Gershon Baskin

Gershon Baskin is one of the most recognizable names in the Middle East Peace process. He is a political and social entrepreneur who has dedicated his life to peace between Israel and its neighbors. His dedication to creating a culture of peace and environmental awareness, coupled with his impeccable integrity, has earned him the trust of the leaders of all sides of the century old conflict. Few people have such far-reaching and positive impacts on promoting peace, security, prosperity and bi-national relationships. Gershon is an advisor to Israeli, Palestinian and International Prime Ministers on the Middle East Peace Process and the founder and director of IPCRI, the Israeli-Palestinian Public Policy Institute. He was the initiator and negotiator of the secret back channel between Israel and Hamas for the release of 1,027 prisoners – mainly Palestinians and Arab-Israelis of which 280 were sentenced to life in prison, including Yahya Sinwar, the current Palestinian leader of the Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The prisoners were imprisoned for planning and perpetrating various attacks against Jewish targets that resulted in the killing of 569 Israelis in exchange for one Israeli soldier, Gilad Schalit. Gershon is actively involved in research and advocacy concerning topics such as social policy, environmental security, political strategy, peace education, economics, culture and in the development of affordable solar projects with the goal of providing clean electricity for 50 million people by 2020. He is a founding member of Kol Ezraheiha-Kol Muwanteneiha (All of the Citizens) political party in Israel. He is now directing The Holy Land Bond and is the Middle East Director for ICO – International Communities Organization - a UK based NGO working in conflict zones with failed peace processes.
Hanna Siniora and Gershon Baskin in Denver

Speech Topics

Hamas, ISIS, Hezbollah, Iran, Palestine – The Middle East is a scary place these days – threats are real and the safety and security of the region and the world are at risk. The complex realities that are included in the speech topics of Gershon Baskin shed light on issues that often difficult to understand, issues that have instilled a pervasive sense of pessimism and hopelessness. This is an opportune time to invite Gershon to your community to speak about these and other issues.

By Gershon Baskin, ago
Gershon Baskin, founder and former Co-director of IPCRI, looks back on 20 years of cooperation in the Israeli-Palestinian dialogue

Presentations

Best known for establishing the back channel with the Harakat al-Muqawamah al-Islamiyyah (the Hamas Islamic Resistance Movement) that led to the release of Gilad Shalit, Dr. Gershon Baskin has established himself as one who works across political lines to find common ground, a person who speaks his conscience and who gets things done for the good of all people in the Middle-East. Gershon’s insights and perspectives combined with his robust knowledge of the major issues of the day, has made him a highly sought-after speaker.

By Gershon Baskin, ago
Gershon Baskin at the Israel Now Conference, July 24, 2015

Venues

Gershon insights and perspectives combined with his robust knowledge of the major issues of the day, has made him a highly sought-after speaker in venues around the world, from United Nations meetings to the chambers of national Parliaments and the podiums of international conferences.

By Gershon Baskin, ago