The Herzliya Conference Series

The Herzliya Conference on “The Balance of Israel’s National Strength (hosen) and Security" is unique among the plethora of Israeli and international conferences. 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 Fourth Herzliya Conference he announced his support for the “Road Map"; and at the Fifth 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 Israeli government authorities have adopted numerous Herzliya Conference reports and recommendations as official policy, in such areas as:

Defense:

The 2001 Shahak Task Force report that analyzed Israel's long-term deterrence strategy spurred a National Security Council review of the issue.

Foreign Policy:

The 2001 and 2002 Conference plenum explored and debated a wide range of proposals on how to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian impasse. Some of these initiatives were introduced for the first time at Herzliya, thereby enriching the menu of policy alternatives. The discussions on U.S. and Europe have also aroused the interest of foreign governments.

Economic Policy: 

The Ministry of Finance incorporated the 2002 Ayalon Report on leveraging hi-tech industries for Israel's economic growth into the national economic recovery plan.

Public Diplomacy:

An IPS advisory panel on Israel's international legal and media campaigns presented strategies and ideas to improve Israel's international advocacy (hasbara) effort, some of which energized relevant government agencies and NGOs.

Education and Society:

In 2003, the Ministry of Education adopted the 2000 Shoshani Task Force Report on 'Maximum Utilization of Education Systems', thereby increasing efficiency and cutting expenditures.

The Jewish World

The Herzliya Conferences led the way to incorporating Diaspora Jewish concerns and viewpoints into Israel's national security equation as central and permanent components. In doing so, it set an example for others, such as the National Security Council, who followed suit.

Education and Society:

In 2003, the Ministry of Education adopted the 2000 Shoshani Task Force Report on 'Maximum Utilization of Education Systems', thereby increasing efficiency and cutting expenditures.

The Jewish World

The Herzliya Conferences led the way to incorporating Diaspora Jewish concerns and viewpoints into Israel's national security equation as central and permanent components. In doing so, it set an example for others, such as the National Security Council, who followed suit.