The University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy on behalf of the Faculty of Arts & Science and in collaboration with IE University’s School of Politics, Economics & Global Affairs, and Sciences Po’s Paris School of International Affairs hosted a series of six live webinars on the history, politics and current conflict in the Middle East.
Moderated by recognized journalists, each session featured highly informed academics and practitioners, chosen for their unique expertise and ability to model thoughtful, respectful dialogue.
All episodes were recorded April - May, 2024.
All episodes:
Episode 1 Gaza, the key to war and peace in the Middle East
Episode 2 History and Politics of Israel and Palestine Part I: 1881 - 1967
Episode 3 History and Politics of Israel and Palestine Part II: 1967 - today
Episode 4 Regional and global interests and influences
Episode 5 The Israel - Hamas war: architecture of diplomacy
Episode 6 The Israel - Hamas war: paradigms for lasting peace
Episode 1
Episode 2
A discussion of the conflicts, politics and narratives of formative decades of Palestinian and Israeli history
Speakers:
Bernard Avishai, Visiting Professor of Government, Dartmouth College
Ezzedine Fishere, Senior Lecturer of Middle East Politics, Dartmouth College
Moderator:
Emily Bazelon, staff writer, New York Times Magazine; Truman Capote Fellow for Creative Writing and Law, Yale Law School
Episode 3
Continuing from last episode, panelists discuss conflicts, peace-making efforts, and consequences of events leading to the present day
Speakers:
Bernard Avishai, Visiting Professor of Government, Dartmouth College
Ezzedine Fishere, Senior Lecturer of Middle East Politics, Dartmouth College
Moderator:
Emily Bazelon, staff writer, New York Times Magazine; Truman Capote Fellow for Creative Writing and Law, Yale Law School
Episode 4
How American and Middle East states’ interests and behaviour affect the Israeli-Palestinian conflict historically and today
Speakers:
Elham Fakhro, Research Associate, Chatham House Middle East and North Africa program; Research Fellow, Exeter University's Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies.
Hussein Ibish, Senior Resident Scholar, Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington.
Daniel Kurtzer, S. Daniel Abraham Professor of Middle East Policy Studies, Princeton School of Public and International Affairs; former United States Ambassador to Israel and Egypt
Nimrod Novik, former Senior Policy Advisor to the late Prime Minister Shimon Peres; former Special Ambassador of State of Israel and an Advisor to Israeli National Security Council
Moderator:
Cristina Gallach, former UN Under-Secretary-General; former Spanish State-Secretary for Foreign Affairs
Episode 5
An exploration of diplomatic initiatives that might resolve immediate crisis and reduce cost of the conflict
Speakers:
Daniel Byman, Director, Security Studies Program and Professor, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service
Thomas Fletcher, Principal, Hertford College, Oxford University; former United Kingdom Ambassador to Lebanon
Julie Trottier, Director of research, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, France
Moderator:
Steve Paikin, Canadian journalist and host of TV Ontario’s flagship current affairs show, The Agenda with Steve Paikin
Episode 6
Are any proposals for permanent peace more realistic today than in the last 50 years? What leverage do outsiders have and what steps can the two parties take to achieve peace and stability?
Speakers:
Itamar Rabinovich, Professor Emeritus, Middle Eastern History, Tel Aviv University; former Israeli Ambassador to United States.
Shibley Telhami, Anwar Sadat Professor for Peace and Development, University of Maryland
Moderator:
Steve Paikin, Canadian journalist and host of TV Ontario’s flagship current affairs show, The Agenda with Steve Paikin