On February 19, 2018, DLA Piper’s Israel Country Group launched its Executive Learning Series, where we were honored to hear from former US Ambassador to Israel, Dan Shapiro. Ambassador Shapiro highlighted the many successful accomplishments achieved between the US and Israel during his six-year (2011-2017) tenure as ambassador, including a $38 billion Memorandum of Understanding, increased mutual trade, and innovative joint technological developments to bolster national security and economic growth. Speaking to a full house of attendees from across the Israeli business landscape, Ambassador Shapiro touched on several additional themes, including the future outlook for US-Israel relations under the Trump administration; life in Israel as a private resident and why he and his family chose to stay; and even the regained freedoms, post-ambassadorship, of utilizing his personal Twitter account.
The event was co-hosted by Nefesh b’Nefesh (“NBN”), an organization that, in cooperation with the Israeli government and The Jewish Agency for Israel, is dedicated to minimizing the financial, professional, logistical and social obstacles for individuals and families seeking to move to Israel. Held at NBN’s Tel Aviv “Aliyah Hub,” which provides free co-working space for new immigrant entrepreneurs, the event also highlighted the many achievements of immigrants and their contributions to the Israeli startup ecosystem.