Recent Events
SIGNAL Group in India 2024
India Foundation
India Foundation, a leading think tank in New Delhi, hosted SIGNAL Group Founder and Executive Director Carice Witte, along with SIGNAL Group Fellow Brigadier General (Ret.) Eran Ortal. Carice Witte and Brigadier General Ortal briefed retired Indian military and defense officials, experts, and members of the press on Israel's defense efforts in Gaza and Lebanon. Additionally, the group discussed the recent successful conclusion of China-India negotiations on the remaining two points along the Line of Actual Control.
Chanakya Defense Dialogue 2024
SIGNAL Group’s Executive Director, Carice Witte, and SIGNAL Group Fellow Brigadier General (IDF, Ret.) Eran Ortal attended the 2024 Chanakya Defense Dialogue as distinguished speakers on the theme: ‘Drivers in Nation Building: Fueling Growth through Comprehensive Security.
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)
Israel Studies in India is about to expand. Vice-chancellor of India’s top university, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU ) Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit, and the head of the Israel Studies program Prof. P.R. Kumaraswamy expressed their commitment to work with SIGNAL Group to bring its innovative approach to India.
SIGNAL Group at the 2024 Beijing Xiangshan Forum
SIGNAL Group's Founder and Executive Director, Carice Witte, gave a talk at the Beijing Xiangshan Forum
During the Beijing Xiangshan Forum, Carice Witte, founder and executive director of SIGNAL Group, was interviewed by prominent Chinese media outlets, including CCTV and Southern Weekly. These outlets posed direct questions regarding the Gaza conflict from an Israeli perspective, facilitating an in-depth response and further discussion.
Col. Idan Morag, Israel's Defense Attache (right) officially represented Israel at the Beijing Xiangshan Forum, making Israel one of the 93 states officially participating. SIGNAL Group fellow B. G. Ret. Eran Ortal (Left) joined SIGNAL Group's fifth trip speaking for Israel at the forum.
Global Governance Institution (GGI)
The SIGNAL Group delegation met with the Global Governance Institution (GGI). The delegation discussed the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) which focuses on culture and history. The Global Governance Institution explained its programs that promote the GCI.
China Foreign Affairs University (CFAU)
During SIGNAL Group's trip to Beijing, SIGNAL Group Fellow Brigadier General (IDF, Ret.) Eran Ortal spoke with students at the China Foreign Affairs University (CFAU). Brigadier General Ortal discussed Israel's renewed defense strategy in response to challenges posed by multi-front threats and the ongoing war in Gaza.
Center for International Security and Strategy, Tsinghua University (CISS).
SIGNAL Group’s delegation met with Colonel Zhou Bo, China Forum Expert and Senior Fellow, along with Dr. Wen Jing, Postdoctoral Fellow at the Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS), Tsinghua University.
China Institute for International Strategic Studies (CIISS)
SIGNAL Group’s delegation met with retired Major General Zhang Zhang, Senior Advisor and former Military Attaché to the United States, along with senior researchers Mu Changlin, Zhang Wei, and Mao Fenghua at the China Institute for International Strategic Studies (CIISS).
Xinhua News Agency
SIGNAL Group's delegation met with Xinhua News Agency's president Liu Gang at the agency's office.
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September,2024
SIGNAL Group's Executive Director in Vevey, Switzerland
At a recent symposium in Vevey, Switzerland, SIGNAL Group’s Carice Witte joined policy experts from around the world to discuss pressing geopolitical and strategic issues, focusing on the challenges facing Israel and China’s growing global influence. Former Polish Ambassador to Israel, Marek Magierowski, delivered a keynote address, offering a diplomat’s perspective on Israel and sharing a poignant reminder of Israel’s unique resilience in the face of adversity. Participants, including influential leaders and diplomats like Bonnie Glick, Nicolae Ionel Ciucă, and Adrian Zuckerman, contributed to two days of intensive discussions on the strategic implications for the US, Europe, and beyond.
July,2024
SIGNAL Group's Executive Director in Turkey
SIGNAL Group’s Carice Witte was invited as a speaker to the “Eastern Mediterranean Security” Seminar, hosted by the NESA Center for Strategic Studies from 15-17 July 2024 in Istanbul, Türkiye. Co-sponsored by The Foundation for Political, Economic, and Social Research (SETA), this three-day event brought together non-government specialists from the MENA region, including Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Morocco, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Lebanon. Carice contributed to discussions on the evolving strategic and security dynamics in the Mediterranean and broader Middle East, with a particular focus on the implications of China’s growing influence in the region and its impact on regional cooperation and security.
March,2023
SIGNAL Group Meeting with Chinese delegation
On March 28, 2023 SIGNAL Group was pleased to welcome the Chinese delegation from China National Nuclear Corporation Capital Holdings Co., Ltd and CNNC Carbon Asset Management Co., Ltd with Daniel Farb from Leviathan Energy. It is great to see China and Israel collaborating on Green Energy solutions.
December,2022
Special Briefing on the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China
On December 29, 2022 SIGNAL Group hosted the Embassy of the PRC for a Special Briefing on the 20th National Congress and China’s Development. The Ambassador said the BRI will not be subsumed under the new GDI, instead GDI is expected to focus on supporting the UN development goals.
October, 2021
SIGNAL Group's 10th anniversary
To mark SIGNAL Group’s 10th anniversary, SIGNAL Group and its founder and executive director, Carice Witte, hosted a reception to pay tribute to its partners and friends. MK Galant gave opening remarks and Israel’s former National Security Advisor, Maj. Gen. (res.) Yaakov Amidror, and former Mossad Chief, Efraim Halevy, delivered speeches in which they shared their experiences and insights from their ongoing participation in SIGNAL Group’s programs in Israel and in China.
July, 2021
Middle East Briefing for the Chinese
In mid-July, SIGNAL Group held the second virtual Middle East Briefing. SIGNAL Group Middle East briefings for Chinese policy experts are held several times a year and address strategic topics regarding the region. The briefing was attended by more than 70 Chinese officials, policy experts, and scholars.
Major-General (res.) MK Yoav Gallant (pictured above) gave the opening remarks. The two sessions included an assessment of the Middle East situation by several experts on the region, and an overview of the impact of education on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The two sessions addressed the possible trajectories of the US-China rivalry and its impact on America’s allies, including Israel, European states, and the EU as a whole, and the realistic alternatives for the respective China policies of those actors. The meeting was held under the
Chatham House rule.
april, 2021
Europe-Israel Strategic Dialogue on China
In April 2021, SIGNAL Group cohosted the Europe-Israel Strategic Dialogue with ELNET and the Forum of Strategic Dialogue. Participants were a carefully selected group of senior Israeli and European government officials, politicians, and leading experts from various research institutes. The first session explored the possible trajectories of the US-China rivalry and its impact on America’s allies, including Israel, European states, and the EU as a whole. The second session explored realistic alternatives for the respective China policies of those actors.
March,2021
China-Israel Spring Dialogue
In March 2021, SIGNAL Group hosted the 7th round of our track II China–Israel dialogue online. This dialogue was first launched in the spring of 2017 and was held twice a year until the pandemic. The Semi-annual Dialogue is an opportunity for influential Chinese and Israeli experts gather to discuss global and regional developments with the aim of understanding where there are common interests and opportunities to advance mutually beneficial policy.
December,2020
SIGNAL- i24 TV coproduction
Celebrating SIGNAL Group’s 10th anniversary in 2020, i24 and SIGNAL Group co-produced an episode of i24’s Israel Business Weekly news magazine show, focusing on China-Israel relations. The show originally aired to i24’s international English-speaking audience on Dec. 7, 2020. Experts and scholars from China, UAE, Iraq and Israel looked at China’s technology & innovation interests in Israel, China in the Middle East, Israel Studies at Chinese universities and a one-on-one interview with a leading ME expert in China.
August, 2020
Briefing for the Defense Attachés posted to Israel
SIGNAL Group Executive Director and Founder, Carice Witte, briefed the Defense Attachés posted to Israel from around the world. The attaches were particularly eager to learn about China’s deepening ties with Israel’s adversaries in the Middle East. Ms. Witte stated that the increased Chinese presence requires Israel to convey clear and consistent messages to China. Pointing out the unique aspects of China-Israel relations, Ms. Witte noted: “After all, Netanyahu doesn’t have a direct hotline to Xi as he does with Putin.”
July,2020
Japan-Israel Dialogue on China
Expanding the global conversation on China, SIGNAL Group invited Japanese experts and practitioners to discuss the Middle East and US-China tensions with Israeli counterparts. Indeed, Israel has much to learn from Japan’s approach of “putting a little grey into their relationship” with China. Japan’s long history with China has taught it how to deal effectively with conflicting viewpoints, while maintaining economic cooperation with the Middle Kingdom. The Japanese participants were particularly interested in recent developments in the Middle East and in China’s growing presence. SIGNAL Group, and the dialogue’s co-organizer, RCAST-UTokyo, determined to hold dialogue sessions on a regular basis.
May 2020
Managing US and China Relations in the Wake of Covid-19
SIGNAL Group hosted an open roundtable discussion in May 2020, focused on the nature of geopolitics in the Middle East in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. The discussion was moderated by former Israeli MK Ksenia Svetlova and featured the perspective and analysis of political experts from communities around the globe. More than 100 people attended the online event and had the opportunity to engage in this dynamic and practical dialogue.
April,2020
China and the Middle East
SIGNAL Group convened high-level politicians, academics, and thought-leaders from across the Middle East, including the UAE, Iraq, and Israel, to discuss the shifting geopolitical state of the world and China’s rising influence. Participants from Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Singapore, the United States, and Israel attended the closed, invitation-only event. The dynamic discussion revealed not only the conflicting viewpoints typical within the Middle East but also the areas of potential convergence and cooperation.
April,2020
The Global Positions of China and the US: Before and After the Coronavirus Crisis
The SIGNAL Group team was invited to participate in The Jewish People Policy Institute – JPPI’s webinar. Founder and Executive Director, Carice Witte, explained the critical need for Israel to adopt a comprehensive, all government approach to engaging China, while simultaneously remaining sensitive to US interests. Other speakers for the online event included Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Michael Herzog, Dr. Shalom Wald, Dan Feferman, and Avinoam Bar-Yosef.
February, 2020
China Seminar at Yale University
SIGNAL Group invited experts and thought-leaders to gather at Yale University for a China Seminar. Working in cooperation with Yale’s “China Hands Magazine” and the Jackson Institute for Global Affairs, the event featured a fascinating discussion focused on the factors that have catalyzed the state of rivalry between America and China. International political authorities from Italy, Israel, Europe, and the UAE shared their perspectives on their respective countries’ challenges and how they are navigating the new geopolitical context.
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