The Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fellowship Fund for Better Government

With so much fractionalization in Israel along so many different lines-ethnic, religious, economic and political, the challenges are all the greater for the public leaders to provide good government.

What Israel clearly needs is high-quality advanced training for civil servants. Public policy makers and administrators need tools for planning, implementing and evaluating policies and organizational structures. They need to learn how to run agencies and offices more efficiently. They need to acquire greater sensitivity and responsiveness to citizens' concerns. And they need to develop vision and creativity in solving problems and formulating policy that will be effective over the long term.

In answer to this national imperative, the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund established the “Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fellowship Fund for Better Government". The prestigious program supports five Goldman Fellows annually for master's degree studies as well as a Senior Goldman Fellow associated for a year with the school. It is envisaged that Goldman Fellows will set the professional standard in Israel for public leaders. During their fellowship at the School of Government and Policy they will be exposed to cutting-edge research and will participate in a specialized workshop that will provide an environment for learning, reflecting and debating public policy issues. The Goldman Fellowship program is one of the most prestigious at Tel Aviv University and the public sector.

Goldman Fellows: Senior and Junior Levels.

Goldman Fellows will be chosen from two groups: mid career officials, and younger, university-trained students who plan on a career in government.

• Senior Goldman Fellows: One Senior Goldman Fellows will be selected each year. The senior fellows would come from public service. The Senior Goldman Fellows will have a tailor-made curriculum and he/she will also be invited to teach courses, seminars or workshops in areas relevant to his/her experience and accumulated practical expertise.

• Junior Goldman Fellows: Five Junior Goldman Fellowships will be awarded annually to TAU master's degree candidates who show unusual promise for the public sector and political institutions, and who have excellent undergraduate records. Only the most bright and talented individuals will be considered for Junior Goldman Fellowships and will be selected according to exacting criteria.

Graduate Studies: Programs and Goals
The purpose of the Goldman Fellowships is to broaden participants' spectrum of skills and deepen their commitment to the public good. The University aspires to promote good government at all levels of the Israeli polity- the municipalities, state ministries and agencies.

Goldman Fellows need to be enrolled in one of the core Master degree programs of either the Department of Public Policy or the Political Science. The first is designed to meet the needs of rising managers in public service, providing the organizational, quantitative and people skills needed to excel in administrative positions. The second program imparts the skills for analyzing the institutional, economic and normative aspects of political life

Exposure to Cutting-Edge Research: Goldman Fellows will interact with scholars in the School of Government and Policy for the reciprocal benefit of academia and society. Through a special workshop, the School's researchers will have the opportunity to test the relevance and effectiveness of their findings, while public officials will gain cutting-edge knowledge in organizational management, negotiation, problem-solving, strategy, policy-making, human resource management, ethics and leadership.

Goldman Fellows

Netanel Oded is an economist in the National Economic Council in the Prime Minister's Office. He is in charge of designing long term policies in the fields of Energy, environment and R&D. He has been involved in designing Israel's policy towards renewable energy and reducing carbon emissions, and has helped design national R&D initiatives in the fields of Oil alternatives and agricultural innovation. Netanel is leading a thinking process regarding economic foreign affairs strategy. This includes programs to enhance economic relations with emerging economies such as China and India, and considering spillovers between foreign aid and trade. Netanel has a bachelor's degree in psychology and economics and master's degree in financial economics from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

Ron Duhl serves as Legal Adviser to Israel's Civil Service Commissioner and head of the Commission's legal department. By virtue of his position, he has extensive experience in labor and administrative law, and is responsible for the legal aspects concerning the employment of state personnel and the management of the state administration. His duties include: presentation and/or preparation of the State’s legal position within the CSC's scope of authority before various forums (Courts, Knesset and other governmental committees and bodies); legislative work, including drafting Civil Service Regulations ("Takshir") and other directives; preparation of legal briefs and other written opinions for the Commission and other government agencies. Ron previously was Legal Adviser to the Director of Wages and Collective Agreements in the Treasury Ministry, and has extensive experience in negotiating and drafting public sector collective work agreements, as well as representing the State in collective labor disputes and arbitration proceedings. Ron was born in Los Angeles, CA and made Aliyah in 1983. He holds degrees in Political Science and Public Affairs from the University of California at Berkeley and American University in Washington, D.C., and an M.A. and B.A. in Law from the Hebrew University. He lives in Mevasseret Zion with his wife Yael and three children.

Eyal Rubinson is a PhD Candidate at the Department of Political Science, Tel Aviv University. He holds an M.A (cum laude) in International Relations from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and published several articles in peer-reviewed journals such as European Law Review and Georgetown Immigration Law Journal. Currently he serves as head of research at an IDF Intelligence Corps' unit, focusing on Military Censorship, Open-Source Media Monitoring and Web 2.0 based research. He has previous experience as Parliamentary Aide at the Knesset, Research Assistant at the Hebrew University's Law Faculty and Department of International Relations and foreign policy column writing with several media outlets. He is the recipient of several academic awards, including the Konrad Adenauer research prize and Hebrew University grants.

Milka Carmel is the environmental consultant of the Union of Local Authorities in Israel (ULAI). As part of her role she advises on environmental legislation and policy; represents ULAI in Knesset, in the governmental committee for climate change and other public committees; author of policy papers , such as green building, local authorities and climate change and regulation of photovoltaic facilities; develops and leads the 'Environmental Tag' program, which constructs and promotes strategies and tools for urban efficiency in energy, water and solid waste in more than 70 local authorities. Previously, Milka worked as an Environmental planner in the Israel Ministry of Environment and as an editor of Environmental Impact Assessments, and as a consultant on environmental issues in the private sector. Ms. Carmel is the recipient of the 2010 'Green Globe Award' of the Umbrella organization of Israel green NGOs, for leading a civil struggle against a polluting factory. She has a BSc and MSc in biology from the Hebrew University and an MSc in Regional and town planning from the Technion.

Yehoshua (Shuka) Dorfman is currently the Director –General of the Israel Antiquities Authority. Dorfman was discharged from the IDF at the rank of Brigadier General. In his latter roles in the IDF he was Chief Artillery officer and the IDF's representative in Japan and South Korea. After leaving the army Mr. Dorman worked at the Israeli Hi tech company Elisra, and was nominated as the Director –General of the Israel Antiquities Authority in 2000. Shuka has a BA and an MA in political sciences from Haifa University.

Yehuda Porath is an economist in the Public Sector Area of the Research Department of the Bank of Israel. He is responsible for analyzing and evaluating fiscal policy and for international fiscal comparisons. He has been involved in evaluating defense budgeting, transport policy, bureaucracy reduction and the size, makeup and financing of the national debt. He holds a B.A. in Business Administration and Economics and an M.A. in Financial Economics from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Junior Fellows:

Renana Shvartzvald is a student of the Adi-Lautman interdisciplinary program for excellent students in TAU. During her four years in the program she intensively studied wide and diverse aspects of environmental studies including business approaches, public policies and exact sciences. In parallel, Renana is studying for her Masters degree in environmental policy from the Porter School of Environmental Studies. She is now writing her thesis on her work of comparative cross country analysis of the connection between social policy and environmental performance. Renana is currently a member of Vital Capital team, an impact investment fund, were she is employed as Head of S&E and focuses on social and environmental impact analyses and policy.

Noa Sambursky Zer holds a B.A in Psychology and Management from Tel Aviv University. She is currently writing her M.A thesis at Tel Aviv university Public Policy department, which deals with the affect of medical tourism on medical services equity in Israel's public hospitals. Noa is the director of Central Arava Regional Council's Resource Development Department, in charge of the council's donor relation and foreign relation. In addition to her public duties she is also a farmer from Moshav Paran in southern Israel.

Yael Aberman Taubin holds a B.A degree with honors in Business Administration and Jewish philosophy from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Completed her M.A degree in Political Science at the Tel Aviv University. Worked and volunteerd in some Social Change Organizations. She currently works as the Spokeperson of Kav Laoved –a nonprofit organization committed to protect the rights of disadvantaged workers employed in Israel. Her thesis examine Social change organizations l and their strategies in order to affect public policy in Israel.

Gaddy Weissman is responsible for Trade Linkages at the Foreign Trade Administration of the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Labor. As part of his work on trade and environment issues, Gaddy represents Israel at the United Nations Convention on Climate Change on technology issues. His other responsibilities include trade and labor policy, and long term trade strategy. Gaddy's previous experience is in technology and policy issues. After moving to Israel in 2006, he led the socio-economic policy team at the Reut Institute before joining the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor. Previously, he worked in venture capital, in debt finance, and as a high-tech engineer. Gaddy has bachelor's and master's degrees in electrical engineering and computer science from MIT.

Mohamd Saada Igbariya has a BA in Social Work from Tel-Aviv University, and an MA in Social Work (Research Route) from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. In the past, he has worked for the teens’ probation division in East Jerusalem, and today he is the person responsible for the Arab sector at Israel’s National Autism Association. As part of his job, Igbariya provides counseling and support services, and develops diagnostic tools and treatment services for Arab children with PDD/ Autism in Israel. In addition, he is participant in the Human Rights Fellowship program at the Minerva Center of the Hebrew University. He also volunteered at Israel’s AVI institute - Defense for Children International, and at the Gilo Center for Civic Education at the Hebrew University. In the future, he plans to pursue doctoral studies. Mr. Igbariya is married and is a father of two, and lives in Um-El-Phachem, in northern Israel.

Dr. Hani Ofek- Ghendler Dr. Hani Ofek- Ghendler is an experienced Lawyer at the Public State Attorney, specializing in labor, administrative and constitutional disputes. She is also a Labor law scholar and lecturer and has published extensively on the issues of labor and constitutional law. She clerked for the Supreme Court Justice, E. Goldberg, after which she served as his Senior Legal Assistant for several years. She won several awards, including the Minerva Center for Human Rights Scholarship Award, and the Israeli Lawyers Bar price for social contribution. She was a research fellow at the Gilo Center for Citizenship, Democracy, and Civic Education at the Hebrew University and the School of Public Policy at the Hebrew University. Dr. Ofek-Ghendler published several articles in the topic of Labor law and Constitutional law and Public policy, that were mentioned in several court ruling.

Gaddy Weissman is responsible for Trade Linkages at the Foreign Trade Administration of the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Labor. As part of his work on trade and environment issues, Gaddy represents Israel at the United Nations Convention on Climate Change on technology issues. His other responsibilities include trade and labor policy, and long term trade strategy. Gaddy's previous experience is in technology and policy issues. After moving to Israel in 2006, he led the socio-economic policy team at the Reut Institute before joining the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor. Previously, he worked in venture capital, in debt finance, and as a high-tech engineer. Gaddy has bachelor's and master's degrees in electrical engineering and computer science from MIT.

Junior Fellows:

Anat Sagy holds a B.A. degree with honors in Economics and Management from the Open University, Tel Aviv. Is currently completing her M.A degree in Public Policy at the Tel Aviv University, appeared on the dean's honor roll (2008). For many years held teaching assistant positions in the Economic as well as the Psychology faculties at the Open University, and in the MBA program at the Faculty of Management, Tel Aviv University. Past activist for social change in the Social Economic Academy (SEA), currently a political activist in the desperate attempt to bring to an end 43 years of occupation of the West Bank.

Anat Ravid has a BA in History and International Relations from Hebrew University and is currently completing her MA in Security Studies from Tel Aviv University. Her M.A thesis is focusing on the “Role of Intelligence agencies in promoting and supporting peace negotiation”. Anat hopes to continue her career in the public sector.

Arad Hakim was born and raised in Kibbutz Ramat haShofet. After a year of community service in the "Hashomer Hatzair" youth movement, and his military service, he worked as a youth counselor in his local municipality. During his B.A. studies at the University of Haifa (majors in Land of Israel Studies and Cinema), he discovered the internet and became webmaster of his municipality website, as well as some smaller websites. Before the 2006 Israeli general elections, he joined journalist Shelly Yachimovich's campaign for her party's primaries. He began as a volunteer, and after her election as a Member of Knesset, he became her parliamentary assistant. For his M.A. studies he is taking Public Policy at Tel Aviv University, and his thesis, which is currently in the process of being written, is about Israeli cinema law and its influences.

Guy Itzchakov received his BA Economics and Psychology, with honors from the Open University of Israel at 2010. He is currently writing his M.A at Tel-Aviv University's department of Public Policy. His thesis deals with the Rationality in relative income considerations. Guy is teaching Economics at "Ashqelon academic college" and "Ramat-Gan College".

Ayelet Fishman is the senior deputy to the National Supervisor of Elections at the Ministry of the Interior and is known as an expert on Election law. She is responsible for organizing and managing the elections for the local authorities – cities, local and regional councils; initiates and prepares amendments of Election legislation. Also presides as the Chairman of the Settlement Committee, an inter-ministerial committee who advises the Interior minister in the matter of recognizing and categorizing new settlements. Holds a LLB from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and an MBA degree, with honors, in Public Policy from Tel-Aviv University. Currently writing a thesis on local committees (the smallest form of local government in Israel).

Yael Brendel is working since 2010 as an Analyst for Reut Institute, a NGO that provides strategic decision support to Israeli leaders and decision makers Prior to joining The Reut Institute, Yael worked for the IDF Strategic Planning Division, Developing the military's policy positions on the Knesset's legislative initiatives. Before that, she operated Yedid's Tel Aviv Center, an NGO which helps weakened populations realize their social and civil rights. Ms. Brendel is writing her M.A. in Public Policy. She holds a B.A. in Political Science, Sociology, and Anthropology from the Hebrew University (2006).

Michal Biran was a member of the "Noar Oved ve Lomed" youth movement from childhood until the age of 28. She lived in an urban Kibbutz, and after her military service, served in leadership positions within the movement. In 2007, Michal became an assistant to Labor Party's MK Shelly Yachimovich. During this period, Ms. Biran took part in the struggles against the privatization of the lands of Israel, salary gaps between CEOs and the workers and was involved in many other parliament agendas. Michal was also the leader of the successful struggle of the parliamentarian assistants against unjust working conditions, within the Knesset. In June 2010, Michal won the election for chairperson of Young Labor. Michal is determined to renew the face of the Labor movement as a way of changing Israeli society. Michal is studying towards her MA degree in political science at Tel-Aviv University and is writing her thesis about pension policy.

Dr. Offer Drori heads the Information Database, Intelligence and Investigations Division of SHAAM Information Systems of the Israeli Treasury Department. His work includes developing models and information systems that handle large data bases for the tax authorities. Another objective is extending cooperation between computer units in Israel. Drori’s interests are software engineering, system analysis and design, and information retrieval from numerous data bases. His other interests include army history and genealogy.
Drori established SIGTRS (Special Interest Group on Text Retrieval Systems) on 1994 and since has been the chairman of the group (www.sigtrs.org). He also developed the OODPM methodology for system design and analysis (www.global-report.com/oodpm).
He is the author of numerous books and publications including: Information Retrieval, (editor to the Hebrew version, 2006), Planning Information Systems Using OODPM Methodology (Hebrew, 2006), Pluga Yod Besufa, (Hebrew, 2005), Information Systems: Specification and Management, (Hebrew, 1999), and over 150 papers.
Drori developed the Hagvura website, www.gvura.org, presenting all the decorations given to Israeli soldiers from 1948 till today. It is an on-going research project that finds information and stories behind the decorations, and hidden decorations, as well. The site contains more than 1700 decorations and more than 400 stories of heroism.
Dr. Offer Drori has a Ph.D. in Computer Sciences and MA in Information Studies, both from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, and BA from the Open University.

Junior Fellows:

Olga Denisenko repatriated to Israel in 1998 from Ukraine. Holds a B.A degree in Political Science, Sociology and Anthropology from the Bar-Ilan University and is currently completing her M.A degree in Public Policy at the Tel Aviv University. Her M.A thesis focuses on attitudes towards foreign workers in Israel and public policy. Dean's Honor Roll (2006-2007).
Olga has worked as a research assistant in the department of public Policy at the Tel Aviv University. Member of the Hapoel Tel Aviv Sport Shooting Club team. Participates in the competitions in the National Air Rifle League.
Her future plans include joining the civil service and continuing her studies towards the Ph.D. degree in Public Policy.

Efrat Katz - Experienced at environmental policy and law including consulting to the Ministry of Environment and environmental NOG's. An advocate, BA at economic and political science, Tel Aviv University, MA student at the Porter School of Environmental Studies. Academic and practical knowledge in PRTR (Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers) systems.

Inga Soltanov Graduate B.A degree at the Social and Political science in Tel Aviv-Jaffa Academic College and completing her M.A degree in Public Policy at Tel Aviv University. Currently writing her thesis work which will examine origins, principals and developing aspects of the environmental policy in the IDF.
Volunteered for several years at the Federation of Russian speaking Israelis in Tel Aviv, helping and advising new immigrants and lone soldiers in handling governmental institutions, NGO’s and various nonprofit organizations. Taking part in activities connected to politics and environment at her home town of Rishon Le- Zion.
Currently working in Marketing and Advertising for a private company.

Ms. Galit Cohen promotes policies and their implementation for sustainable development, sustainable production and consumption and risk management in her position as head of the department for environmental policy in the Ministry of Environmental Protection, both in her Ministry and in other Ministries and Local Authorities. She has played a leading role in re-focusing policies towards results accountability including the development of indicators for policy formulation and for selecting effective measures for its implementation.

Ms. Cohen has a BA and an MA in Geography and Planning from the Hebrew University.

Adv. Yitzhak Sabato has a summa cum laude LL.B.degree in law and a magna cum laude MBA degree in both law and business administration from Bar Ilan University. He interned in criminal and administrative law in the office of Elyakim Rubinstein, the State Attorney General at the time, and in commercial law in the office of Adv. Yehudah Raveh. Previous to that he served as economic consultant in the Knesset (Israel's Parliament) in the framework of the Koret Fund, and worked in various welfare fields in the framework of "Perah", Pa'amonim" and "Reut." organizations.

Adv. Sabato presently serves in his 5th year as senior advisor to the Director General of the National Insurance Institute of Israel (NII), and in this capacity is partner to the formulation of policy in the spheres of welfare and social security in Israel, dealing with the Economy Arrangements Law, economic programs and legislation and programs to battle poverty. Adv. Sabato sits on major committees deliberating welfare issues, such as the Committee on Negative Income Tax and committees on fighting poverty and increasing employment, and he is responsible for initiating and implementing strategic plans in the NII, together with the legislative and executive authorities.

Sabato served as assistant editor in the legal journal, Legal Research, published by Bar Ilan University, and he taught courses on taxation policy in this university. Today he delivers lectures on welfare and social security in various professional forums, and is one of the initiators of the annual Jerusalem Conference on Social Security that discusses these topics. He has published a number of articles on the subjects of taxation and welfare, and his work on negative income tax was presented in the ISSA Conference in Poland in 2007.

Junior Fellows:

Rinat Sagi: Graduate student at the public policy school in Tel Aviv University. Currently conducting thesis work analyzing corporate environmental report in the Israeli stock market. Hold a B.A. degree in Sociology, graduated with Honors. Dean's Honor Roll (2004-2005). Experienced as a manager in the private sector. rinatsag@post.tau.ac.il

Anastasia Kapustina: repatriated to Israel in 2001 from Russia. She has a B.A degree in Political Science from Tel Aviv University and is currently completing M.A degree in Public Policy at Tel Aviv University. Her M.A thesis focuses on socio- economical factors of overweight and obesity. Anastasia also received a fellowship from NIHP (The Israel National Institute for Health Policy and Health Services Research) for her thesis work. She volunteered as civil rights consultant at the non-profit organization “Yadid”. These days, she is looking forward to continue the PhD study in Public Policy.

Neta Lipman (Servi): has a B.A. in political science and geography and an MA cum laude in political science from Tel-Aviv University. She has worked as a manager of the Environment and Social Committee in the Israeli Knesset and as a parliament assistant to member of Knesset Dov Khanin. Neta was involved in the organization of Life and Environment, the main environment organization in Israel and was responsible for coordinating environmental organizations and municipalities, as well as promoting nature preservation issues. Neta was also a research assistant and an assistant lecturer in the Political Science department in Tel-Aviv University.

Alon Rubinstein: holds a B.A in political science and an M.A in public policy from Tel Aviv University, both with honors. He is currently completing his thesis on the subject of public participation in urban planning, with a specific emphasis on the decision making process. In the past, Mr. Rubinstein had worked as a researcher at the information center of the Knesset and has extensive experience as a researcher and teaching assistant at several higher education institutes. Mr. Rubinstein currently serves at the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Employment, and holds a position of a teaching assistant in the Department of Public Policy at Tel Aviv University.

2006 / 2007 :

Senior Fellows:   position not filled

Junior Fellows:

Keren Benkin: has a BA in political science and international relations from Hebrew University and an MA in public policy from Tel Aviv University. Her M.A thesis was focused on the topic of urban policy in Israel in the era of globalization, and the changing relationship between the local government and the central government. Working as a teaching assistant at the Department of Public Policy at Tel Aviv University.

Yoram Ida: Yoram is a PhD student in the Public Policy Department at Tel Aviv University. He is currently completing his PhD dissertation on the subject of " Efficient contracts in Public Transportation in Israel". He holds a M.A in Public Policy, with honors from Tel Aviv University. Yoram wrote his M.A thesis on the subject "Factors influencing foreign workers to revert to illegal employment".This thesis was published in 2004 by the Research Department of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Employment as Discussion Paper No. 18/04. The Israeli Supreme Court cited parts of the thesis in appeal no. 4542/02 regarding foreign workers employment conditions in Israel.

Lilach Littor: is a Phd Candidate in the Public Policy Program at the Tel Aviv University. She hold a BA in Law from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and an MA in Public Policy from Tel Aviv University.She currently has a teaching position at the Open University in the Departmentof Political Science and Sociology. Lilach has been working for a few years now as a teaching or research assistant in the department of public Policy at the Tel Aviv University.

Avital Moyal: is currently completing her M.A at Tel-Aviv University in the Security Studies Program with a thesis on "The relations between Developing Independent Satellites Launching Capabilities and Ballistic Missiles". She holds a B.A in Middle Eastern History Studies. In her work as a research Assistant in the Security Studies Program she conducts researches focusing on space policy and is a team member of the "Tel Aviv workshop for Science Technology and Security". In addition, Avital is an advisor in the "Government and Politics in Israel" course under the Open University.

Limor Simhony: holds a B.A. in Behavioral Sciences from Ben-Gurion University, and is currently completing her M.A. in Political Science at Tel Aviv University. Her thesis is entitled "Casualty Sensitivity and its Interrelationship with the Pacification of Liberal Democracies." She is currently working as an editor at the Development and Public Affairs Division at TAU. Previous positions include working as an organizational advisor for various divisions of the Ministry of Education.

2005 / 2006 :

Senior Fellows:

Dr Ami Volansky: is a former Deputy Director-General for Policy Planning and Assessment at the Ministry of Education. He specializes in the centralization and decentralization of education systems, education policy, school leadership and school effectiveness. Ami has also been a part-time lecturer at Tel Aviv University's School of Education for the past 15 years. He has published several articles and monographs in his fields of expertise, most recently Academia in a Changing Environnent – Higher Education Policy of Israel 1952-2004 (Publisher in 2005); The Pendulum Syndrome – Centralization and Decentralization of Education in England and Wales (2003). As a Goldman fellow, Ami intends to research the link between the "knowledge economy" and education reform, from a comparative perspective.

Dr Reuven Gal, holds a MA in Clinical Psychology from the Hebrew University, and a Ph.D from the University of California, Berkeley (1975). He is the founder of the Israeli Institute of Military Studies and the Carmel Institute of Social Research (1985-2000), where he serves as President. He founded and serves as a Co-Director of the Center for Outstanding Leadership, (1991-present). He was deputy head of Israel's National Security Council, in the fields of internal security, society and infrastructure. He served as Head of the Behavioral Science Department in the IDF, later becoming Chief Army Psychologist, receiving the rank of Colonel. He left the army in 1983, but continues to teach within an army framework and on the topic of the national security. He is author of numerous books and publications including; A Portrait of the Israeli Soldier, (1986); Legitimacy and Commitment in the Military, (1990). (With Thomas C. Wyatt); The Seventh War (1990) Hebrew; Handbook of Military Psychology, (1991). (with A.D. Mangelsdorf); Views and standpoints of High School students, (1995; Hebrew); Service Without Guns, (2006). (With Donald J. Eberley).

Junior Fellows:

Tiran Rotman: served as an intelligence and analysis officer in the IDF. He holds a Bachelor's degree in political science and middle eastern studies from Haifa University, and recently completed his Master’s degree cum laude in the Security Studies Program at Tel Aviv University. His fields of research include nuclear policy and proliferation, with emphasis on Iran, Libya and North Korea and analysis of the complex dilemmas involved in a State's choice of nuclear policy. He also teaches "Strategy in the Modern Era" in Tel Aviv University’s Political Science Department. Tiran hopes to pursue a career in the defense sector.

Gal Talit: is currently a student in Tel Aviv University's Public Policy Department, where she is completing a thesis entitled, "Hollowing-Out the State from Its Responsibility to Design and Implement Planning Policy: The Example of the Panning and Construction Appeal Committees". Gal has two M.A. degrees from Tel Aviv University, one in Public Policy and the other in Geography (specializing in town and regional planning). Gal previously served as the manager of the planning department at a large, privately-owned consulting company, where she executed projects for the Israeli government.

Lior Tabansky: is currently completing his MA at Tel Aviv University in the Security Studies Program, with a thesis on “The Role of Advanced Technology in Israel’s Struggle against Palestinian Terrorism, 2000-2005”. He holds a BA in political science from Tel Aviv University. Lior served in the Israeli Air Force and worked for four years as a PC systems coordinator at the Sourasky Central Library of Tel Aviv University. He was born in Moscow and immigrated to Israel with his mother and grandmother in 1991. His future plans include joining the civil service and continuing to explore the field of National Security.

Eli Fried: is studying towards his Master’s degree in the Abba Eban Graduate Program in Diplomatic Studies at Tel Aviv University, with a thesis focusing on the diplomatic aspects of development and humanitarian assistance. Eli is also the Director of Projects in the Diplomacy and Jewish Policy Program at the Harold Hartog School of Government and Policy. He is currently conducting research for the School into Israel's policy of international development cooperation and the operations of MASHAV, the Department for International Cooperation of Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. hAfter working in his native Australia as a commercial lawyer specializing in contract, information technology, and intellectual property law, Eli immigrated to Israel in 2002.

Avner Simhoni: recently completed his Master’s degree in the Security Studies Program at Tel Aviv University, graduating cum laude. He holds a Bachelor's degree cum laude in political science, with an emphasis on political philosophy, also from Tel Aviv University. Avner specializes in strategy and security in Israel and elsewhere4, and has worked extensively as an advisor on data security and the protection of information. He has devised and conducted several surveys related to this issue, and is a consultant on technological data protection to one of Israel’s largest insurance companies.

Rona Goclaw: is a PhD candidate in the Public Policy Program at Tel Aviv University. She obtained a Master's degree magna cum laude in Sociology and Anthropology at Bar-Ilan University. Her MA thesis, on non-standard employment in the Israeli public sector, was presented at the Annual Conference of the Israeli Sociological Society. For the past two years, Rona has engaged in policy research at the Institute for Policy and Strategy of The Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya, where she is also a member of the team that coordinates the annual Herzliya Conference on the balance of Israel's national resilience. Her PhD thesis explores the "hollowing out" of the state and new models of governance, including current trends in states' capacity to govern in light of the changing relationships among state actors, market actors and third-sector actors.

2004 / 2005 :

2003 / 2004:

Senior Fellows

Oshera Kancepolsky: holds a BA magna cum laude in general humanities, an LL.M in the theory of judgment from Tel Aviv University, a BA in law from the City of London University, and an MA magna cum laude in public policy from Tel Aviv University. Oshera was a member of the senior staff of the Tel Aviv District of the Ministry of Justice, focusing on national public defense. She was also deputy to the Tel Aviv Central District Public Defender, and Head of the Detention Department.

Junior Fellows

Gal Alon: completed a BA in media and management and an MA in public policy at Tel Aviv University. He holds an MSc in social policy from the London School of Economics, where he is currently writing his MPhil/PhD thesis in social policy. He has worked as a senior news editor and financial correspondent for Israel Army Radio (Galei Zahal), and has published editorials on social issues in the Israeli business daily, "Globes". He is currently press officer and personal assistant to Israel's Ambassador to the United Kingdom.

Khalid Jaljuli: holds a BA in statistics and accounting and an MA cum laude in public policy from Tel Aviv University. He is an auditor at the Ministy of Justice, an Internal and financial auditor of local authorities on behalf of the Ministry of the Interior, and an internal auditor at the Elkasami Academy Teachers' Training College.

Liat Ramati-Navon: holds a BA in social work and an MA in administration policy from Tel Aviv University. She has worked as a social worker in the oncology department of Tel Hashomer Hospital. More recently, she was employed as a human resources developer in a large hi-tech company.

2002 / 2003 :

Senior Fellows:   position not filled

Junior Fellows:

Yoram Ida: has a BA in economics and management from Bar-Ilan University and an MA in public policy from Tel Aviv University. As a research assistant at the Office of Public Transportation, he advised staff on reform of the public transportation system. He has worked as a senior coordinator of social rights for foreign workers at the Organization of Workers' Rights, and has tutored students in micro-economics and utility and public policy in the Department of Public Policy of Tel Aviv University. He is currently studying toward a PhD in public policy at Tel Aviv University.

Katherina Vlikordov: holds a BA in finance and economics from the Academic College of Ukraine and an MA in public policy from Tel Aviv University. She works as a personal massage therapist and a teaching assistant in courses on anatomy, pathology, and orthopedics. She is also a researcher at the Society for the Blind in Israel, where she studies the access to employment and resources of blind individuals.

Lilach Littor: holds a BA in law from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and an MA in public policy from Tel Aviv University. She has worked as a teaching and research assistant in the Department of Public Policy at Tel Aviv University. Lilach is currently writing her PhD thesis.

2001 / 2002 :

Senior Fellows

Dr. Alon Liel: holds a BA in economics and international relations and an MA and PhD in international relations from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He has held numerous positions at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including serving as Director-General of the Ministry; Israel's Ambassador to South Africa (and Non-Resident Ambassador to Mozambique and Zimbabwe); Assistant to the Director- General of the Ministry; and Charge d'Affaires (head of mission) at Israel's mission in Turkey. He is currently the Chairman of the Israel-Turkey Business Council and of Global Code, Ltd, and a board Member of Gazit, Inc. and C. Mer Communications. Dr Liel is the author of several books.

Junior Fellows

Chaim Weizmann: holds a BA in social sciences and humanities from the Open University and an MA summa cum laude in public policy from Tel Aviv University. He is currently a PhD candidate in public administration at American University in Washington, DC. He is currently the Director of Academic Affairs at Israel's Embassy in Washington, DC and was formerly Assistant Professor at the School of Business Administration of Derby University's branch in Tel Aviv. Chaim has acted as a senior adviser to the Minister of Justice and Religious Affairs and to MK Yossi Beilin. He was the executive Director of Keren Hayesod for Central America.

Hagai Orenstein: holds a BA cum laude in behavioral science, human resources and business management from Ben-Gurion University, an MBA in management from The Hebrew University, and an MA cum laude in security studies from Tel Aviv University. Hagai has participated in a series of group leadership training courses, including the biennial program for training of group leaders at Tel Aviv University. In the past, Hagai worked as a financial and administrative advisor in the civil service commission, and filled planning positions in the office of the State Comptroller. He currently works as an organizational and business advisor, as well as in group guidance, while studying toward a PhD in business administration (organizational behavior) at Tel Aviv University.

Michael Koreh: has a B.A. in behavioral sciences (sociology, psychology and criminology) from Bar-Ilan University and an MA cum laude in public policy from Tel Aviv University. Michal worked as a researcher at the Information Center of the Knesset, preparing policy documents and briefing papers for parliamentarians and parliamentary committees. She completed an internship at the Israel Democracy Institute, as well as acting as a research assistant to the national committee on public policy analysis. She was a lecturer in the Department of Business and Management of Derby University.

Benny Alon: holds a BA in communication and government from Bar-Ilan University and an MA in public policy from Tel Aviv University. He is the Director of the Communications and Public Affairs Division of the Holon Academic Institute of Technology. He is also currently a member of the board of directors of A.Y.Y.T. – Technological Applications and Data Update, Ltd. and of the general assembly of Issta Lines, where he also chairs the marketing committee. Benny was chairman of the students' union at the Holon Academic Institute of Technology.

*Please contact Limor Rachmanov for more details.