Saturday, April 23, 2011

Will A 'Palestinian State' Bring Peace?

I don't think so.

Z Street doesn't, either.

If you don't think so or haven't quite made up you mind, why don't you attend this conference:-

Z STREET Presents
RETHINKING THE END GAME: Improving Lives in the Middle East

MAY 4th, Washington DC

Z STREET believes the goal of the Peace Process should be peace. The rest of the world, however, acts as if the goal has to be the immediate creation of a Palestinian State, regardless of who will actually benefit, if anyone at all. It is time to begin Rethinking the End Game.

The way to begin a real peace process in the Middle East is to have a viable model that ensures the greatest number of people -- of all religions and ethnicities -- have access to fundamental rights and services, while internalizing the importance of tolerance, pluralism and respect for the rule of law. Z STREET places those goals in the analysis first - they are the end game - and wouldn't it make more sense to have the geopolitical configuration facilitate the goal, rather than be the goal? It’s time to reset the way people think about the Middle East peace process.

That is why, on May 4th, Z STREET is bringing together experts who will explain the reality of the immediate future, and how best to improve that. We will see it from the perspective of human and civil rights, from the economic standpoint, and from the cultural perspective. We will also learn how it will play out in terms of the current vast upheaval in the Arab world. The experts include Arabic Studies professor Mordechai Kedar, Arab Israeli journalist Khaled abu Toameh, Middle East expert Steven J. Rosen, economist and author George Gilder, human rights activist Nonie Darwish, Middle East specialist Harold Rhode and Middle East political economist Gal Luft.

These different perspectives, woven together by experts, will offer options for how to successfully move forward on a peace process that can actually lead to real improvements in the lives of all the people who live there. And that can lead to peace.

Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. Conference starts at 9:45 a.m.

Z STREET presents
RETHINKING THE END GAME: Improving Lives in the Middle East
Wednesday, May 4th, Congressional Auditorium,
US Capitol Visitors Center

AGENDA

9:00 - 9:45 a.m. REGISTRATION
9:45 - 10:00 a.m. WELCOME AND OPENING REMARKS, Lori Lowenthal Marcus, president Z STREET
10:00 - 10:20 a.m. LIKELY IMPACT ON ISRAEL AND ARAB PALESTINIANS OF “ARAB SPRING”
Harold Rhode
10:20 - 11:20 a.m. FREEDOMS AND DIGNITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST
Harold Rhode, moderator
Khaled abu Toameh
Nonie Darwish
Mordechai Kedar
11:20 - 11:45 a.m. BREAK
11:45 - 12:45 p.m. PROSPERITY AND DIGNITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST
Harold Rhode, moderator
George Gilder
Gal Luft
Steven J. Rosen
12:45 - 1:15 p.m. COMBINED PANEL DISCUSSION AND Q AND A on
Likely impact on Arab Palestinians of UN declaration of Palestinian State in 2011
1:15 p.m. CLOSING REMARKS
Lori Lowenthal Marcus
Refreshments (dietary laws observed) will be available

REGISTRATION HERE: http://www.zstreet.org/regform.htm

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