Israel

A member of the OSCE Mediterranean Partners, Israel’s connection with the OSCE dates back to the Helsinki Final Act of 1975. The Act recognized the close relationship between European Security and Mediterranean security, and in 1994 a contact group was formed to formally involve the southern Mediterranean countries with the OSCE. Israel has welcomed its partnership with the OSCE both as an opportunity to share best practices and as an important forum for regional cooperation.

In partnership with the OSCE and the International Organization for Migration, Israel hosted an international seminar on "The Critical Role of the Judiciary in Combating Trafficking in Human Beings" in Haifa in 2013. This seminar included judges from across the OSCE region and the Mediterranean Partners region.

Staff Contact: Bakhti Nishanov, senior policy advisor

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Hearings

Hamas’ Hostages, Putin’s Prisoners, and Freeing Inte...

Oct 25, 2023

The practice of seizing hostages and political prisoners, as well as actively terrorizing civilians is a constant displayed by Hamas in Israel and Russia’s war against Ukraine. To highlight issues related to the United States’ strategy to free hostages and political prisoners, last year the Commission’s Ranking Member Congressman Steve Cohen and Chairman Joe Wilson […]

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Articles

2020 OSCE Mediterranean Conference

Dec 09, 2020

By Zantana Ephrem, Max Kampelman Fellow and Michelle Ikelau Ngirbabulka, Max Kampelman Fellow In 2020, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has faced the unprecedented crisis of COVID-19, as well as numerous other challenges. On November 3, the Mediterranean Partners for Cooperation Group gathered to virtually share best practices and discuss areas for […]

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Press Releases

Chairman Hastings Leads Bipartisan Delegation to Tun...

Oct 08, 2019

WASHINGTON—From September 28 to October 6, Helsinki Commission Chairman Rep. Alcee L. Hastings (FL-20) led a bipartisan, bicameral U.S. delegation to Tunisia, Israel, and Morocco to assess the state of security, human rights, and democracy in the Middle East and North Africa. The delegation concluded with the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (PA) Autumn Meeting in Marrakech, […]

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Speeches

Remarks to the Mediterranean Forum

Oct 04, 2019

Autumn Meeting of the OSCE PA *NOTE: As prepared for delivery* Before arriving in Morocco, I led a bicameral and bipartisan Congressional delegation to Tunisia and Israel. While in these countries, my colleagues and I held high-level exchanges with national leadership, civil society, religious leaders, and others to assess the current state of regional security, […]

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Publications

The Helsinki Process: A Four Decade Overview

Jun 28, 2019

In August 1975, the heads of state or government of 35 countries – the Soviet Union and all of Europe except Albania, plus the United States and Canada – held a historic summit in Helsinki, Finland, where they signed the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe. This document is known […]

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Briefings

How to Get Human Rights Abusers and Kleptocrats Sanc...

Mar 13, 2018

The workshop provided human rights organizations, transparency advocates, and congressional staff with the tools they need to effectively petition the U.S. government to review and potentially designate individuals and organizations for sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act. Sanctions experts described, from an operational perspective, how the U.S. government identifies, vets, and ultimately sanctions individuals. They […]

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Press Releases

Helsinki Commission Workshop to Explain Global Magni...

Mar 07, 2018

WASHINGTON—The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, today announced a workshop to provide human rights organizations, transparency advocates, and congressional staff with the tools they need to effectively petition the U.S. government to review and potentially designate individuals and organizations for sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act. HOW […]

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Press Releases

Helsinki Commission Workshop to Explain Global Magni...

Mar 07, 2018

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Articles

U.S. Congressional Delegation Expresses Bicameral, B...

Mar 08, 2017

Helsinki Commission Chairman Senator Roger F. Wicker (MS) led a bicameral and bipartisan delegation of nine Members of the U.S. Congress to Jordan and Israel from February 19-22, 2017 before traveling to Vienna for the Winter Meeting of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. This was the first major U.S. Congressional delegation to visit Jordan and Israel, […]

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Press Releases

Helsinki Commissioners Champion Security, Human Righ...

Feb 28, 2017

WASHINGTON—Led by Helsinki Commission Chairman Roger Wicker (MS), five members of the Helsinki Commission and five other members of Congress traveled to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (PA) Winter Meeting in Vienna last week to demonstrate the commitment of the U.S. Congress to security, human rights, and the rule of law in the 57-nation OSCE region. […]

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Press Releases

U.S. Delegation to OSCE PA Drives International Acti...

Jul 08, 2016

WASHINGTON—Seven members of Congress traveled to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA) Annual Session in Tbilisi, Georgia last week to demonstrate the U.S. commitment to the principles of the Helsinki Final Act, including respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. At the Annual Session, which brought together nearly 300 parliamentarians from 54 of the 57 […]

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Publications

Security in the Mediterranean Region: Challenges and...

Nov 13, 2015

From October 20-21, 2015, the OSCE held its annual Mediterranean Conference focused on “Security in the Mediterranean Region – Challenges and Opportunities.” It included four distinctive themes: Session I: Common Security in the Mediterranean Region; Session II: Addressing Violent Extremism and Radicalization that Lead to Terrorism; Session III: The Role of Interfaith/Intercultural Dialogue; and Session […]

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