonight, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon outlined his plans for the nation.
"Last year I presented here the outlines of the disengagement plan before outlining the goals of the state. "I've outlined the way in which I'll move the future of the Israel as a democratic and Jewish state. "Israel will be the heart of the Jewish world. It will provide a secure future to its citizens. A state with a modern education system, 20th century infrastructure, a prosperous economy, a society which offers everybody a decent living."

The very concept of "hosen" (Hebrew for strength, endurance, and resilience), used as the central theme of all the Conferences, has become a widely used coin of expression in public discourse and in many official declarations. Since its inception, the Herzliya Conference has become the annual "summit meeting" of the most influential Israeli and international leaders. Participants at the Conference include: government officials, Knesset members and ministers, senior defense officials, leaders of the Israeli business community, senior academicians, media representatives from Israel and abroad, representatives from various leading Jewish organizations in the Diaspora, dignitaries from abroad and the diplomatic corps in Israel.

The Herzliya Conference is a year-long work cycle which includes the following consecutive stages: Preliminary research and analysis conducted by task forces and commissioned experts; The Conference, at which major policy statements and initiatives are delivered, followed by debate on the issues and on the reports presented by the task forces; An executive summary, presented to key policymakers, summarizing the Conference's proceedings, findings, and major policy recommendations. The Herzliya Conferences have given salience to key issues. The first Herzliya Conference was publicly credited for being the first to thrust the geopolitical ramifications of demographic trends as a crucial factor in the negotiating process. Since then, demographic issues have been widely discussed and have become an important part of the national agenda.

The Herzliya Conference has become Israel's center stage for the articulation of national policy by its most prominent leaders: the President, the Prime Minister, the IDF Chief of General Staff, and the leading contenders for high political office. Thus, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon chose to deliver his most important foreign policy speeches, now commonly known as "The Herzliya Addresses", at the Herzliya Conferences.

In the third Herzliya Conference he announced his support in the “Road Map Plan”; and in the Fourth Herlziya Conference, he presented for the first time his unilateral disengagement plan. Central issues that were first raised or emphasized in the Conferences, have become part of the public discourse in Israel.

The Fifth Annual Herzliya Conference on Israel National Strength and Security will take place at the Daniel Hotel in Herzliya between 13-16 December 2004. The following are the themes that will be discussed at the conference. Main Themes v The Strategic Balance, The Herzliya Conference on Balance The “Herzliya Indices”, Public Opinion Survey on Israel’s Situation as Reflected in the Media, The Official National Assessment v Strategic Shifts on the Global Scene, The Shift from West to East Post Election, United States Policy Nuclear Proliferation in Asia and the Gulf v Strategies in Mid-East Negotiating Processes. Other themes at this years conference in Israel include: Alternative Formula for Final Status, Options for Regional Settlements, Jordanian Variations v The International Arena and Israeli Strategic Partnerships, The European Option, The Atlantic Option, Winning the War of Ideas v Jewish People, Strategies Trends in World Jewish Community, Israel-Diaspora Connections Judaism as Culture and National Identity v Social Policy Minority Policy and Societal Resilience, Women Empowerment, The Role of Civic Society in Welfare Policy Revising Social Security Policy v Economic Strategies – National Resources and Infrastructures, The Defense Industries in the Global Market, Developments in the Energy Sector Financial Markets and Investments Engines for Future Economic Growth, The Challenge of Developing the Negev v Leadership, Governance, and Strategy National Security Councils – A Comparative Look National Intelligence and Decision-Making at the Top, Upgrading Governance in Israel.

Prime Minister’s Ariel Sharon will deliver the “Herzliya Address” this evening.

You can find a link to the Herzliya Conference by clicking here