At Alma Mater Europaea University, new ideas will be presented for one of the most challenging questions of the modern world.
At a time when the world is being shaken by numerous geopolitical conflicts and the need to find new paths to peace is growing, the Global Peace Offensive Center (GPOC) in partnership with Alma Mater Europaea University, World Academy of Art and Science and European Academy of Sciences and Arts, in cooperation with the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy and the Global Security Institute will prepare the premiere event of the international series GPOC Talks.
The event will take place on Monday, September 7, 2026, at 2:00 PM (CET) in the form of an online webinar with a live broadcast via YouTube.
The premiere event of the international series GPOC Talks will be dedicated to presenting the Holy Land Confederation (HLC) initiative – an innovative model for a sustainable two-state solution between Israel and Palestine. The plan will be presented by its authors, Dr. Hiba Husseini, former chair of the Legal Committee for Permanent Status Negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis, and Dr. Yossi Beilin, former Israeli Minister of Justice and one of the key architects of the Oslo Accords. Their joint presentation offers a rare opportunity for direct insight into the thinking of two figures who have significantly shaped peace efforts in the Middle East.
Internationally recognized speakers and discussants
Dr. Hiba Husseini is a lawyer, managing partner of the law firm Husseini and Husseini, and since 1994 a legal adviser to the Palestinian-Israeli peace process. As former chair of the Legal Committee for Permanent Status Negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis, she actively participated in shaping legal solutions for one of the most challenging international issues of our time. She is a recognized expert in the rule of law and Jerusalem issues, a member of the boards of Al Quds University and MEPPA, and a graduate of Georgetown University, George Washington University (GWU), and the Sorbonne.
Dr. Yossi Beilin, former Israeli Minister of Justice, is considered one of the key architects of the Oslo Accords and the Geneva Initiative, both of which have marked modern peace efforts in the Middle East. During his political career, he held numerous high ministerial positions, and today he leads Beilink International Affairs, serves as a Global Distinguished Professor at New York University (NYU), and is the author of several books, including The Path to Geneva and Touching Peace.
The expert discussion will also feature Jonathan Granoff, President of the Global Security Institute (GSI) and member of the Board of Trustees of the World Academy of Art and Science (WAAS), Isabella Bunn, senior adviser to the Oxford Analytica foundation and member of the WAAS Board of Trustees (participation to be confirmed), and Mark Donfried, Director of the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy (ICD) (participation to be confirmed).
Following the presentations, there will be a discussion with questions from participants, and the event will conclude with remarks by Garry Jacobs, President and CEO of the World Academy of Art and Science (WAAS), Prof. Dr. Ludvik Toplak, Rector of Alma Mater Europaea University and Director of the Global Peace Offensive Center (GPOC), and Prof. Dr. Klaus Mainzer, President of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts (EASA) and Chair of the GPOC Scientific Committee.
A new perspective on one of the world's most challenging issues
The conflict between Israel and Palestine remains one of the most complex international issues of our time, and its consequences extend far beyond the region's borders, affecting global security, humanitarian conditions, and international relations. The Holy Land Confederation initiative represents one of the contemporary attempts to find new solutions based on dialogue, cooperation, and mutual trust.
The model envisages preserving the sovereignty of both states while opening possibilities for joint governance of selected areas, reciprocal residency rights, and an open Jerusalem. Instead of the concept of complete separation, the model offers a framework of coexistence that encourages the search for long-term sustainable solutions.
Universities as a space for dialogue
The event also confirms the importance of academic institutions in encouraging open discussion on issues that shape the modern world. As a partner of the event, Alma Mater Europaea University, together with international organizations, helps create a space where science, diplomacy, and diverse expert perspectives meet, and where dialogue is based on reasoned debate and the exchange of knowledge.
In addition to the main speakers, representatives of distinguished international organizations will also take part in the event, and the discussion will allow participants to engage directly with questions and comments.
The premiere event will be opened and moderated by Donato Kiniger-Passigli, President of the Global Peace Offensive Center (GPOC) and Vice President of the World Academy of Art and Science (WAAS) for Social Sciences and Humanities. A former senior official of the United Nations, he is one of the leading initiators of the Global Peace Offensive initiative, which promotes new approaches to peacebuilding by engaging the academic community, civil society, and international institutions. The initiative is based on the belief that sustainable peace can be built through dialogue, knowledge, mutual trust, and cultural, scientific, and educational diplomacy.
The GPOC Talks series is conceived as an international platform for discussing current global challenges, bringing together renowned experts, diplomats, researchers, and decision-makers with the aim of finding innovative solutions for conflict prevention and strengthening international cooperation. The first discussion will be dedicated to one of the most complex issues of the modern world – the future of Israeli-Palestinian relations and the possibilities for more lasting peace.
