The Churchill Program for Statecraft and Strategy is designed for individuals seeking to shape Israel’s national policies in foreign and defense affairs. It caters to mid-career professionals from various backgrounds:
2. Individuals active in the public sphere (including NGOs, media, and politics) who want to deepen their expertise in foreign and security affairs.
3. Graduate researchers working on relevant topics who aim for their academic research to influence strategic thinking in Israel.
Each year, the Churchill Program forms a small, intimate, and diverse cohort of around 18 participants (typically aged 30–50) who study together and support one another in shaping a strategic agenda for the State of Israel — one grounded in a national and Zionist spirit and informed by the principles of conservatism and realism.
The program provides a solid grounding in the philosophy of international relations, the strategic history of the modern era and the 20th century, superpowers and the Middle East, and the central challenges facing the State of Israel today and in the next generation.
It offers participants the opportunity to develop a systematic approach to core questions in Israel’s foreign affairs and security strategy, utilizing the knowledge and experience of a high-caliber peer group.
As part of the participants’ personal development and to facilitate an effective learning experience each participant regularly writes a response to the weekly reading materials and presents it to the group as a basis for discussion. In addition, in order to encourage thinking as leaders at the national level, once every quarter each participant prepares a “Ministerial Brief” summarizing the most important insights from that unit of study that an Israeli leader must understand. Two educational field tour days also take place during the year.
Examines the roots of Israeli strategy, key turning points in its history, and the main challenges it will face in the coming decades. This series is the central thread running through the entire program, around which all other units revolve.
Examines the philosophical underpinnings of various approaches to questions of strategy and diplomacy, emphasizing a conservative and realist view.
Gives essential knowledge of the broad historical and international context in which the State of Israel was founded. Traces the ideological developments that shaped the modern system of sovereign nation-states and presents different interpretations of the lessons from this history.
Provides the fundamentals of the modern Middle East, essential for an effective regional strategy.
Explores the strategies of the great and rising powers in the world today and their relationships with Israel and the Middle East.
Shines a light on major trends in global politics and their implications for Israel, including: the global economy, the geopolitics of energy markets, climate change, artificial intelligence and the opportunities and challenges that they pose for Israel.
The reading list draws from a wide range of sources authored by key figures from different spheres relevant to political and security strategy:
Statesmen and thinkers of the 19-20th century from the Western world:
Winston Churchill, Hans Morgenthau, Henry Kissinger, Reinhold Niebuhr, Fredrick Hayek, Ernst Rennan, Jacob Talmon.
Figures from the Zionist movement and the State of Israel:
Ze’ev Jabotinsky, David Ben-Gurion, Israel Eldad, Yehoshafat Harkabi, Yehezkel Dror, Shlomo Aronson, Shimon Peres, Benzion Netanyahu, Yigal Alon and others.
Leading contemporary scholars:
Donald Kagan, Victor Davis Hanson, Robert Kagan, Bernard Lewis, David Menashri, Raphael Patai, Walter Russell Mead, Allan Bloom, Barry Rubin, Yoram Hazony, Thomas Sowell, Paul Johnson, Michael Doran, Jeane Kirkpatrick, Shmuel Trigano, Michael Pillsbury, Avner Cohen, John Fonte, Jacob Nagel, and others
The Churchill Program features a diverse roster of lecturers and experts in relevant fields. Approximately one-third of the lectures are delivered by the Program Director, Dr. Raphael BenLevi; one-third by academics and researchers specializing in the subject matter; and one-third by current or former senior practitioners from Israel’s public sector and political leadership.
Guest lecturers who have held senior positions include:
Amb. and Minister Ron Dermer, Former Head of Israeli National Security Advisor Meir Ben-Shabbat, Elliott Abrams, Amb. Dore Gold, Amb. Michael Oren, Amb. Gilad Erdan, Amb. Tzipi Hotovely, Dr. Eran Lerman, Dr. David Wurmser, Mark Dubowitz, Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Uzi Dayan, Brig. Gen. (Res.) Amir Avivi, MK Simcha Rothman, Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Ilan Paz, Amb. Levente Benkő, Yoram Ettinger, Dr. Mike Doran, Dr. Peter Berkowitz, Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Yoram Halevy, Israel Ganz, Dr. Ori Resnick, Brig. Gen. (Res.) Itzik Bar, and others.
Academic guest lecturers have included:
Prof. Eugene Kontorovich, Prof. Victor Davis Hanson, Prof. Shmuel Trigano, Prof. Danny Orbach Dr. Ran Baratz, Dr. Mordechai Kedar, Dr. Harold Rhode, Tuvia Gering, Yos Rozin, Prof. Yonatan Dubi, Dr. Asaf Malach, Dr. Elad Lison, Elad Artzi, Dr. Michael Milshtein, Dr. Olga Kirschbaum, Dr. Ronen Shoval, Prof. Meir Litvak, Dr. Asael Abelman, Dr. Sagi Barmak, Dr. Avital Levy, Adv. Ze’ev Lev, Prof. Amichai Cohen, Dr. Amit Baratz, Dr. Edy Cohen, Dr. Mordechai Nisan, Prof. Talia Einhorn, Prof. Efraim Inbar, Dr. Emmanuel Navon, David P. Goldman, Dr. Ofir Haivry, Amotz Asa-El, Dr. Michael Ben-Ari, Yohanan Tzoref, Dr. Hanan Shai, Dr. Prof. Nicole Hochner, Dr. Yossi Mansharof, Prof. Yossi Mann, Alex Grinberg, Dr. Nesya Shemer, Dr. Ilai Rattig, Prof. Rafi Biton, Louay Al Sharif, and others.
“Investment in these areas is critical for the State of Israel. It is essential to develop a reserve of managers, leaders, and statesmen, with a broad knowledge base, depth, and refinement of the ideas cultivated here. Coming recently from this field, I know how important it is to have a variety of ideas, opinions, and approaches. I have great appreciation for the fact that the Churchill Program is committed to this goal.”
Raphael is director and head lecturer of the Churchill Program and Senior Fellow at the Misgav Institute for National Security. He is an expert in international relations and the foreign policy of Israel and the United States. A Maj. (Res.) in the IDF, he served for seven years as an officer in the Research Division of the Intelligence Directorate and in the Air Force Headquarters. He has been a visiting scholar at Georgetown University in Washington, a postdoctoral fellow and lecturer at the University of Haifa, and a fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies. His book on Israeli and American policy toward the Iranian nuclear program was published by Routledge in 2024. He has published in leading academic journals including Foreign Affairs and TNSR as well as numerous media outlets in Israel and the US. He holds a PhD from Bar-Ilan University, an MA from Reichman University, and a BSc from the Technion.
Interned with the Deputy Attorney General and holds an LLB in Law and an MA in Government, Diplomacy, and Strategy. Served as a research assistant at Reichman University on Israel’s security doctrine and national security decision-making. A Major (Res.) in the IDF, he commands a reserve reconnaissance company and has led his troops in extended combat operations throughout the Gaza Strip.
Minister of Strategic Affairs; former Israeli Ambassador to the United States (2013–2021).
Head of the Misgav Institute for National Security and Zionist Strategy; former National Security Advisor and Head of Israel’s National Security Council.
American statesman who held senior positions in the Reagan, Bush, and Trump administrations.
*The following is a sample out of our many outstanding graduates. Bios are relevant to the year of participation in Churchill Program.
2025-26 Cohort:
Shlomit Shemesh – Deputy Director-General in the Prime Minister’s Office in the administration for the rehabilitation and development of Israel’s northern region.
Dr. D. – A physicist serving in a senior position in the public sector, responsible for policy at the national level.
Lt. Col. (res.) Noam Shapira – Graduate of the Sayeret Matkal elite special reconnaissance of the IDF General Staff and commander of the field unit in the IDF Operations Directorate. Recipient of the IDF Chief of Staff Excellence Award for 5785 (2025).
Matanyah Jerafi – CEO of the “Im Tirtzu” movement, among Israel’s largest Zionist student movements. Reserve combat soldier and commander in the Golani Commando unit Gadsar.
Ori Beibish – PhD candidate in Middle Eastern Studies; Maglan unit graduate and commander of the emergency response squad in Kibbutz Adamit on the border with Lebanon.
2024-25 Cohort:
David Shoresh – Served for 15 years in strategic planning roles in the IDF General Staff and later in the Cyber Division of the Prime Minister’s Office. PhD candidate at the Hebrew University.
Sarah Eskin-Hazony – Head of Policy and CEO’s Assistant at the NGO Hashomer Hachadash.
Brig. Gen. (res.) Yehoshua Rivak – A senior commander in the IDF Southern Command, after 25 years of combat service including as commander in the Golani Brigade and Egoz Unit.
Adv. Ariela Segal – Legal adviser in the Ministry of Defense. A Major (res.) who served as a senior prosecutor in the IDF Military Advocate General’s Corps.
Itai Blank – Maj. (res.), served 7 years in the Air Force as an officer and manager of technological research. A graduate student in physics at the Weizmann Institute.
2022-23 Cohort:
Amichai Rachamim – Head of the Policy Division in the Ministry of Intelligence. Previously served for twenty years in the Israeli Navy.
Maj. Gen. David Zini – Commander of the IDF Training and Doctrine Command in the Ground Forces and commander of the General Staff Corps. [In 2025 was appointed Head of the Shin Bet].
Lt. Col. (res.) Sagiv Lichtman – Served for 20 years in a variety of senior roles in the IDF legal system.
Inbal Ratz-Gilmor – Columnist on current affairs and regular commentator in broadcast media; social activist.
Adv. Uri Ansbacher – Businessman; represented leading Israeli companies in the cyber and defense sectors in Latin America over the past 20 years.
D. – Team manager in the National Security Council at the Prime Minister’s Office for the past eight years.
Noa Lazimi – Researcher at the civil-military relations. Former coordinator of the research department at the Institute for Zionist Strategy.
2021-22 Cohort:
Kobi Eliraz – Adviser to the Ministry of Justice; former assistant to the Minister of Defense on settlement affairs.
Col. (res.) Hezi Nehama – Former commander of the Alexandroni Brigade and of the Menashe Brigade. Social entrepreneur.
S. – Served 20 years in the Prime Minister’s Office.
Ron Deutsch – PhD candidate in International Relations at the Hebrew University; researcher in the Ministry of Public Security.
