The Churchill Program in Political and Security Strategy is designed for individuals seeking to shape Israel’s foreign and defense policy agenda. It serves three main audiences:
Each year, the Churchill Program forms a small, intimate, and diverse cohort of around 15 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, an in-depth familiarity with the world powers and the Middle East, and an examination of the central challenges facing the State of Israel today and in the next generation.
It offers participants the opportunity to develop a systematic and well-founded approach to core questions in political and security strategy, benefiting from and contributing to the knowledge and experience of a high-caliber peer group.
To encourage personal development and as an integral part of the program’s goal of shaping a forward-looking strategic agenda, each participant is required to produce a significant personal project related to the program’s content, to be presented at the end of the year. This project is usually a written product, such as a policy paper or an analysis of a relevant issue, but may also take the form of another creative idea. In addition, the program includes two on-site study tour days 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 series revolve.
Provides a foundational understanding of the conservative and realist perspectives that underpin strategic questions.
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.
Offers a basic understanding of the formation of the modern Middle East and the various streams within Islam, recognizing that this knowledge is essential for effective engagement with Israel’s regional strategy.
Explores the strategic cultures of the three major world powers today: the United States, China, and Russia. The series examines the roots of each power’s grand strategy to understand their future intentions in general and toward the Middle East in particular, with a focus on the implications for Israel.
Shines a light on major trends in today’s global politics and their implications for Israel, including: rising powers, the global economy, the geopolitics of energy markets, climate change, artificial intelligence, emerging centers of support for Israel, trends in anti-Zionist antisemitism, and more.
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 20th century from the Western world:
Winston Churchill, Hans Morgenthau, Henry Kissinger, Reinhold Niebuhr, Edward Carr, Norman Angell
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, Benjamin Netanyahu, and others
Leading contemporary scholars:
Donald Kagan, Colin Gray, Victor Davis Hanson, Robert Kagan, Bernard Lewis, David Menashri, Raphael Patai, Walter Russell Mead, Allan Bloom, Jacob Talmon, Barry Rubin, Yoram Hazony, Thomas Sowell, Paul Johnson, Michael Doran, Jeane Kirkpatrick, Shmuel Trigano, Michael Pillsbury, Avner Cohen, Uri Milstein, 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.
Guest lecturers who have held senior positions include:
Ambassador and Minister Ron Dermer, Meir Ben-Shabbat, Elliott Abrams, Ambassador Dore Gold, Ambassador Michael Oren, Ambassador Gilad Erdan, Dr. Eran Lerman, Dr. David Wurmser, Mark Dubowitz, Uzi Dayan, Bini Zomer, Amir Avivi, MK Simcha Rothman, Ilan Paz, Ambassador Levente Benkő, Yoram Ettinger, Dr. Mike Doran, Dr. Peter Berkowitz, Major General (Ret.) Yoram Halevy, Louay Al Sharif, Israel Ganz, Adv. Sagiv Leichtman, Dr. Ori Resnick, Dr. Shmuel Bachar, Brigadier General (Res.) Itzik Bar, and others.
Academic guest lecturers have included:
Professor Eugene Kontorovich, Professor Victor Davis Hanson, Professor Shmuel Trigano, Dr. Ran Baratz, Dr. Mordechai Kedar, Dr. Harold Rhode, Tuvia Gering, Yos Rozin, Professor Yonatan Dubi, Dr. Asaf Malach, Dr. Elad Lison, Elad Artzi, Dr. Michael Milshtein, Dr. Olga Kirschbaum, Dr. Ronen Shoval, Professor Meir Litvak, Dr. Asael Abelman, Dr. Sagi Barmak, Dr. Avital Levy, Adv. Ze’ev Lev, Professor Amichai Cohen, Dr. Amit Baratz, Dr. Edy Cohen, Dr. Mordechai Nisan, Professor Talia Einhorn, Professor Efraim Inbar, Dr. Emmanuel Navon, David P. Goldman, Dr. Ofir Haivry, Amotz Asa-El, Dr. Michael Ben-Ari, Yohanan Tzoref, Dr. Hanan Shai, Dr. Nicole Hochner, Dr. Yossi Mansharof, Dr. Yossi Mann, Alex Grinberg, Dr. Nasia Shemer, Dr. Ilai Rattig, Nitzan David Fox, Dr. Rafi Biton, 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.”
Head of the Churchill Program and Senior Fellow at the Misgav Institute for National Security and Zionist Strategy. Expert in international relations, political science, and the foreign and security policy of Israel and the United States. A Major (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 research fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies, and a postdoctoral fellow and lecturer at the University of Haifa. His book on Israeli and American policy toward the Iranian nuclear program was published by Routledge. His writings have appeared in international academic journals and public forums. 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.
American statesman who held senior positions in the Reagan, Bush, and Trump administrations.
Head of the Misgav Institute for National Security and Zionist Strategy; former National Security Advisor and Head of Israel’s National Security Council.
Minister of Strategic Affairs; former Israeli Ambassador to the United States (2013–2021).
