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A lecture series with Abbie Ben-Ari
We are delighted to announce that Abbie Ben-Ari, retired senior Israeli diplomat, popular and much sought-after speaker, will be giving a series of lectures at Radlett & Bushey Reform Synagogue, commencing on the 4th November 2009: all lectures start at 8pm. For more information about Abbie Ben-Ari, see the short biography below.
4th November: Israel – The Historical Background. The series begins with an overview of the history of the Jewish-Arab conflict from the 1800s to the establishment of the State of Israel. This will cover the conflicts - the British Mandate period, the Balfour Declaration, The Peel Commission and its partition plan, and the UN partition plan of 1947.
2nd December: Israel’s Nearest Neighbours – Inter-Arab relationsIn his second lecture, Abbie Ben-Ari presents an analytical overview of the Middle East and its component countries. The analysis will cover trends and ideologies, country positions on democracy, liberalism and passivism. In the analysis, all of the countries will be brought together in an overview of inter-Arab relations with reference to Islamic fundamentalism, pro-Western attitudes and secularism in the various countries.
20th January: Israel – Is Peace Possible? This lecture will be an in-depth look at the Israel-Palestine track of the peace process. Abbie will offer a frank analysis of the current situation and, drawing on his extensive expertise and experience of diplomacy in the region, he will help us look to the future.
3rd February: Israel – Political and Religious Diversity This lecture will focus in on political and religious polarisation, a look at the question 'Is Israel a State for the Jews, or a State for the Israelis?' He will also explore the development of the settler movement and the move to the right of the Israeli political make-up, and other aspects such as Israeli culture and minorities in the State of Israel.
10th March: Israel’s Capital – Jerusalem, Past, Present and Future Presenting a history of the city and the wars for Jerusalem (Moslems, Christians etc), this lecture will also cover the role of Jerusalem in the Diaspora, a look at Jerusalem today, its demography, its culture, its politics and the social make-up of its inhabitants. Abbie Ben-Ari will also look at Jerusalem in the international geo-political scene and consider the question ‘Can Jerusalem be a capital for two states?’
21st April: Israel and the Diaspora – Who Needs Whom? This final lecture of the series will consider such questions as: Is there a change in the relationship between Diaspora Jews and Israel? Is Israel still a beacon for the Jewish people? This will also include an analysis of some of the major Jewish communities in the Diaspora, their present development and attitudes, and the question of assimilation.
Abbie Ben Ari
Abbie Ben-Ari was born in South Africa and during his youth was actively involved in the anti-apartheid movement, resulting in two terms of jail. He emigrated to Israel in 1952 - lived on a kibbutz for eight years and then went to live in a new development town in the Northern Negev where he was a Planner for a region involving a new concept of Jewish ethnic immigrant absorption.
Abbie Ben-Ari is a retired senior Israeli diplomat having served at the United Nations, New York and London, and undertook many special missions to developing countries around the world. He has participated in a number of prestigious 'think tanks' at research institutes and Foundations in the USA.
He lives in Radlett and Jerusalem and was actively involved in the cultural life of the city serving as Chairman of the Khan Israel Repertory Theatre and a member of the Board of the Israel Festival for Music and Drama. He also founded together with Isaac Stern the prestigious Israel Music Centre in Jerusalem.
He now spends a great deal of his time lecturing throughout the UK and in the past throughout the United States.
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