Focus Areas

HSF Jerusalem brings together civil society, political, economic and academic actors from Israel, the Palestinian Territories, Germany and the wider region. Through dialogue, capacity building and international exchange, we work to strengthen resilient societies, economic opportunity and peaceful cooperation.

Economic opportunity & innovation

To advance future-oriented economic development across the MENA region, HSF implements initiatives such as regional innovation forums, workshops, international conferences, delegation visits, and alumni networking events. These activities promote sustainable economic dialogue, strengthen collaboration among key economic actors, and build capacity in entrepreneurial education and innovation.

The focus is on empowering regional multipliers, business leaders, academics, and civil society organizations, while the wider public benefits indirectly. HSF Jerusalem places particular emphasis on strengthening high-tech exchange by fostering Palestinian-Israeli innovation hubs and inclusive, sustainable entrepreneurship within underrepresented communities.

Explore our economic partnerships here. 

Social cohesion & participation

HSF Jerusalem promotes social cohesion and understanding, with a focus on strengthening Jewish-Arab relations within Israel’s diverse society, by enhancing the ability of diverse social groups to engage in dialogue and cooperation, and by fostering meaningful exchange between them. Through cultural and language programs, intercultural dialogues, and thematic conferences, HSF encourages mutual understanding and stronger civil society participation.

Civil society participation is further strengthened through targeted capacity-building measures such as workshops, conferences, and study visits. HSF collaborates with key social actors - including Haredi multipliers, Palestinian women’s groups, and Bedouin communities - to ensure lasting, positive impacts across societies.

Meet our civil society partners here.

Environment & sustainability

HSF Jerusalem advances sustainable ecological development as a foundation for peace and stability by training officials and raising environmental awareness within civil society. Key activities include policy workshops, capacity-building for decision-makers, and educational programs on sustainability, cooperation, and resilience, often delivered digitally with scientific expertise.

As an example, HSF is actively maintaining and upgrading Mahmiyat.ps, a functional field companion for hikers and birdwatchers featuring interactive maps with offline capabilities to enhance safety in remote areas.

These efforts aim to increase public awareness of ecological challenges and highlight their transnational nature, which calls for international cooperation. In this focus area, HSF Jerusalem works particularly with Palestinian partners, complementing Israel’s leadership in sustainability.

Explore our environmental projects here.

Political dialogue & international exchange

HSF Jerusalem strengthens political stakeholders’ ability to engage in dialogue, cooperation, and exchange, promoting understanding that benefits broader civil society. The Foundation organizes training programs for politicians, educators, young leaders, and volunteers, along with dialogue events and delegation visits.

HSF's efforts unequivocally affirm Germany's unwavering commitment to Israel’s legitimacy and security. While the complex political realities of the Middle East pose challenges, they also underline the necessity of such initiatives. HSF Jerusalem works particularly with political delegations from and to Germany and the European Union.

Discover our dialogue programs here. 

Our principles

HSF Jerusalem’s political dialogue approach upholds equal rights for all nationalities, ethnic groups, and religions and firmly opposes antisemitism, racism, and all forms of discrimination. It is grounded in the principles of German foreign policy, which include the recognition of Israel’s right to exist as a part of Germany’s raison d’État, the binding nature of international law, and adherence to the relevant resolutions adopted by the German Bundestag. In this context, it acknowledges the possible emergence of a future Palestinian state as a result of peaceful and mutually agreed negotiations (see also FAQs). 

For more information on the our political values, see About us.

From HSF HQ (sel.)

New leadership at HSF: Prof. Klaus Holetschek, Chairman of the CSU Parliamentary Group in the Bavarian State Parliament, serves as Chair of HSF. He is joined by Secretary General Dr. Stefan Ebner, MdL, and Managing Director Dr. Josef Widmann.

From Desert Nomads to Settled Communities: The Transformation of Israel’s Bedouin in the Negev. Video of HSF's Global Perspectives from 2025.

Interview with Godel Rosenberg: born in 1946 in Poland to Jewish Shoah survivors, raised in Munich; served as spokesman for the CSU and Franz Josef Strauss (1978-1988), and as Bavaria's representative in Tel Aviv (2009-2018).

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