Conversations About Israel with Colonel The Hon. Dr Mike Kelly AM

Two years after the start of the war, Israel stands at a defining moment. In this special edition of Conversations About Israel, Maayan Hoffman — journalist, analyst, and Executive Editor of ILTV News — will discuss the latest geopolitical developments, the evolving regional dynamics, and what may lie ahead for Israel as the conflict winds down. She’ll explore potential political shifts, the path toward reconstruction and reconciliation, and how Israel can navigate its next chapter in a rapidly changing Middle East.

Rabbi Rafi Kaiserblueth will introduce Dr Kelly and moderate the Q&A.

Join us for an insightful hour and the communal lunch that follows, as always lovingly prepared by Nora's Kitchen.


ABOUT COLONEL THE HON. DR MIKE KELLY AM

Mike served in the Australian Army for 20 years, including deployments in Somalia, Bosnia, Timor Leste, Iraq and a hostage recovery mission in Africa. He was awarded the Australian Chief of the General Staff Commendation in 1993, the UNTAET Force Commander's Commendation in 2002, and made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1994. He served as Director of UN, NATO, Europe, Peacekeeping, the Middle East and Africa in the ADF Strategy Group, including managing the crises in Timor Leste and Lebanon in 2006. Mike was a member of the Australian Parliament for the seat of Eden-Monaro. He served as Assistant Minister for Defence, including with responsibility for the transition of operations in Afghanistan, and as Minister for Defence Materiel. He was also a member of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security for four years. He has worked on many projects in support of the UN. After leaving Parliament, he worked in the tech industry with a focus on AI solutions. Mike is currently a Strategic Policy Consultant and an Adjunct Professor with the National Security Institute at the University of Canberra. Mike has extensive experience related to the Middle East, stretching over 40 years. This includes multiple visits to Israel involving meetings and dealings with Israeli Government and Palestinian Authority officials. He has also spent six months in Somalia, a year in Iraq and several official visits to the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan and Afghanistan. He was a member of the Parliamentary Friends of Israel and is currently co-convenor of Labor Friends of Israel. Mike has published two books and multiple scholarly refereed articles and chapters for books on security and international law-related matters. He has been a regular speaker at local and international conferences and forums. Dr Kelly has specialist expertise in peace and stabilisation operations, post-conflict reconstruction, counter terrorism and counter-insurgency.

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