AMBASSADOR ITAMAR RABINOVICH’S BOOK LAUNCHES AT BROOKINGS INSTITUTION
The Lingering Conflict looks at the stalled peace process through lens of Arab-Israel relations
Washington, DC—December 1, 2011 – As social and political turmoil continue to roil the Middle East, a question remains at the forefront of debate and discussion: how did waging peace turn into lingering conflict?
On Thursday, December 1, scholars, policy makers, diplomats and academics gathered at the Brookings Institution to discuss Middle East unrest with one of the subject’s foremost experts, Ambassador Itamar Rabinovich, at an event co-hosted by the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation and the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at Brookings. Among the distinguished guests were philanthropist Chaim Saban, New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, former IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, Ambassadors Martin Indyk and Sam Lewis, and Middle East scholars David Makovsky and Ghaith al-Omari.
The occasion was the launch of Ambassador Rabinovich’s new book, The Lingering Conflict: Israel, the Arabs, and the Middle East, 1948 – 2011, which draws on Rabinovich’s extensive scholarship and firsthand experiences as Israel’s ambassador to the U.S. and chief negotiator with Syria to explore the long history of the Arab-Israeli conflict, with particular emphasis on the past decade.
“We are dealing with a very different Middle East and a much more difficult Middle East,” Ambassador Rabinovich said during his remarks. “Israel is operating in a much more difficult environment and the impact of the Arab Spring is not at all clear. I don’t see a resolution now. I don’t see a peace process now. The challenge is to find creative and innovative ways to restart it.”
Ambassador Rabinovich addressed topics ranging from the relationship between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Barack Obama to the Arab Spring to the current political situation in Syria. He also took questions from the audience, which included representatives from a broad swath of organizations and institutions such as American University, Anti-Defamation League, Israel on Campus Coalition, Embassy of Israel and the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Ambassador Rabinovich was introduced by Ambassador Martin Indyk, Vice President and Director of the Foreign Policy Program at the Brookings Institution.
As co-sponsor of the evening, the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation has had a long-standing relationship with Ambassador Rabinovich. The Foundation has been at the forefront of efforts to expand the field of Israel studies and to create opportunities for people to learn about Israel, in all of its richness and complexity, both inside and outside of the classroom.
Ambassador Rabinovich has served as a trusted advisor for the Foundation on its work related to advancing the field of Israel studies, serving on the boards and advisory council of several organizations and programs, including the Schusterman Visiting Israeli Professors programs, which aims to bring rigor and a diversity of perspectives into university classrooms within the field of Israel studies.
“Ambassador Rabinovich has been a trusted advisor and valued thought partner,” said Lisa Eisen, National Director of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation during her opening remarks. “He brings to the table a wealth of knowledge and deep experience on the Middle East, offering a balanced global perspective that often challenges conventional wisdom.”
The Foundation will sponsor another event in the spring honoring Ambassador Rabinovich at the Taub Center for Israel Studies at New York University.
“A respected colleague and long-time friend, Ambassador Rabinovich has made enormous contributions to the field of Middle East and Israel studies, as a scholar, as a university president, as a diplomat and as a global leader,” says Lynn Schusterman, chair of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation. “He has elevated the level of discourse surrounding one of the most vital topics of our time: Arab-Israel relations. As a foundation devoted to shedding light on and deepening knowledge of modern Israel, we hope that by sharing the sharp insights of one of the foremost experts on the Middle East, we can provide a much-needed catalyst for further thought and constructive action in this critical arena.”
For more information, please contact Roben Kantor at rkantor@schusterman.org or at 202-289-7000, ext 6.
About the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation
The Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation is dedicated to ensuring vibrant Jewish life by empowering young Jews to embrace the joy of Judaism, build inclusive Jewish communities, support the State of Israel and repair the world. Established in 1987 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the Foundation also provides assistance to non-sectarian charitable organizations dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in our hometown, especially in the areas of education, child advocacy and youth development. www.schusterman.org
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