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Chuck Freilich    

Senior Fellow at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government; Former Israeli Deputy National Security Advisor

Professor Chuck Freilich, a former deputy national security adviser in Israel and long-time senior fellow at Harvard's Belfer Center, teaches political science at Columbia, NYU and Tel Aviv Universities. He is the author of "Zion’s Dilemmas: How Israel Makes National Security Policy;" "Israeli National Security: A New Strategy for an Era of Change;" and "Israel and the Cyber Threat: How the Startup Nation Became a Global Cyber Power."

Balanced and objective expert analysis, wrapped in a deep love for Israel and concern over its many national security challenges, are the hallmark of Freilich’s engrossing speaking style. Together, they enable him to immerse an audience in a riveting narrative and hold its rapt attention.

Freilich has spoken to a wide variety of professional, general public and Jewish audiences, including the Council on Foreign Relations, Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Kennedy School Forum, AIPAC, AJC, FIDF, JNF, synagogues and numerous colleges and universities.

Freilich has appeared on a variety of Israeli, American and international TV and radio stations, including NBC, ABC, CNN, NPR, Al Jazeera, CCTG (Chinese TV), I24, France 24 and more. He has also been quoted in the NY Times, Washington Post and other leading media.

Freilich is a prolific author of op-eds on Israeli, Middle Eastern and US-Mideast affairs. His op-eds have appeared in the NY Times, Haaretz, Jerusalem Post, the American Interest, Foreign Policy, Mosaic, Newsweek, LA Times, National Interest and more.

A New Yorker by birth, Freilich made aliyah (immigrated) to Israel in his early teens.

Speech Topics

Israeli National Security

  • Zions Dilemmas -National Security Decision Making in Israel
  • Fundamentals of Israeli National Security Strategy Threats and Strategic Reponses
  • Getting Back to Basics (or The Heart of the Conflict); Israels Security Threats and Strategy
  • A Jewish State, Not a Jewish Disneyland: Israel Strategic Overview
  • Seeking New Allies Israel, Turkey and India

The above could include "An Insider's Perspective" or "Ramifications for US/Israeli Foreign Policy," as appropriate.

General Middle Eastern Issues

  • Mid East Overview - Regional Update
  • Mid East Strategic Overview - Regional Update and an Israeli Perspective
  • An Insider's Perspective on the Middle East: Threats and Opportunities
  • Whither Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt?
  • Egypt, Turkey, SA, Iran and Israel An Unholy Quintet
  • Syria, Lebanon and Israel?
  • Understanding the Middle East: An Introduction to Egyptian/Iranian/Saudi/Turkish/Syrian/Lebanese National Security Policy (could be single lecture on one country or series)

Peace Process

  • Is the Mid East Peace Process Dead?
  • Is the Mid East Peace Process Dead? Ramifications for Israel, the Region and US
  • Can the Peace Process Be Saved?
  • Settlements and Occupation, or Palestinian Rejectionism: Why Has the Peace Process Failed?
  • Settlements and Occupation, or Security and Palestinian Rejectionism: The Real Issues in the Peace Process
  • How to Reach a Practical Two State Solution

Iran

  • The Iranian Nuclear Threat: Ramifications for the US, Israel and the Region
  • Speaking About the Unspeakable: The US-Israeli Dialogue on the Iranian Nuclear Program
  • "Never Again" The Iranian Threat and a Mid East Strategic Overview

Arab Spring

  • The Arab Spring: Ramifications for the Region, Israel and the US
  • Why the Middle East Erupted and Why it Will Continue to Do So
  • The Arab Spring - Where Is It Heading
  • The Arab Spring Heads into Winter

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