Crisis Warning Issued by Reichman University Leaders at Counterterrorism Summit

At the opening of the 25th Shabtai Shavit World Summit on Counterterrorism, leaders of Reichman University delivered sobering assessments of Israel’s current challenges. The summit, hosted by the university’s International Institute for Counterterrorism (ICT), brought together experts and officials at a time of deep uncertainty for Israel’s security and society.

Prof. Uriel Reichman, Founding President and Chairperson of the Board, described October 7 as a “pogrom” that shattered the foundations of Israel’s national vision. He warned that the crisis Israel faces is not only military, but structural and societal.

“It is now our duty to fight for the character of Israel’s regime and its leadership,” Reichman said. “The rift within Israeli society led us to a terrible situation on the eve of October 6. The struggle over the state’s future will, to a large extent, be decided by the soldiers returning from the battlefield.”

Reichman sharply criticized the influence of extremist ideology, describing “messianic fervor” as a dangerous force shaping state institutions. He also took aim at the government’s judicial reform initiative, which he said attempted to “push through, in a blitz, a massive revolution intended to change the very foundation of the state,” comparing it to similar processes in Turkey and Hungary.

The human toll of the war weighed heavily on his remarks. “At our university, we see dozens of young people with amputated limbs, head injuries, and PTSD, who are trying to return to life slowly, with love and support,” Reichman said. “These students defended the country with integrity. What kind of state are they getting in return?”

Prof. Boaz Ganor, President of Reichman University, echoed these concerns, describing Israel as caught “in the eye of the global storm.” He traced the crisis back to Hamas’s October 7 attack and the Iron Swords War, noting how it has since expanded into Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Iran. “Facing simultaneous military confrontations for nearly two years is an unprecedented challenge,” Ganor said.

While praising IDF soldiers’ heroism, Ganor warned that Israel is “suffering defeat” internationally, as its enemies succeed in spreading an anti-Zionist narrative. He linked the trend to “statements and actions by extremist elements in the government” that fuel hostility abroad.

He further criticized Israel’s leadership for disregarding security officials’ advice, arguing that the war, once a just war of self-defense, has lost clarity. “This war was launched as a war of no choice – a war of self-defense that could not be more justified. But for over a year now, it has become a war of choice, in pursuit of shifting and unclear objectives. The damage caused by its continuation now outweighs any benefits.”

The summit’s opening made clear that Israel’s security challenge is not only about defeating terror on the battlefield, but also about safeguarding the country’s democratic institutions, unity, and international standing. Share this article or subscribe to our newsletter for more in-depth analysis on Israel’s future.