Meet Project Kesher Israel’s Ksenia Svetlova

Ksenia Svetlova, an educator, journalist, former Knesset member and board member of Project Kesher Israel, brings to the organization invaluable expertise on Middle Eastern geopolitics, socioeconomic issues and the importance of representation. A frequent keynote speaker at PKI retreats and panels, Ksenia enriches understanding of Middle Eastern affairs among our community.

Ksenia previously served on the Foreign Affairs & Defense and Aliyah & Absorption committees, where she championed religious freedom and equality. Her work includes roles as a senior research analyst at the Interdisciplinary Center (Herzliya) and senior policy researcher at the Mitvim Institute for Regional Foreign Policy. A seasoned journalist, Ksenia has reported from nearly every Middle Eastern country for outlets like the Jerusalem Post, BBC Russian, and Channel 9, earning her a reputation for balanced and nuanced coverage.

Ksenia’s Telegram channel has amassed almost 65,000 followers, establishing itself as the premier Russian-speaking channel in Israel on Middle Eastern affairs. She currently serves as CEO of Ropes.org, an organization dedicated to peace, economics and security in the Middle East, and is a non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council. Fluent in English, Russian, Hebrew and Arabic, Ksenia continues to shape Israeli public discourse through her written works and speaking engagements. She holds both MA and BA degrees in Middle Eastern Studies from Hebrew University and is working toward her doctoral thesis on Israel’s media representation in Egypt post-Camp David Accords.