The supreme objective of political leadership within the framework of a sovereign government is to ensure the national security of that state, as defined by "protecting the existence of the nation and its vital interests" (Tal, 1996). Throughout history, exemplary figures of solid character and unwavering conviction have studied and internalized the principles that shaped Western civilization, applying them to address the unique challenges of their time.
The Statesmanship course invites young students, regardless of age or educational background, to a unique opportunity to learn from thinkers and political leaders who shaped modern history, and to derive insights relevant to our current reality. Statesmanship encompasses a wide range of skills that will be taught during the course, including policy planning, diplomatic roles, and additional functions.
We will delve into the teachings of exceptional thinkers and statesmen such as Aristotle, Edmund Burke, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, Alexis de Tocqueville, Abraham Lincoln, and of course, Winston Churchill. The phenomenon of the military echelon's prominence and its significant influence on decision-making processes in the State of Israel, alongside the political echelon, is an integral part of Israeli political reality, at least since the Six-Day War and even earlier.
The strength of the Israeli military echelon was built due to the central issue of state security, as a result of the necessary concession and the reality of prolonged conflict with neighboring countries. Consequently, a situation of increasing dependence of the political echelon and civilian leadership on the knowledge and expertise of the military echelon has developed. This course aims to train you to better understand the qualities and attributes required of outstanding statesmen, and we will also provide examples from the Israeli experience, such as the political decision-making processes by Prime Minister Levi Eshkol in the 1960s.
* The course material will be tailored to the age of the learners.