Projects

The James J. Shasha Center collaborated with the Planning Division at the Finance Ministry to produce a planning agenda for Israel in the year 2048. Following this joint effort, the two organizations published the book Israel 2048: Strategic Spatial Development and Planning (2016), edited by Shlomo Hasson, Oded Kutok, Doron Drukman, and David Roter.
Between 2016 and 2018, the James J. Shasha Center worked with a Palestinian team from the International Peace and Cooperation Center (IPCC) to prepare a strategic plan for the area between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River. Funded by the Netherlands Government, this work was published in a book titled 2050 Strategic Plan: Between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River (2018), edited by Shlomo Hasson and Rami Nasrallah.
From 2018 to 2020, the James J. Shasha Center, along with several other academic institutions, embarked on a new strategic planning project: Israel at 100: Strategic Spatial Planning. The James J. Shasha Center focused on three major issues:

• Developing a vision for Israel's spatial structur
• Building scenarios.
• Devising strategies for action.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the James J. Shasha Center presented a roadmap to the National Economic Council at the Prime Minister's Office and other sections within the office regarding short-, mid-, and long-term recovery strategies. Following this publication, the James J. Shasha Center was asked by the head of the National Economic Council to advise on the development of strategies regarding the COVID-19 crisis and to present its work to the deputy director generals of planning in government offices. Building on this experience, the James J. Shasha Center developed A Strategic Roadmap for Israel in the Aftermath of COVID-19 – From Crisis to Prosperity.
In 2022, the James J. Shasha Center conducted a workshop on “Laying the Groundwork in Preparation for Unexpected Crises.” Participants included representatives from the IDF Strategic Planning Department, the Research Department in the IDF Directorate of Military Intelligence, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Defense, the Deputy Head of the National Economic Council, delegates from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Intelligence, and former high-ranking officials from the Mossad.

The James J. Shasha Center convened a group of experts from the government and academia to review the current situation in Israel in the fields of governance and democracy. The group held a conference at the Hebrew University on this topic and published a book titled Governability or Democracy? The Struggle over the Public Interest and the Rules of the Israeli Political Game (2020), edited by Gail Talshir and published by Resling Publishing. The book was launched through a joint webinar held by the James J. Shasha Center and the Israel Democracy Institute, which received widespread media coverage.

At the request of Prof. Asher Cohen, President of the Hebrew University, the James J. Shasha Center produced a report on The Contribution of the Hebrew University to Climate Change and Sustainability: Research and Initiatives. Following this report, the James J. Shasha Center initiated a new project: Climate Change in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and National Preparedness. This work examines the following areas using various methodological tools:
a. Analysis of existing processes and future trends in the field of climate change in MENA.
b. Identification of the problems and interests of countries in the region concerning climate change.
c. Identification of national and urban policies, patterns of social behavior, and scientific and technological solutions to climate hazards in the region.
d. Assessment of the effectiveness of policies, solutions, and public performance in terms of mitigation (reducing emissions through renewable energy and energy efficiency) and adaptation (transitioning to innovative methods in agriculture, industry, transportation, and infrastructure, alongside educational activities).
The findings were published in a policy paper titled Regional-Israeli Climate Roadmap (2023), edited by Yochai Guiski, Raphael Rudnik, and Shlomo Hasson.

The James J. Shasha Center’s interest in science led it to explore the future of higher education in Israel, culminating in the publication of Lighthouse or Ivory Tower? The Israeli Academy: Between Challenging Openness to Defensive Seclusion (2019), edited by Israel Katz and Gail Talshir.
Subsequently, the James J. Shasha Center convened a group of experts from government (Prime Minister's Office, Defense Ministry – IDF, Innovation Authority, Ministry of Science and Technology), the private sector (Siemens AG, Intel, HP Indigo), and academia to develop a roadmap for future innovations in Israel. This work was presented to the Directorate of Defense Research and Development (DDR&D) at Israel's Ministry of Defense.