Israel's Former Foreign Minister and Kadima Party Leader Joins Top TAU Think Tank
Thursday, October 11, 2012

Tzipi Livni will research Israel's international stature at Institute of National Security Studies

Tzipi Livni, former Foreign Minister and head of Israel's Kadima party, has joined the Tel Aviv University faculty as a researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies. In addition to heading up a research project on Israel's international stature, she will also be working closely with other INSS experts, writing articles and organizing conferences.

Her main focus will be the perception of Israel in the United States, Europe and Asia. The work could compliment efforts by the Foreign Ministry, said Livni, who notes that Israel's main challenges abroad are primarily related to governmental policies. The continued Palestinian conflict, which has the biggest impact on Israel's image abroad, is one example where stalled or failing diplomacy has contributed to the isolation of Israel from the rest of the world.

"We all know that the delegitimizing of Israel internationally harms the country and restrains our military operations," Livni said. "The more legitimacy you have, the easier it is to be able to carry out necessary operations. It must be recognized that this is part of Israel's national security." The project will use modern technology and social networks as tools to improve Israel's image.

Though she left politics in May of this year, Livni is still active on the world's political stage, recently meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, CNN's Christiane Amanpour and other top American journalists on a trip to the United States. A spokesperson for the Institute said that "the fact that she chose to join the team at INSS illustrates INSS's position as Israel's premier strategic think tank."

For more on Livni's new TAU appointment, see the Jerusalem Post story:
http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=282009

For more Tel Aviv University news, click here.

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