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 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • The Palestinian Arena – From the Six-Day War to Operation Iron Swords

    In this engaging lecture, we will explore the key developments in the Palestinian arena from the Six-Day War to the present day, during Operation Iron Swords. We will review significant events and agreements, such as the Oslo Accords and Operation Defensive Shield, and delve into the distinctions between the West Bank and Gaza. We will discuss Israel’s activities in the Palestinian arena and examine the complexities of humanitarian aid, weighing its advantages and challenges.
    Experiential lecture
  • Choices in Life – The Courage to Decide (Differently)

    In 2016, after serving for 16 years in the same military unit, I made a life-changing decision to leave it and establish the “Good Neighbor” project in the Northern Command. Despite many reasons not to take this path, it transformed my life and my family’s. Since then, I’ve continued to make unconventional decisions, each going “against the flow” and each leading me to a remarkable place in my personal, professional, and family life. In this talk, I’ll share the dilemmas, considerations, and challenges of stepping outside my comfort zone—and how the most unexpected, bold decisions are often the ones that take us to the most meaningful places
    Experiential lecture

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

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

Among my lectures in the world

February 2019 – a series of lectures in England and the Republic of Ireland
November 2019 – a series of lectures in England and Scotland
February 2020 – a series of lectures at college campuses in the USA/California
February 2020 – San Antonio
April/October 2022 – Austria/Vienna
May 2022 – Norway – MIFF Conference
September 2024 - Washington DC

Among my clients

Contact

To order lectures and field trips, please fill out the form and I will be more than happy to get back to you

You can also contact me at

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