Forum For Regional Thinking

The Forum for Regional Thinking was founded in early 2014 by Israeli scholars specializing in Islam and Middle East studies. The Forum aims to enrich Israeli public discourse by offering fresh perspectives on the Middle East that diverge from the usual security-driven approach: we analyze Israel’s role as one of many actors in the region and highlight the similarities it shares with its neighbors. Our analysis focuses on civilian aspects of life in the Middle East and assumes empathy for all residents of the region, regardless of their nationality. The Forum aims to offer Israelis a new avenue for getting to know “them”: for learning about Palestinians and other residents of the region, about their cultures, societies and politics, and about the Arab elements that are part of Judaism and Israeliness too. Only when we in Israel truly get to know our neighbors can we envision a sustainable future in this neighborhood.