November 7, 2025 – The Shasha Center for Strategic Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem held its annual conference on November 5–6, 2025, titled “Strategic Aspects in the Regional and Local Arenas: Crisis, Reconstruction and New Arrangements.” 

The conference examined the transformations expected in Israel and the Middle East following the ongoing two-year campaign across multiple fronts—from Gaza to Iran. Discussions focused on emergency preparedness, crisis management, post-crisis reconstruction, and long-term strategic planning under conditions of uncertainty. 

Among the speakers from the Shasha Center: 

• Dr. Daniel Sobelman, Department of International Relations, Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Middle East Initiative Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School. 
• Dr. Yuval Benziman, Program in Conflict Research, Management and Resolution, Hebrew University of Jerusalem. 
• Prof. Lior Herman, Department of International Relations, Hebrew University of Jerusalem. 
• And additional members of the Center. 

Guest speakers included: 

• Dr. Yuval Steinitz, Visiting Professor and Research Fellow at the Shasha Center, who gave a lecture on “The War with Iran and Its Implications for Israel and the Middle East.” 
• Minister Zeev Elkin, on “Reconstruction of the South and North in Israel.” 
• H.E. Mr. Mukhtar Mammadov, Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the State of Israel. 
• Prof. Daniel Aldrich, Head of the Resilience Studies Program at Northeastern University and Co-Director of the Global Resilience Institute, who spoke on “The Role of Social Capital in Rehabilitation and Recovery.” 
• As well as Bezalel Trailer, Itay Medina, and others. 

As part of the conference, Prof. Limor Samimian-Darash, Head of the Shasha Center, presented the concluding document of the Civil Emergency Preparedness Project in Israel, which includes operational recommendations for implementation. 

The document draws on three studies conducted at the Center: 

1. An international comparative study of emergency preparedness models. 
2. A historical-legal review of emergency legislation in Israel. 
3. A historical analysis of the development of Israel’s national civil emergency system since the state’s establishment. 

The project’s final document proposes a comprehensive model for civil emergency preparedness, which will be presented to policymakers. 

About the Shasha Center for Strategic Studies
The James G. Shasha Center for Strategic Studies at the Hebrew University is a research hub focused on issues of strategic importance directly linked to policymaking in Israel. The Center combines rigorous academic research with real-world relevance and public impact.

In recent years, its work has centered on long-term strategic planning and crisis preparedness, through four flagship projects: 

• Emergency and Recovery: Evaluating Israel’s national emergency systems and post-crisis recovery. 
• The Renewing Regional Arena: Examining emerging patterns of regional cooperation. 
• Methodologies for Strategic and Future Planning in an Era of Uncertainty. 
• Advanced Thinking, Computation, and Disruptive Technologies. 

The Center is headed by Prof. Limor Samimian-Darash, a leading expert on civil emergency preparedness, uncertainty, and future scenario planning.