The Broader Middle East: New Beginnings – or More of the Same?

From his first day in office, President Barack Obama has made Arab-Israeli peacemaking a top foreign policy priority. In recent weeks, he has consulted with a wide range of leaders from the region, including Israel’s new prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. In his speech in Cairo in early June, the President went a step further, pledging his personal committment to moving the peace process forward. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Special Envoy George Mitchell have also both made repeated visits to the region.

Against this backdrop, two-time Israeli Ambassador to the United States Zalman Shoval will discuss Israeli foreign policy and broader regional developments. Ambassador Shoval is one of Israel’s leading political figures, as well as a longtime confidant of PM Netanyahu. He has served as a Member of Parliament representing both the Rafi and the Likud parties. Ambasador Shoval is also a leader in the Israeli finance and banking sectors, and has served as Chairman of the Israeli Banking Association and Past President of the Israel-America Chamber of Commerce.

This event will be on the record.

Speakers

• Zalman Shoval
  Former Israeli Ambassador to the United States
• Richard Solomon, Introduction
  President, U.S. Institute of Peace