With the participation of the current ambassadors to Israel from Italy, Cyprus, and the United Kingdom, the ambassador from the Czech Republic, as well as the former ambassador from Germany, the panel of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation addressed the question of the international dimension of terrorism and the role of diplomacy. The discussion was moderated by Avital Leibovitch, Director of the American Jewish Committee.
All five participants emphasized that their countries’ bilateral relations with Israel had been in a very good state prior to October 7, 2023. After the terrorist attack by Hamas, former German ambassador Jeremy Issacharoff noted, the German public was also in shock. As a consequence, numerous high-level visits from the five countries took place to express solidarity. With regard to the altered political situation, Czech ambassador Veronika Kuckynova Smigolova stated that the population in the Czech Republic has not forgotten what happened on October 7, and therefore Hamas narratives are unlikely to resonate. The ambassador of Cyprus also highlighted a shift: Cyprus’s role for Israel has clearly strengthened, as the island nation played a crucial part in evacuation efforts.
Looking ahead to the further course of events in the region, there was an intensive exchange of opinions and perspectives from the different nations. This illustrated the diverse assessments of the overall situation, while at the same time raising awareness of the respective national viewpoints. British ambassador Simon Walters underlined the United Kingdom’s position in favor of implementing a two-state solution. Italian ambassador Luca Ferrari stressed in this context that bridges should not be torn down, but rather maintained. This tied into the opening remarks of Dr. Michael Rimmel, head of the KAS office in Israel, who emphasized on the one hand that democracy and security go hand in hand, and on the other hand that there must be an alliance against terrorism, since it is not a local but an international problem.
The World Summit on Counter-Terrorism is an annual event that brings together leading experts, politicians, and security forces from around the world to discuss the most pressing issues in international counter-terrorism. This platform serves as a forum for exchanging best practices, analyzing current threats, and developing joint strategies to combat terrorism and extremism. The Konrad Adenauer Foundation’s office in Israel has been a partner in this effort for many years.
For years, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation has been committed to protecting democratic values and building stable security structures. The World Summit on Counter-Terrorism is a central component of this mission, as it promotes exchange between different stakeholders and offers concrete approaches to tackling global security challenges. The first edition of the World Summit on Counter-Terrorism in this format took place in 2014. Since then, the format has developed into one of the most significant international events in the field of counter-terrorism. Each year, experts and political decision-makers gather to discuss the latest challenges and developments in the fight against terrorism.
