Day One --

To say I'm exhausted, doesn't even begin to describe it.  Today was the first full day of the conference and do they keep you moving, well, sitting actually.  The day started with Shaharit at 6:30 and ended at 10.  It was a full schedule with presentations or briefings from ambassadors, generals -- retired and active -- including Gabi Ashkenazi who until yesterday was the IDF Chief of Staff, strategists, journalists, former Mossad chiefs, members of government, civil servants, professors and the preview on two new movie messages!  You get the point.  Day One.

So what were my major take aways?

1)  Egypt is still a work in progress.  Who knows what will happen, but for now Israel believes that it's good the military is responsible for transition.  Seems like a long shot for democracy at this moment, preferred outcome is more moderate change that leaves army with a significant role while leading to long term democratic standards.  Arab leaders very concerned about what happens next, especially with their rule.  And the threat to the peace treaty at this moment is more rhetoric than real.  In worse case scenario Israel claims it has considered all contingencies.

2)  Iran remains the most pressing strategic threat (to Israel and the majority of the Arab world), though the time line of the "point of no return" seems to have been extended to 3-5 years due to the work of sanctions keeping equipment difficult to acquire and the mysterious computer crashes.  Iran is showing no signs of anything other than acquiring nuclear weapons, so more must be done including how the international community addresses North Korea whose nuclear development has essentially gone unchallenged.  On the issue of an Israeli preemptive strike the message was rather clear: "Israel should only go to war in two cases: it is attacked or it has a sword to its neck that is starting to cut."

3)  Soft targets such as the delegitimization campaign and attempts by the Palestinians to bypass the political process or ignore Israel in their efforts to create a state.  The increase of delegitimization of Israel has become a major concern and initiative of the Conference.  Three strategies were presented: immune Israeli society from the message of the delegitimizers, change the building blocks of the discourse of the Middle East and delegitimize the delegitimizers.

4)  A fascinating discussion of Israel's internal challenges too; the growing social, economic and religious gaps within Israeli society.  There was also a pervasive sense that Israel's political establishment is dysfunctional (something I discovered first hand last summer working to defeat the Rotem Conversion Bill) and the dichotomy between politics and other types of leadership that are excellent and innovative.

The evening ended with a preview of www.iraniumthemovie.com.  I always find these movies to be difficult to judge.  On the one hand they strike an intellectual and emotional chord.  On the other hand I always wonder where the line is between information and propaganda.  It's a fine line.  What do you think?  View the movie and respond.

Lilah tov!