Eyal Dror - Guidance | Consulting | Training

There are many elements in partnering,

But trust is truly the key

Everything else has to be based on it.

Without trust, there is no basis for partnering.

It’s the bottom line.

(McKnight & Chervany, 1996)

There are many elements in partnering,

But trust is truly the key

Everything else has to be based on it.

Without trust, there is no basis for partnering.

It’s the bottom line.

(McKnight & Chervany, 1996)

About

LTC (res.) Eyal Dror, married to Michal and father of three.
An active IDF reserve officer, serving in the Golan Heights, with 24 years of service in diverse positions throughout the security forces coordination and liaison units. In his last position he was both the founder and commander of the historic, national-level “Good Neighbor” Project.

During the various positions he held in the security forces, Eyal accumulated a wealth of experience and practical knowhow in a variety of fields – command, crisis management, mediation between adversaries, management of situations of uncertainty, taking the initiative and thinking out of the box, to name just a few.

Eyal is a Stage 2 Ph.D. student, specializing in inter-organizational collaboration during times of crisis, an expert on both Palestinians and Syrian affairs, taking part in media panels on these topics.

His unique work on the Good Neighbor Project led him to write a book – “Embracing the Enemy”.
Eyal is a keen amateur sportsman who especially enjoys long-distance running.

The Good Neighbor Directorate was established in the IDF Northern Command’s/ Bashan Division in 2016 with the aim of helping some 250,000 Syrian civilians in the Israeli-Syrian border area, who were severely affected by the civil war in Syria, by providing extensive humanitarian assistance, based on cooperation with Israeli, Christian and Muslim civilian aid organizations.

During two years of intensive activity in an extremely challenging operational environment, facing frequent dynamic changes, the officers and soldiers in the Directorate carried out more than 700 humanitarian aid operations – during which 1,400 children suffering from chronic illness were treated in hospitals in the State of Israel along with 4,500 injured civilians who received life-saving medical treatment there.

The project’s core activity involved the establishment of a field clinic that treated about 8,000 residents together with a maternity hospital in Syria, in which about 1,000 Syrian babies were born. In addition, thousands of tons of food, medicine, clothing, and one million liters of fuel were supplied. In the last operation, the Directorate coordinated the evacuation of over 400 Syrian civilians, members of the Syrian “White Helmets” civil defense volunteer organization, and their families, saving them from certain death.

The hundreds of operations carried out were accompanied by thousands of extraordinary human moments, during which we had the rare opportunity of communicating with civilians living in an enemy country. These individuals, who had grown up under a system educating them to hate Israel, now came to realize that the State of Israel was the only country in the world that had actually come forward to help them, save their lives and grant them hope for the future.

The activities I offer

Establishment and management of complex projects – from theory to practice

How to approach the establishment of a project characterized by a large majority of unknowns, taking place in a dynamic environment subject to constant change, in which every action undertaken, however large or small, involves “walking through unchartered territory”. During the lecture, by closely examining the establishment of the “Good Neighbor” Directorate, we shall come to understand the importance of learning both from successes, but perhaps more importantly from failures too, how to manage strategic joint ventures, and engage in creative thinking, etc.

Professional lecture

Let's talk
Seven practical principles for building trust

How to build trust between various parties, among whom there is a deep chasm of suspicion, fear and even hatred. During the lecture, based on the story of how the “Good Neighbor” Directorate was set up, we will come to understand the basic principles that helped us to build trust with the Syrians and also with the other various partners, each coming to the table with various interests and from a completely different cultural and ideological background.

Professional lecture

Let's talk
Good Neighbor Project – Embracing the Enemy

The “Good Neighbor” Directorate was established in the Golan Heights in 2016. During the lecture, we will hear about the Israeli-Syrian border, the tragic civil war in Syria, the circumstances that led the State of Israel to establish the largest humanitarian project in its history, the daily contact with the Syrian civilians, the treatment of thousands of sick children and the hundreds of extraordinary, emotional moments of human drama, saving the “White Helmets” from certain death to name just a few.

Experiential lecture

Let's talk
The Shiite axis - emergence and threats

The Shi’ite Axis – Development and Threats The most complex external threat today to the State of Israel is known as the Shi’ite Axis. In this lecture, we shall hear just how for decades the radical Iranian government has been endeavoring to build and nurture armed militia groups throughout the Middle East, exploiting humanitarian crises in various countries such as Lebanon, Syria and Iraq, in order to promote its own interests and how this poses a serious threat not only to the State of Israel but to the Middle East as a whole.

Experiential lecture

Let's talk
Palestinian Affairs – Fundamental Concepts

An overview of the key processes in the Palestinian world, from the Oslo Accords to the present day. In this lecture, we shall seek to understand the significant differences between Judea & Samaria and Gaza, the significance of the humanitarian aid activity carried out by the State of Israel on a daily basis, and more too.

Experiential lecture

Let's talk

All the lectures can be provided in the following formats:

As part of a presentation-based lecture.

During a meeting at one of the various observation points in the Golan Heights
or along the border with Lebanon, as follows: Tall Faher outpost, Mt.
Hermonit, the Oz 77 brigade memorial in the Valley of Tears (Emek
HaBakha), the Syrian HQ building, Mt. Bental, Quneitra observation post, UN
HQ post (Zivanit), the old 116th outpost, Tell Saki, the Dado Lookout
(Metullah), Mt. Adir, the Hezbollah terrorist tunnel (Zar’it) – subject to prior
coordination and approval from the IDF.

It is possible to combine the contents of more than one lecture, to take part in a field meeting at a number of observation points, or to have a combined meeting composed of a field observation and a presentation-based lecture held in a hall.

Recommendations

Marilyn Chandler

Head of Greater Greensboro Jewish Federation

Thank you so much for speaking with our Interfaith Study Mission and for sharing your unique and very meaningful story about Israel's humanitarian efforts in Syria. Your effort and those of your soldiers will be forever ingrained in our hearts and souls

Susan Church

A very interesting gentleman. Kind, compassionate and caring. Eyal has a great story to tell and his presentation in Glasgow was fantastic! Would highly recommend Eyal as a speaker…. he had his audience well and truly invested in his story

Ebenezer Pentecostal Temple

We just seen him speak about helping and bringing hope to the Israel's neighbors – highly recommended to watch and learn what about the IDF is doing. My God to continue blessing LTC Res. Eyal Dror and Israel

Gal Yoffe

A gifted story teller with the most amazing story to tell

Stephanie Silverstone

Great speaker. Very interesting and caring

Why Eyal Dror?

Unique experience in establishing a historic, national-level project

Creative thinking

Real-life experience and firsthand familiarity with Arab culture

Profound professional experience of direct relevance to the lecture topics

Leading organizational processes

Academic background

From the media

Interviews from the media

6 Videos

Good Neighbor: How the Israel Defense Forces Aided Desperate Syrians Fleeing Syria's Civil War

Among my lectures in the world

February 2019 – a series of lectures in England and the Republic of Ireland

Guest lectures at various synagogues in London (Finchley Synagogue), Manchester (Yeshurun Synagogue) and Borehamwood (Borehamwood Synagogue).
Key Note Speaker – ZF Annual dinner (London)
King David high school Manchester
Bridge Christian Fellowship London
Guest lecture to the Jewish community in Dublin

November 2019 – a series of lectures in England and Scotland

Lectures at university campuses – Manchester University, King's College London, University of Warwick, Birmingham University, University of Nottingham, Nottingham Trent University.
Guest lectures at various synagogues and churches – Finchley Reform Synagogue, Mill Hill Synagogue, West Midlands Friends of Israel, Leicester Jewish Society.
Guest lecture at the Glasgow Friends of Israel, Scotland.