Is Peace Possible Between the Israelis and Palestinians?

Scholars for Peace in the Middle east :It’s been almost 20 years since the Oslo Peace Accords, and we are nowhere closer to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. With the rise of Islamist movements in the region, including Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood, the prospect of peace looks even more bleak. Yet many people living in Israel believe that peace is still possible. This panel will address these complexities as well as the dream of what peace might look like even now amid the turmoil throughout the Arab world.

The Palestinian-Israeli conflict has dragged on for more than half a century. The Oslo peace process, initiated with such high hopes in 1993, lurched to a halt, particularly in the last two years when direct Palestinian-Israeli negotiations broke off. Now, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is trying an entirely new approach. On September 23, 2011, he applied to the UN Security Council for Palestine to be admitted as the 194th UN member state.

The panel of scholars will discuss the pros, cons, and impact of this approach. Is it a breakthrough or a setback for peace? Will the UN Security Council approve the application? How will that change facts on the ground and about the peace process? If the Security Council rejects the application, what impact will that have on Palestinian hopes for a state and on peace efforts?

Come hear from and discuss the ramifications of this effort with scholars who are experts in the field.

Donna Robinson Divine
Professor at Smith College, teacher of Middle East Politics and other courses, author of four scholarly books and numerous articles.

Dr. Jonathan Adelman
Professor, University of Denver, author or editor of more than 12 books about international affairs.

Dr. Asaf Romirowsky
Acting Executive
Scholars for Peace in the Middle East

Dr. Richard Cravatts
President
Scholars for Peace in the Middle East
Dr. Cravatts has published over 350 articles, op-ed pieces, columns, and chapters in books

UC Berkeley • 210 Wheeler Hall
8:00 PM—Tuesday, January 29