Tel Aviv Conference: Where is Israel Headed?

Save the Date: May 7. 2025, Smolarz Auditorium, Tel Aviv University

Following a year of profound challenges, the Tel Aviv Conference returns on May 7, 2025, at the Smolarz Auditorium, Tel Aviv University, inviting the public to take part in a critical conversation about Israel’s future. Last year, hundreds of policymakers, researchers, and leaders gathered to discuss the nation’s most pressing issues. This year, the discussion continues—more urgent and essential than ever.

The conference will bring together leading experts, policymakers, and researchers to explore Israel’s key challenges through three main plenary sessions:

• Political security – Strategic planning in a rapidly shifting global landscape.
• Socio-economic – Restoring the economy and fostering long-term growth.
• Law and democracy – Strengthening governance and the rule of law.

In addition, roundtable discussions will cover four essential areas: security and society, public systems and social services, environment and technology, and law, policy, and international relations.

A Compass for the Future

Israel has faced a year of extraordinary trials. The strategic reality in the Middle East has shifted dramatically, and the country has demonstrated resilience in the face of Hamas’ brutal attack. While the war continues—the longest in Israel’s history—ninety-eight kidnapped individuals remain in captivity, and the road to national recovery is still ahead.

Now, the challenge is to transform military achievements into lasting strategic progress. This means rehabilitating the wounded, enabling displaced citizens to return home, revitalizing the economy, and charting a course for sustainable growth across all sectors.

A Gathering of Leaders and Experts

Last year’s Tel Aviv Conference: The Future of Israel brought together hundreds of participants, including top government officials, academics, media professionals, and cultural figures. Speakers included Israel’s Police Commissioner Yaakov Shabtai, State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman, German Ambassador Steffen Seibert, and former Defense Minister Benny Gantz. Discussions tackled national security, economic resilience, governance, and the ongoing effort to bring back hostages, with deeply moving testimonies from affected families.

This year, the conference will continue to expand and deepen public discourse while making cutting-edge research accessible. With Tel Aviv University’s signature multidisciplinary approach, the event will foster an open, inclusive dialogue across Israeli society.

The "Tel Aviv Conference: Where is Israel Headed?" is more than a discussion—it’s a call to action. Join us at Smolarz Auditorium to think, debate, and shape the future together.