In an unprecedented moment at the Munich Security Conference 2026, Lebanese organization This Is Beirut and Israeli organization MIND Israel co-hosted a landmark panel discussion on regional integration, marking the first-ever formal cooperation between Lebanese and Israeli civil society groups at the conference.
The event, titled “Conversation on Regional Integration: Perspectives in the Middle East”, placed a spotlight on Lebanon and Israel and examined the shifting dynamics of the region in the aftermath of the Gaza war.
Held Saturday evening at the historic Bayerischer Hof in Munich, the panel drew conference participants and a global audience following via livestream.
Post-Gaza Regional Landscape
Panelists assessed the evolving regional order following the November 2024 ceasefire in Lebanon, addressing both progress and setbacks. Central to the discussion were the challenges surrounding Hezbollah’s disarmament, ongoing indirect talks between Lebanon and Israel, and the broader prospects for regional integration.
Speakers explored the structural, political and security conditions necessary to move from fragile de-escalation toward sustainable peace. The conversation emphasized that regional integration cannot be reduced to diplomatic symbolism, but must instead be grounded in institutional reform, credible security arrangements and economic opportunity.
Distinguished Speakers
The panel featured a high-level and diverse group of policymakers and experts:
Amos Yadlin, Major General (Ret.), former head of Israeli Military Intelligence, former Deputy Commander of the Israeli Air Force, former Israeli Defense Attaché in Washington, and President and Founder of MIND Israel.
Ted Deutch, former U.S. Representative from Florida and current CEO of the American Jewish Committee.
Hagar Chemali, former Director for Syria and Lebanon at the U.S. National Security Council, Non-resident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council, and Adjunct Associate Professor at Columbia University.
The discussion was moderated by Melody Sucharewicz, strategic communications and counter-extremism expert and former foreign affairs adviser to Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz.
A Symbolic and Strategic Milestone
Beyond policy substance, the event carried significant symbolic weight. At a time of heightened polarization across the Middle East, the cooperation between a Lebanese and an Israeli organization at one of the world’s most prominent security forums underscored a growing recognition that dialogue and regional integration are no longer abstract aspirations, but strategic imperatives.
While profound political and security obstacles remain, the panel signaled that civil society actors are increasingly willing to test new frameworks for engagement, even amid ongoing tensions.
As Munich 2026 continues, this conversation may be remembered not only for what was said on stage, but for what it represented: the possibility of reimagining regional relationships through structured dialogue, accountability and long-term vision.
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