Laura Hatton, at The Blogs

Laura Hatton

Sep 22, 2026, 3:14 AM

Indiana came to Israel in June with a question. Not, What can Israel show us? Something more useful: What can Indiana and Israel actually build together? That distinction shaped the trip. A few weeks earlier, leaders from Indiana government, technology, cybersecurity, higher...

Jul 22, 2026, 4:54 AM

Before the MOU: Building the Partnership

Dennis Trinkle, President & CEO of TechIndiana, and Dr. Ronen Hoffman, President of the EIS Council, lead discussions during the June 5 Indiana ⇄ Israel resilience working session at the Indiana Statehouse. The convening laid the groundwork for the partnership later formalized in Israel.

Building Before the Signature International partnerships are often judged by the moment an agreement is signed. The photographs are published. The announcement is shared. Organizations celebrate the milestone. What is rarely discussed is the work that makes those moments possible. Several months before...

Mar 2, 2026, 11:05 PM

Infrastructure Security and the Future of State to Nation U.S.–Israel Alignment

Ambassador Ronen Hoffman, President of Electric Infrastructure Security Council, chairs Indiana⇄Israel Corridor roundtable.

For decades, the U.S.–Israel relationship has been anchored in defense cooperation, intelligence coordination, and diplomatic alignment. That foundation remains strong. Yet the next phase of alliance durability will be defined less by statements and more by systems. Infrastructure security and sustained...

Jan 21, 2026, 9:37 PM

The Quiet Power of the Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast

In an era when formal diplomacy is increasingly constrained, informal convenings are playing a growing role in shaping how alliances form, narratives travel, and legitimacy is signaled. As official negotiations stall and polarization deepens, the spaces that sit outside...

Jan 19, 2026, 5:45 AM

How Subnational Partnerships Are Taking Shape in U.S.–Israel Engagement

In earlier posts, I explored why state-level partnerships with Israel are drawing increased attention, and how corridor-based models help sustain those relationships over time. This final piece reflects on what these developments may suggest about the direction of U.S.–Israel...

Nov 26, 2025, 8:11 PM

Inside the AI Systems Behind the Indiana⇄Israel Corridor Model

Understanding the Heartland to Holyland Corridors: How AI and Systems Design Are Reshaping State-Level Partnership When I wrote my first column about the rise of state-level partnerships with Israel, the most common question was about implementation. What does a sustainable...

Nov 14, 2025, 6:18 PM

Why State-Level Partnerships May Define Israel’s Next Era of Allies

America’s Midwest is emerging as an unlikely but increasingly important partner to Israel. Here is why that matters. When conversations turn to Israel’s global partnerships, attention usually lands on Washington, New York, Silicon Valley, or the major hubs of Europe....

About Me

Laura Hatton is the founder and Strategic Director of Heartland to Holyland™, where she leads the development of the Indiana ⇄ Israel Corridor. Through executive convening, relationship alignment, and sustained continuity between visits and delegations, Heartland to Holyland serves as the human trust layer connecting leaders across business, technology, government, academia, and civil society in Indiana and Israel. She writes about corridor diplomacy, leadership exchange, and the relationships transforming Indiana ⇄ Israel engagement from episodic visits into sustained collaboration.

Contact Me