As the Middle East peace talks continue to face obstacles and challenges, the road ahead for Israel and Palestine continues to be in question. No matter the arrangements, or agreements that will come about, security will remain a key issue, and one of particular concern to Israel and the region. In addition, the role of third parties and regional actors in future security will most likely be an indispensable and integral component and one that can affect Spain and other Europeans directly. 

The purpose of this meeting was for two senior and experienced former Israeli officials to elucidate this road ahead.

The Toledo International Centre for Peace (CITpax) and the Spanish Institute for Strategic Studies (IEEE) co-organised a roundtable on "the Security Dimension in the Middle East Peace Negotiations" at the Instituto Universitario General Gutiérrez Mellado on 18 November 2010. The purpose of this meeting was for two senior and experienced former Israeli officials to elucidate this road ahead, especially regarding possible security arrangements and cooperation in the coming future. Shlomo Ben-Ami, Vicepresident of CITpax and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Israel, and Pini Meidan, former Foreign Policy Adviser to Prime Minister Ehud Barak and participant in the negotiations over the Sharm al-Sheikh Agreement, shared their views on the current state of play based on their extensive experience in the region.