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| The Begin–Sadat Center for Strategic Studies | |
|---|---|
| Name | Begin–Sadat Center for Strategic Studies |
| Native name | BESA Center |
| Established | 1993 |
| Founder | Menachem Begin, Anwar Sadat, Bar-Ilan University |
| Location | Ramat Gan, Israel |
| Type | Research institute |
The Begin–Sadat Center for Strategic Studies is an Israeli think tank located at Bar-Ilan University focused on geopolitical analysis, security studies, and regional policy. Founded amid the post‑Cold War shifts involving Oslo Accords, Gulf War, and evolving relations between Israel and neighboring states such as Egypt and Jordan, the Center engages with scholars, policymakers, and military figures from across the Middle East, Europe, and North America. The Center produces policy briefs, hosts conferences, and fosters dialogue among participants including former officials from United States Department of State, Ministry of Defense (Israel), and international institutions like NATO.
The Center was established in 1993 at Bar-Ilan University under the namesake of Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat, with early activities responding to events such as the Oslo Accords, the aftermath of the First Intifada, and the strategic realignments following the Gulf War. In its formative years the Center convened figures from Israel Defense Forces, Shimon Peres, and academic networks connected to Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv University to analyze conflicts including the Lebanon War (1982) and peace processes like the Camp David Accords. Throughout the 2000s the Center expanded output on subjects related to Iranian Revolution, Syrian Civil War, and the rise of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, while engaging with visiting fellows from Harvard University, King's College London, and Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
The Center's stated mission emphasizes strategic studies and policy analysis addressing threats and opportunities posed by actors such as Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hezbollah, and state actors including Iran, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia. Research themes intersect with diplomacy involving Egypt–Israel relations, Israeli–Palestinian conflict, and security arrangements with partners like United States and European Union. The Center concentrates on defense concepts relevant to Israel Defense Forces, regional deterrence strategies related to Nuclear program of Iran, and political developments tied to elections in Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq.
The Center operates within Bar-Ilan University and is overseen by a board composed of academics, former officials, and private donors with ties to institutions such as Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, Institute for National Security Studies (Israel), and international think tanks like Brookings Institution. Leadership has included directors and chairs drawn from backgrounds in Israeli intelligence community, retired officers of the Israel Defense Forces, and scholars affiliated with Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv University. Administrative divisions manage programs in areas including Middle Eastern affairs, strategic studies, and outreach to policymakers in Washington, D.C., Brussels, and capitals across Asia.
The Center publishes policy papers, monographs, and opinion pieces addressing crises such as the Syrian civil war, the Yemen Civil War (2014–present), and proliferation issues connected to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Notable projects include annual conferences on regional security attracting participants from United States Department of Defense, European External Action Service, and regional ministries such as Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Egypt). The Center's outputs have been cited alongside research from Chatham House, RAND Corporation, and Council on Foreign Relations in discussions on sanctions against Iran and responses to insurgencies like Hezbollah and Hamas.
The Center maintains partnerships with academic and policy institutions including Bar-Ilan University, Brookings Institution, Johns Hopkins University, and regional partners in Cairo, Amman, and Ankara. Collaborative activities have linked the Center to programs supported by entities such as United States Agency for International Development, European Commission, and private foundations connected to donors in United States and Israel. Exchange programs have brought visiting fellows from Princeton University, Yale University, University of Oxford, and think tanks like Atlantic Council and Hudson Institute.
The Center has faced criticism from academic and policy communities including scholars at Tel Aviv University and commentators in outlets such as Haaretz and The Jerusalem Post over perceived ideological bias in analyses concerning Palestinian Authority, Hamas, and policy toward Iran. Critics affiliated with Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have contested some policy recommendations tied to security operations and detention practices. Debates with other research centers including Israel Democracy Institute and Institute for National Security Studies (Israel) have centered on methodology, transparency of funding linked to private donors, and the balance between advocacy and academic scholarship. European Parliament and members of the Knesset have occasionally scrutinized the Center’s events and affiliations during wider discussions on foreign policy and academic cooperation.
Category:Think tanks based in Israel Category:Bar-Ilan University