About Us

The Harry S. Truman Research Institute for the Advancement of Peace was the first, and is the largest, research institute in Israel and the Middle East that studies advancing peace in the region. The Truman Institute focuses on the states of the Middle East as well as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Its researchers also study Asia, Africa, and Latin America; examining them from an interdisciplinary approach – historical, cultural, psychological, political and socio-economic. The Truman Institute highlights the value of tolerance and dialogue in advancing peaceful co-existence among peoples and nations.          

The Institute was founded in 1965 at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem with the personal support of the 33rd President of the United States, Harry S. Truman.          

Grants and Scholarships          

In order to foster and advance research for the advancement of peace, the Truman Institute gives out on an annual basis, grants and scholarships to local and international researchers, groups, and Post-doctoral, Doctoral and Masters' students. Since the Institute fosters an inter-disciplinary view, researchers have come from a varied background including the social sciences, humanities, public health, and government service.          

Events          

The Truman Institute plays an instrumental role in bringing together people locally and internationally, from a wide range of academic and professional backgrounds, including politicians and diplomats. The Truman Institute holds over 100 events on an annual basis. A broad spectrum of dynamic programs are offered, including conferences, lectures, seminars, symposiums, Middle East briefings and diplomatic visits on issues of current interest to help foster understanding, discussion and debate on the challenges facing Israelis and Palestinians and the citizens of the developing world.                   

Special Projects and Seminars          

Over the past few years, The Truman Institute has established many leading and innovative programs that provide international participants with a political, historical, religious and cultural perspective of Israel and the Middle East. These programs feature lectures from leading academic experts at The Hebrew University, ambassadors and journalists, meetings with Knesset Members, discussions with government officials, as well as tours around Israel. These firsthand experiences and the in-depth understanding and knowledge gained by participants are unique to our programs:          

• Israeli-Palestinian Dialogue: Joint Seminar for Israelis and Palestinians          

• Seminar for Latin American Journalists          

• Seminar for Young Russian Diplomats          

• Israel and the Middle East Seminar for Graduate Students          

• Multi-Ethnic/Religion Seminar          

Abba Eban Centre for Israeli Diplomacy          

Founded in 1992, the Abba Eban Centre for Israeli Diplomacy operates under the auspices of the Truman Institute. Ambassadors, Foreign Ministers, and policy makers from all over the world visit the Centre to participate in lectures or briefings by Truman scholars relating to current issues on Israeli-Palestinian relations, the Middle East, as well as topics related to foreign affairs and diplomacy.          

A vital resource for scholars exploring Israel's emergence into the international community, the Abba Eban Centre for Israeli Diplomacy houses the Abba Eban archives, (papers, videocassettes, photographs and recordings) of the former Israeli Ambassador, Member of the Knesset and Foreign Minister, Abba Eban.          

Library          

The Roberta andStanley Bogen Library and Documentation Center is unique among the libraries of Israel and, indeed, among the libraries of the Middle East.          

Its collections focus on the regions of the non-Western world—Africa, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East—the latter two regions in particular. Personal archives donated by former diplomats and researchers on issues concerning the Middle East and Asia are classified and filed under a subject index.          

In fact, many of the Truman Institute's visiting scholars come specifically to use the library's excellent resources, which are now also available via the Internet and are now part of the general catalogue of the Hebrew University libraries.