THE CHAIKIN INSTITUTE FOR GEO-STRATEGY

On January 27, 2025, the Chaikin Institute for Geo-Strategy held its annual conference, commemorating 21 years since the passing of the late Reuven Chaikin. The conference spotlighted academic research by faculty and graduate students from the University of Haifa on the events of October 7, 2023, and their aftermath. At the outset, we held a ceremony to present awards and scholarships to the winners of the annual Chaikin Prize for outstanding academic books and the Arnon Soffer Doctoral Scholarship recipients. During the academic sessions, 11 researchers from various departments at the university showcased fascinating, groundbreaking studies on topics ranging from the impact on individuals, families, and communities to broader political and social issues in the wake of the October 7 events. We extend our gratitude to everyone who helped make the conference a success: the members of our Advisory Board for their steadfast support, Professor Arnon Soffer for his inspiring presence, and the awards and scholarship committees for their crucial contributions. A special thank-you goes to the researchers who shared their valuable knowledge and insights. We look forward to continued fruitful collaboration with the research community and the public in Israel and worldwide!

In December 2024, the Chaikin Institute, in collaboration with the Ra'anana Symphonette Orchestra, held a memorial concert for Prof. Yehuda Hayut, former president of the university. The concert was held at the Hecht Auditorium, University of Haifa.

At the beginning of December 2024, we held a panel at the institute on the U.S. elections and their impact on Israel and the Middle East, in collaboration with the National Security Studies Center at the University of Haifa. The panel featured a fascinating discussion on Trump's election as president and included prominent researchers in the field.

Arnon Sofer Scholarship for Doctoral Students ​We are happy to announce the 2024 Arnon Sofer Scholarship for Doctoral Students awarded to two outstanding researchers: Ms. Gabriella Appel for her study on food waste in Israeli hotels and Ms. Mary Najjar Aboud for her research on national and civic marginality about East Jerusalem's Israelization process. Each recipient will receive NIS 30,000, recognizing their academic excellence and research contributions of national and societal importance. The scholarship supports doctoral work with strategic implications for Israel and the region.

This Week in the Middle East We proudly announce that we have joined forces with Dr. Yaron Friedman. We now support his successful newsletter, "This Week in the Middle East", further expanding our reach and impact.

The Chaikin Workshop for PhD Students In the spring of 2024, we opened the Chaikin workshop for doctoral students specializing in geo-strategy. Meeting once a week, our forum provides postgraduate students with an informal framework for discussing the various aspects of the doctoral thesis. Among other subjects, the forum primarily focuses on theoretical questions, research methods, and overcoming the difficulties in writing the research.