Asset Publisher

Publications

Asset Publisher

Michael Rimmel

Israel's scars after October 7: The return of the hostages and the national trauma

How the Hamas attack exposes social fault lines and calls old principles into question

On January 26, 2026, the remains of Ran Gvili, the last Israeli hostage in the hands of Palestinian terrorists, returned to Israel. The police officer, who belonged to an elite unit, had been fighting Hamas on October 7, 2023, when he was killed by terrorists and abducted to the Gaza Strip.  With the return of his body, there are no Israeli hostages in the hands of Hamas for the first time since 2014. Now his family and the entire community can say goodbye. Ran Gvili symbolizes the two traumas Israel has suffered since October 7, 2023. The first trauma, the attack on October 7 that left over 1,200 dead, was followed by the second, the taking of 251 hostages, some of whom were held captive by Hamas for two years.  It is clear that October 7 was not the beginning, but rather a dramatic escalation of an already familiar pattern.

Dr. Michael Rimmel, Pascal Franz
January 27, 2026
Country reports

October 7, 2023 – Stories That Must Not Be Forgotten

Individual Fates During the Hamas Attack on Israel on October 7, 2023

In a joint project, 710 Memorial and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation Israel preserve WhatsApp transcripts from victims and survivors of the Hamas attack on October 7, to commemorate the individual suffering and destruction.

Naomi Mittelmann Cohen
January 14, 2026
Single title
Anadolu Agency, Imago

Israel’s View of Trump 2.0

Backing with Side Effects

Although the US is significantly expanding its military support for Israel, the growing dominance of unilateral actions suggests that the previous balance between joint strategic planning and national interest-driven policies is disappearing, which could permanently change the regional security architecture. Can a reliable alliance between the US and Israel continue to exist under these conditions?

Dr. Michael Rimmel
December 18, 2025
International Reports
Bundesregierung/Tobias Koch

Friendship Under Difficult Circumstances

A report about the inaugural state visit of federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz to Israel.

In the midst of difficult domestic political debates in both Israel and Germany, Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz is traveling to Israel for his first state visit as Chancellor. Among others, he meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem.

Dr. Michael Rimmel, Pascal Franz
December 9, 2025
Single title

Sexual Violence in Terror Attacks – A Challenge for Security Policy and Criminal Law

A Professional Framework for Integrating Sexual Offences into National Terror Preparedness

A joint project together with RAIA. about why sexual offences must be part of national preparedness strategies against terrorism.

Dr. Michael Rimmel
December 9, 2025
Single title

An in-depth survey of the Arab community in Israel following the Israel-Hamas ceasefire

New survey by the Konrad Adenauer Program for Jewish-Arab Cooperation at the Moshe Dayan Center from the Tel Aviv University in cooperation with KAS Israel

The regularly conducted survey was initiated by the Konrad Adenauer Program for Jewish-Arab Cooperation at the Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies, Tel Aviv University, in cooperation with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in Israel. It was carried out by the Stat-Net Research Institute under the direction of Yousef Makladeh. The data were collected during the period November 13-18, 2025, in a telephone survey carried out in Arabic among a representative sample of the adult Arab population in Israel (aged 18+).

November 29, 2025
Single title

Innovation as an engine for regional development

Strengthening and expanding the Abraham Accords in the fields of water, food and healthcare

A new publication by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Israel and the Misgav Institute presents a comprehensive review of the needs and challenges facing Abraham Accords countries (the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan) and Saudi Arabia in the fields of water, food and healthcare. Based on this analysis, the article by Noa Lazimi aims to assess the inherent potential of Israeli innovation in these fields, and to ascertain how Israel can leverage it in order to deepen collaborations – both bilaterally and within the framework of multilateral initiatives – in order to strengthen and expand the Abraham Accords.

November 12, 2025
Single title

Israel two years after October 7 attack

Visit of the Deputy Chairman of the Konrad-Adenauer-Foundation Hermann Gröhe.

Hermann Gröhe, Deputy Chairman of the Konrad-Adenauer Foundation, visited Israel and the Palestinian Territories from November 3 to 7.

Dr. Michael Rimmel, Pascal Franz
November 9, 2025
Single title

Country Report with a Difference

Accessibility in International Comparison

People with disabilities are among the most marginalized groups when it comes to political participation. In recent years, it has become increasingly clear that participation in political processes is an essential prerequisite for sustainable development - also, and especially, in the international work of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. To what extent do people with disabilities have the same opportunities for access as those without disabilities? What difficulties do they face, what barriers must be overcome? This publication presents research by several of our international offices on the current state of participation of people with disabilities. We hope these reports will help raise awareness of the inequalities that unfortunately still persist and motivate all of us to pay closer attention to the topic of inclusion.

Dr. Michael Rimmel, Johannes Sosada
October 23, 2025
Single title

Israel between Hope and Concern

Visit of the Chairman of the Defense Committee of the German Bundestag, Thomas Röwekamp, to Israel

Thomas Röwekamp, Chair of the Defense Committee of the German Bundestag and Member of Parliament for the Bremen I constituency, visited Israel and the Palestinian Territories from October 18 to 23, 2025.

Dr. Michael Rimmel, Pascal Franz
October 23, 2025
Single title

Asset Publisher

Asset Publisher