Gabrielle Rifkind

Who is Gabrielle Rifkind?

Gabrielle Rifkind is a practising psychotherapist and group analyst, who works in conflict resolution in the Middle East. Much of her special contribution is around the role of human motivation and behaviour in resolving conflict.

She directs the Middle East Human Security Programme for the Oxford Research Group, an NGO which works to promote a more sustainable approach to security and is one of the leading UK advocates of non-military resolution of global conflict. It combines in-depth political and technical expertise with many years' experience in promoting serious analysis and dialogue.

A political entrepreneur, Rifkind has, over the last decade, created a number of quiet behind-the-scenes round-table discussions, often between groups who are not currently in dialogue in the Middle East. Her special areas of interest are Iran and the Palestine-Israel conflict. Her particular areas of expertise are the creation of suitable environments for negotiations and addressing the historical traumas and mistrust of the parties involved to avoid disruption of talks. Rifkind believes that creating a coherent and sustained framework is essential for any kind of negotiation, as it allows to deal not only with substance but also with the suspicions that sits in the way of the resolution of conflict.