Support The Begin-Sadat (BESA) Center for Strategic Studies

Clarity in an age of noise

In 1993, a Canadian Jewish community leader, Dr. Thomas O. Hecht, helped found a research institute at Bar-Ilan University with a simple conviction: that serious, evidence-based analysis – not slogans, not narratives – should shape the conversation about Israel’s future and the region’s stability.

Thanks to the sustaining support of Saul Koschitzky and family and with the help of contributors and friends from around the world, the Center was named for Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat, whose peace treaty proved that rigorous strategic thinking can change history.

More than three decades later, the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies (BESA) remains what its founder intended: independent, non-partisan, and trusted – by senior decision-makers in Israel and abroad, by the diplomatic community, by the media, and by Jewish communities around the world.

About The Center

BESA is Bar-Ilan University’s independent think tank, producing policy-relevant research on Middle Eastern and global strategic affairs. Its publications, briefings, lectures, and conferences bring leading Israeli and international experts to the audiences who rely on serious analysis – from academia and the press to the educated public worldwide.

The Center has partnered with leading strategic research institutes around the world, including the RAND Corporation, the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, and the Carnegie Council on Ethics and International Affairs. Its experts have been interviewed in more than 150 publications worldwide – from The New York Times and The Washington Post to The Times of London – and have spoken at conferences in more than 30 countries.

Where Your Support Makes the Difference

Debunking Genocide. In the wake of October 7, few allegations have carried heavier consequences – for Israel’s standing, and for Jewish communities everywhere – than the claim that Israel committed genocide in Gaza. BESA’s Debunking Genocide project subjects that allegation to rigorous, evidence-based scrutiny: primary-source review, data and statistical analysis, and clear public-facing publications.

The Internship Program. BESA trains the next generation of strategic thinkers through mentoring, hands-on research experience, and direct exposure to leading experts. Your support strengthens the policy community of the future.

The Geo-Energy Program. Energy security, climate resilience, and regional cooperation are among the defining strategic questions of the coming decades. Your support enables high-quality reports, expert seminars, and conferences that turn research into practical strategy – including opportunities for cooperation across the region.

The ISF International Workshop. Together with the Israel Science Foundation, BESA convenes Israeli and international scholars to examine how small and middle powers adapt their grand strategy in a rapidly changing world.

General Support. Independent research needs independent funding. An unrestricted gift sustains BESA’s ability to publish, convene, and respond when it matters most.

Make A Gift Today

Every one of these programs began the way BESA itself did – with one supporter who believed that knowledge, rigorously pursued, betters the world.

Donate To The BESA Center

Raised So Far

$5,000

Our Goal

$25,000

Impacting Tomorrow, Today.

Browse through just a few of the examples of the insight and analysis from the BESA Center.

Opinion: Analysis and Recommendations for Israel’s New National Cyber Strategy
Opinion: Israel’s Next Strategic Vector
Opinion: IMEC – A Corridor for Peace and Regional Stability
Opinion: Azerbaijan’s Entry into Israeli Waters May Open New Export Routes with Turkey
Opinion: The Complex Dynamics of Turkey’s ‘Savior’ Image
Opinion: Disarming Syria Under the Al-Julani Regime
Opinion: How to Effectively Engage Azerbaijan in Trump’s Regional Plans and in Israel’s Interests
Opinion: How to Make Intelligence Assessment Dynamic and Effective
Opinion: Israel and Greece in 2025
Opinion: Hezbollah’s Soul-Searching Reveals Its Defeat
Opinion: “Semi-Self Governance” of Regions that Lack Proper Governance
Opinion: Greenland: The Strategic Center of the High North
Opinion: Is the Moment at Hand to Rid Syria of its Chemical Weapons?
Opinion: Levy’s Anti-IDF Argument Shows a Loss of Moral Direction
Opinion: The IDF’s Gamble in Lebanon
Opinion: The Future of Hamas and the War in Gaza After the Sinwar Era
Opinion: The Gaza Oil Myth
Opinion: Japan, South Korea and the U.S. Elections
Opinion: Israel’s Strategic Goals in the Iron Swords War
Opinion: The New York Times Coverage of the Israel-Hamas War: Random Errors or Endemic Malaise?
Opinion: The Western Powers Are Marching to the Houthis’ Tune
Opinion: Limited Nuclear War and Israel’s National Strategy
Opinion: Hezbollah Must Be Fought Like a State Army, Not Like a Terrorist Organization
Opinion: The Uprisings in Bangladesh Are a Test for India
Opinion: Will Russia Support Iran If It Conducts a Full-Scale Attack on Israel?
Opinion: Relieving Gaza’s Electricity Burden After the War
Opinion: A New Toolbox for Resolving Conflicts over Contested Sacred Sites
Opinion: Israel Must Defend Itself on Its Own – While Cooperating with Allies
Opinion: It’s Not A Border – It’s A Front
Opinion: Strategy for the War in the North
Opinion: India’s Entrance into Geopolitical Influence
Opinion: Post-Soviet Conflicts Research
Opinion: Egypt’s Energy Challenges and Their Political Implications for the War in Gaza
Opinion: The Gaza Terror Offensive
Opinion: The Gaza Terror Offensive
Opinion: The EU Engagement In The Red Sea
Opinion: Israel’s Targeting of Hamas Commander Marwan Issa Was a Legal Operation
Opinion: What Would “Total Victory” In Gaza Mean?
Opinion: A Plan For Gazan Civilians Is A Strategic Necessity For Israel