Ways Forward: Palestinian and Israeli Perspectives

Dr. Shira Efron, Diane and Guilford Glazer Foundation Senior Fellow, Israel Policy Forum

Manal Zeidan, former advisor, Palestinian Authority Prime Minister’s Office

Register

Join us for a candid conversation with two pragmatic experts committed to pursuing a more peaceful and secure future for Israelis and Palestinians alike.

Shira and Manal will discuss the Palestinian politicalarena, Israeli and Palestinian public opinion, the futureof UNRWA, and what the new Trump administrationmay mean for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Dr. Shira Efron is The Diane and Guilford Glazer Foundation Senior Fellow at IPF. Over the last year, she has been focused on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, day-after planning for Gaza, and the reform of UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Work Agency for Palestine Refugees. She also serves as a special climate change advisor to Israel’s Ministry of Defense and the co-chair of the subgroup on regional cooperation of President Herzog’s climate forum. Shira has spent over 15 years in U.S. think tanks, including the RAND Corporation, where she founded and led the Israel program between 2016-2022, the Center for American Progress, and Middle East Institute, and the Tel Aviv based Institute for National Security Studies. She was previously a consultant with the U.N. country team in Jerusalem, where she focused on access and movement issues in Gaza. She has a PhD andMPhil in policy analysis from RAND’s Graduate School, an MA in international relations/international business from New York University, and a BSc in biology (major) and computer science (minor) from Tel Aviv University.

Manal Zeidan is a seasoned expert in international relations and grassroots development in the West Bank.She previously served as advisor to the prime minister/director of international relations at the Office of the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah for six years (2007-2013) after which she worked as the director of advocacy and outreach at Future for Palestine non-profit organization, where she established and oversaw sustainable social and economic development programs to empower women and grassroots organizations throughout the West Bank. Manal holds a B.A. and M.A. degrees in communication studies from California State University, Fullerton.

Israel Policy Forum is a policy research and education organization dedicated to a secure, Jewish, and democratic Israel that develops ideas for today and leaders for tomorrow. IPF produces actionable policy ideas for the United States to advance a viable path to peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians, and builds networks of emerging leaders who are committed to elevating an informed public discourse about the Israeli- Palestinian conflict, and policies to help end it.