12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Panel Discussion - Prospects for Peace: The Past and Future of Israeli-Palestinian Relations

Twenty years have passed since the signing of the Oslo Accords on the White House lawn, and yet Israel and the Palestinians seem further from a comprehensive peace agreement than ever. The failure of the Camp David negotiations in 2000 due to Palestinian intransigence and the subsequent eruption of the violent Second Intifada stymied the peace process for many years. And, now that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has pursued Palestinian statehood at the U.N., rather than through negotiations, many Israelis question the Palestinians’ true intentions.

• Dr. Marvin Feuer

  Director, Policy and Government Affairs, AIPAC

• Dr. David Makovsky

  Ziegler Distinguished Fellow and Director, Project on the Middle East Peace Process, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy

• Mr. Ghaith al-Omari

  Executive Director, American Task Force on Palestine

• Dr. Aaron David Miller

  Public Policy Scholar, Middle East Program, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Panel Discussion - From Start-Up Nation to Leading Nation: Israel's Economic Expansion

Despite being surrounded by adversaries, many of whom will not engage in trade with Israel, the Jewish state has managed to turn a land with few natural resources into an oasis of entrepreneurship and business savvy. And, as Israel’s economy has flourished, American businesses have realized the potential for cooperation and investment. In the coming decades, what can Israel do to take the next leap from a start-up nation to one of the globe’s economic leaders? What are areas of potential growth for U.S.-Israeli economic cooperation?

• Ms. Wendy Singer

  Executive Director, Start Up Nation Institute

• Mr. Steven Schoenfeld

  Founder and Editor-in-Chief, IsraelStrategist.com; Founder BlueStar Global Investors LLC

• Mr. Alon Ozer

  Senior Investment Officer at Foundation of The Greater Miami Jewish Federation

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Panel Discussion - From Mubarak to Morsi: Egypt's Evolution

In his first year as the head of post-Mubarak Egypt, President Mohamed Morsi has taken bold steps, granting himself sweeping authority to rein in the military and further the agenda of the Muslim Brotherhood. But he has also acted pragmatically in dealing with domestic criticism and foreign policy crises, such as last November’s Gaza conflict. How have Morsi’s moves consolidated his power over Egypt? What do these changes mean for the Egyptian government and the future of the country’s political system?

• Mr. Brian Katulis

  Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress

• Dr. Steven Cook

  Hasib J. Sabbagh Senior Fellow for Middle Eastern Studies, Council on Foreign Relations

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Panel Discussion - Russian Relations: A Paradoxical Approach to the Middle East

Dating back to the Soviet era, Russia has a long and at times paradoxical history of involvement in the Middle East. Moscow has increasingly exerted itself as a counterweight to U.S. efforts in the region by blocking actions against Syria and Iran at the U.N., while signaling a desire to deepen direct ties with Israel. How should the United States interpret Russia’s actions and involvement in the region?

• Mr. Ilan Berman

  Vice President, American Foreign Policy Council

• Mr. Mark Levin

  Executive Direector, National Council on Soviet Jewry

• Dr. Ariel Cohen

  Senior Research Fellow for Russian and Eurasian Studies and International Energy Policy, The Heritage Foundation

12:00 PM - 1:15 PM

Town Hall Meeting - History of the U.S.-Israel Relationship

Just 11 minutes after Israel declared its independence, President Harry Truman recognized the Jewish state on May 15, 1948. More than six decades have passed since that critical moment. The U.S.-Israel relationship has grown to be one of America’s most strategically important alliances, based on mutual values and interests. How did the U.S.-Israel alliance evolve to the point where it is today? How have various U.S. presidents and Israeli prime ministers worked together over the years? Where have there been differences of opinion between friends, and how have they been overcome?

• Dr. Stephen Berk

  Henry and Sally Schaffer Professor of Holocaust and Jewish Studies, Union College

• Ms. Abigail Cable

  Legislative Assistant and Department Coordinator, Policy and Goverment Affairs, AIPAC

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Panel Discussion - The Palestinians and the U.N.: A New Path to Pressure Israel?

The Palestinians have always found a sympathetic ear at the U.N., where the Arab countries and Third World member states form an “automatic majority” that is disposed to support them and demonize Israel. Thus, it was unsurprising when the General Assembly voted last November to upgrade the status of the Palestinians to that of a non-member observer state, despite U.S. and Israeli objections. What are the ramifications of the Palestinian upgrade? Is it any different from previous U.N. resolutions? What further steps might the Palestinians take at the U.N. and other international bodies?

• Mr. Hillel Neuer

  Executive Director, U.N. Watch, Geneva

• Mr. Gil Troy

  Professor of History, McGill University

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Panel Discussion - Sanctions Report Card: Can Economic Pressure Stop Iran's Nuclear Program?

U.S. sanctions against Iran have been in place since 1979, following the Islamic Revolution and seizure of the American embassy. But only in the past few years have sanctions aimed at forcing Iran to stop its nuclear program become significant. The Iranian economy is now reeling, with energy exports falling roughly 75 percent, the national currency plummeting in value and inflation rapidly climbing. Yet, Tehran continues to forge ahead with its nuclear program. The question now is whether the sanctions can influence Iranian decision making before the Islamic Republic achieves a breakout capacity.

• The Honorable Ted Deutch (D-FL)

  Ranking Member, Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Middle East and South Asia, United States House of Representatives

• Ambassador Brad Gordon

  Director, Policy and Government Affairs, AIPAC

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Panel Discussion - New Allies: Israel and the Caucasus Region

With little fanfare, Israel has been working quietly to cultivate close ties with an array of countries in the Caucasus. From predominantly Shiite Muslim Azerbaijan to Georgia, birthplace of thousands of Israeli immigrants, the Jewish state has been cementing relationships encompassing the economic, energy and security spheres by building on Israel’s technological know-how.

• Dr. Brenda Shaffer

  Senior Lecturer, University of Haifa

• Dr. Svante Cornell

  Research Director of the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute & Silk Road Studies Program

• Ambassador Elin Suleymanov

  Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the United States

• Mr. Charles Perkins

  Assistant Director, Policy and Government Affairs, AIPAC

12:00 PM - 1:15 PM

Town Hall Meeting - Building Up Jerusalem: Building Near Israel's Capital

Israel’s recent announcement that it would proceed with building in areas in and around Jerusalem has attracted international attention and sparked diplomatic tensions between the Jewish state and other countries. In past agreements, both the Israelis and the Palestinians determined that the status of Jerusalem and West Bank settlements are issues that would be relegated to final status peace negotiations. Why, then, are the construction projects so controversial? More generally, what are the different viewpoints on building in Jerusalem and the West Bank?

• Mr. Tom Sawicki

  Director of Programming, Jerusalem Office of AIPAC

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Film Festival - Film Festival: Orchestra of Exiles

One Polish violinist. 70 Jewish musicians. Together they fought the Nazis with the only weapon they had: Music. From Academy Award® nominated director Josh Aronson, Orchestra of Exiles reveals the dramatic story of Bronislaw Huberman, the celebrated Polish violinist who rescued some of the world's greatest musicians from Nazi Germany and then created one of the world's greatest orchestras, the Palestine Philharmonic which would become the Israeli Philharmonic.

• Mr. Josh Aaronson

  Writer, Director and Producer, Orchestra of Exiles

12:00 PM - 1:15 PM

Town Hall Meeting - Timelines and Red Lines: The Debate Over Iran’s Nuclear Program

Speaking before the U.N. last September, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Iran would have enough enriched uranium to make a nuclear bomb by the summer of 2013 and urged the world to draw a clear “red line” to stop it in its tracks. What exactly is the reasoning behind Netanyahu’s red line? Is the timetable he defined still relevant? And, what are the U.S. and Israeli policy options, given the most recent assessments?

• Dr. Shai Feldman

  Director, Crown Center for Middle East Studies, Brandeis University

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Panel Discussion - Atomic Armageddon: The Consequences of a Nuclear Iran

If Iran continues to make progress in its nuclear program at the current rate, then it could have a breakout capability – that is, all of the skills and parts needed to quickly produce a nuclear weapon – sometime later this year. That would likely lead to a cascade of other countries in the region seeking nuclear weapons, a steep rise in the prospects for nuclear terror and a great increase in Iran’s influence in the region. Terrorist groups throughout the Middle East would have unprecedented freedom to act under Tehran’s nuclear umbrella.

• Dr. Michael Makovsky

  Foreign Policy Director, Bipartisan Policy Center

• Dr. Emily Landau

  Senior Research Associate and Director, Arms Control and Regional Security Project, The Institute for National Security Studies, Israel

• Mr. Avi Jorisch

  Founder and Director, Red Cell Intelligence Group

12:00 PM - 1:15 PM

Town Hall Meeting - Relations With Riyadh: The United States and Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is both an important American ally and the birthplace of Osama bin Laden. It is the second-largest supplier of oil to the United States, but also the epicenter of Wahhabi radicalism. What are the origins of the close ties between the Saudi Kingdom and the United States? How have recent events in the Middle East shaped U.S.-Saudi relations? And, what effect might the pending succession crisis in Saudi Arabia have on these relations?

• Mr. Simon Henderson

  Baker Fellow and Director of Gulf and Energy Policy Program, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy

• Dr. Joshua Teitelbaum

  Professor of Modern Middle Eastern History, Department of Middle Eastern Studies; Senior Research Fellow, BESA Center for Strategic Studies

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Panel Discussion - Wild West: Dangerous Developments in Sinai

After capturing the Sinai Peninsula in 1967’s Six-Day War, Israel returned it to Egypt as part of a peace agreement. While it has served as a buffer between the Jewish state and its neighbor to the west, growing lawlessness in the Sinai has increased the flow of weapons and other contraband to Gaza, and al-Qaeda is reportedly working to gain a foothold there. Further deterioration could impact Israel’s security and even spark renewed hostilities between Egypt and Israel.

• Mr. Jonathan Harris

  Assistant Director, Policy and Government Affairs, AIPAC

• Mr. Ehud Ya'ari

  Lafer International Fellow, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy; Middle East Commentator

12:00 PM - 1:15 PM

Town Hall Meeting - Faces and Races 2014: AIPAC's Political Analysis

President Obama remains in the White House, and the midterm elections of 2014 will determine which party controls the House and Senate. The incumbents and candidates running for office will play critical roles in setting the nation's agenda and steering the course for the U.S.-Israel relationship.

• Mr. Ed Miller

  Deputy National Political Director, AIPAC

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Panel Discussion - Hamas at a Crossroads: The Terrorist Group Amid the Arab Revolts

The drastic changes sweeping the Arab world have placed Hamas at a historic crossroads. The Palestinian terrorist group has been emboldened by the rise of like-minded Islamists in Egypt and Tunisia. Distancing themselves from the beleaguered Assad regime in Syria, Hamas’ leaders have been embraced by the Sunni Arab world and Turkey. Nonetheless, they maintain close relations with Iran and receive a steady flow of arms from the Islamic Republic. How do regional developments affect Hamas’ attitude toward Israel? Do these developments make reconciliation with Fatah more or less likely? How should the international community deal with a strengthened Hamas?

• Dr. Jonathan Schanzer

  Vice President, Research, Foundation for Defense of Democracies

• Dr. Daniel Byman

  Senior Fellow and Research Director, The Brookings Instittution;, Professor, Security Studies Program, Georgetown University

• Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Michael Herzog

  Milton Fine International Fellow, The Washington Institute For Near East Policy

• Ms. Leah Odinec

  Assistant Director, Policy and Government Affairs, AIPAC

12:00 PM - 1:15 PM

Panel Discussion - Politics in Perspective: The House Leaders on Foreign Policy

As Israel confronts escalating challenges on its borders and across the region, the United States will play a central role in addressing the issues impacting the Jewish state's safety and security.

• The Honorable Ed Royce (R-CA)

  Chairman, Foreign Affairs Committee, United States House of Representatives

• The Honorable Eliot Engel (D-NY)

  Ranking Member, Foreign Affairs Committee, United States House of Representatives

• Mr. David Gillette

  Deputy Director, Policy and Government Affairs, AIPAC

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Panel Discussion - Ballot Impact: Israel’s Recent Elections

Israel’s recent elections led to changes in the Knesset and shook up the governing coalition. How will the results affect key foreign policy issues such as Israel’s approach to the Iranian nuclear program, the peace process with the Palestinians and the Jewish state’s relations with the United States?

• Mr. David Horovitz

  Founding Editor, The Times of Israel

• Dr. Jonathan Rynhold

  Schusterman Visiting Professor of Israel Studies, The George Washington University

• Ms. Devorah Patt

  Director, AIEF in Israel, Jerusalem Office of AIPAC

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Panel Discussion - The Struggle to Secure Israel on Campus: 1956-2016

Young people are exposed to levels of anti-Israel animus virtually without parallel in contemporary American society. How has the campaign to discredit Israel on America’s college campuses changed—and in what ways has it remained the same—over the past several decades? How have our own approaches to campus challenges evolved, and what are the most effective strategies for dealing with Israel’s campus detractors?

• Mr. David Brog

  Executive Director, Christians United for Israel

• Mr. Jarrod Jordan

  Executive Director, Vanguard Leadership Group

• Mr. David Bernstein

  Executive Director, The David Project

• Mr. Jonathan Kessler

  Leadership Development Director, AIPAC

12:00 PM - 1:15 PM

Town Hall Meeting - A History of Modern Zionism

The founder of Zionism, Theodor Herzl, wrote in 1902: “If you will it, it is no dream.” Forty-six years later, Herzl’s dream of a modern-day Jewish state in the ancient land of Israel became a reality.

• Dr. Natan Sachs

  Fellow, The Brookings Institution

12:15 PM - 12:45 PM

Meet the Experts - Getting Involved: Why College Students Engage in Pro-Israel Activism

College campuses have become centers of activity against the Jewish state, ranging from protests to conferences calling for boycott, sanctions and divestment. Amid such animus and with hundreds of available activities on campus, why are students from all backgrounds getting involved with AIPAC? AIPAC TV will speak with pro-Israel campus activists to learn more about what’s taking place on campus today

• Ms. Raquel Saxe

  AIPAC Campus Activist, University of California, Los Angeles

• Mr. Korde Innis

  AIPAC Campus Activist, Morehouse College

• Ms. Morgan Wittenberg

  AIPAC Campus Activist, Tulane University

• Mr. Brian Abrahams

  Midwest Regional Director, AIPAC

12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Panel Discussion - The View From Ramallah: Understanding Public Opinion

Public opinion on the streets of Ramallah and Gaza plays a significant role in empowering and constraining Palestinian leaders. It has both given and deprived them of legitimacy to act in ways that significantly affect the prospects for peacemaking and state building. And yet, the views of the Palestinian street are often a mystery to people in the West. Why are Palestinians divided between Fatah and Hamas? Do they support violence against Israelis? And what is their opinion of the Palestinian Authority’s U.N. strategy?

• Mr. Avi Issacharoff

  Middle East analyst for Walla and The Tower

• Dr. Shibley Telhami

  Anwar Sadat Professor for Peace and Development, University of Maryland; Nonresident Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution

12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Panel Discussion - Maintaining an Edge: Ensuring Israel's Military Superiority

Israel’s Qualitative Military Edge (QME) in the Middle East is vital to the Jewish state’s security and survival. U.S. assistance has helped to maintain that edge over many years.

12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Panel Discussion - Counterterrorism Collaboration: The Unites States and Israel

Israel has had to defend itself against constant terrorist threats for more than six decades, forcing it to become a global leader in counterterrorism. Meanwhile, the United States has invested enormous resources in developing the strategies, technologies and tactics necessary to effectively defend the homeland and combat terrorists globally. Together, America and Israel are working to their mutual benefit to combat terrorism and protect their citizens.

• Ambassador Daniel Benjamin

  Norman E. McCulloch Jr. Director, John Sloan Dickey Center for Understanding, Dartmouth College

• Dr. Gregg Rickman

  Deputy Director, Policy and Government Affairs, AIPAC

12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Panel Discussion - Growing Alliance: Israel and the Latino Community

The largest and fastest growing minority in the United States, Latinos are poised to have an even greater impact on American politics in the years ahead. As a community determined to succeed despite hardships, Latinos in the United States have much in common with the citizens of the Jewish state.

• Ms. Wendy Bruget

  Manager of Client Services, Arnie Berghoff and Associates

• Councilman Daniel Valenzuela

  Councilman, City of Phoenix

• Mr. Santiago Lucero

  Reporter/Anchor at Univision Television Group

12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Panel Discussion - Israel as a Strategic Asset to the United States

The U.S.-Israel alliance is a two-way partnership whose economic, military and political benefits to the United States have been substantial. Israel is a counterweight against radical forces in the Middle East, and it has prevented the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in the region. The Jewish state continues to help the United States deal with security threats, and the two countries work together to develop sophisticated military technologies. Of course, cooperation extends beyond traditional security issues: Israeli civilian innovations, for example, are helping the United States maintain its economic competitiveness around the world.

• Dr. David Pollock

  Kaufman Fellow, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy

• Dr. Michael Eisenstadt

  Senior Fellow and Director, Military and Security Studies Program, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy

• Ms. Amy Berelowitz

  Legislative Assistant, Policy and Government Affairs, AIPAC

12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Panel Discussion - Middle East Media: Covering a Region in Turmoil

At a time when traditional media organizations are cutting back and social media is taking their place, providing an accurate picture of events is becoming increasingly hard. This difficulty is amplified in the Middle East, where long-standing biases, ongoing turmoil and restricted access often result in a misinformed international public.

• Mr. Josh Block

  President & Chief Executive Officer, The Israel Project

• Mr. Gerald Ostrov

  Director, Strategic Communications Center

• Ms. Andrea Levin

  Executive Director, CAMERA

12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Panel Discussion - The Middle East Today: A Post Arab Spring Analysis

The Arab Spring produced tectonic shifts in the Middle East, and these impacts are being felt not just by Israel, but all across the globe. In a remarkably short period, governments have been toppled, military conflicts have erupted, balances of power have shifted and a cloud of uncertainty has enveloped the region.

• Dr. Robert Satloff*

  Executive Director, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy

• Mr. Amos Harel

  Military Correspondent and Defense Analyst, Ha'aretz

• Mr. Bret Stephens

  Foreign Affairs Columnist and Editorial Board Member, The Wall Street Journal

12:30 PM - 1:45 PM

Town Hall Meeting - The Threat From Within: Islamic Radicalism in the United States

Islamic extremists operating within the United States pose a serious risk to America’s security. Acts of domestic terrorism, as well as various attacks that have been thwarted by intelligence agencies and law enforcement, point to the severity of the threat. What can and should the United States do to combat these homegrown radicals?

• Dr. Steven Emerson

  Executive Director, Investigative Project on Terrorism (IPT)

12:30 PM - 1:45 PM

Town Hall Meeting - Israel@65

Israel's achievements during its 65 years of statehood are remarkable. Consider this: When America was 65, slavery was a norm, women did not enjoy equal rights and a civil war was yet to be fought. What drove Israel's founders to create, develop and preserve a nation-state?

• Dr. Kenneth Stein

  Director, Emory Institute for the Study of Modern Israel; President, Center for Israel Education

12:30 PM - 1:45 PM

Town Hall Meeting - Super PACs: Political Past or Future?

The Supreme Court's Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission ruling in 2010 paved the way for the creation of Super PACs, organizations that cannot coordinate with or make contributions to candidates, but can raise and spend unlimited amounts of cash to help elect or defeat candidates for office. Has the Super PAC forever changed the face of American politics, or is it likely to be legislated out of existence sooner rather than later?

• Dr. Stu Rothenberg

  Editor and Publisher, Rothenberg Political Report

• Mr. Paul Begala

  Democratic Strategist and CNN Contributor, CNN

• Mr. Charlie Spies

  Member, Clark Hill PLC

• Ms. Monica Dixon

  Executive Director, Forward Together PAC

• Mr. Jonathan Collegio

  Director of Communications, American Crossroads

12:30 PM - 1:45 PM

Town Hall Meeting - Words That Work: Making the Case for Israel

Renowned political communications expert Dr. Frank Luntz hosts a thought-provoking and dynamic session on the most effective ways for supporters of the U.S.-Israel relationship to communicate winning arguments. Learn how to best counter those who attack Israel or question the Jewish state’s right to exist.

• Dr. Frank Luntz

  CEO, Luntz Global

12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Panel Discussion - Liberal Leanings: The Progressive Case for Israel

Support for the U.S. - Israel relationship across the political spectrum is a key ingredient to ensuring Israel's safety, security and very survival.

• The Honorable John A. Pérez

  Speaker of the Assembly

• Ms. Ann Lewis

  Founder and President, No Limits Foundation; Former Senior Advisor to Hillary Clinton

• Ms. Marilyn Rosenthal

  Deputy National Political Director, AIPAC

12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Panel Discussion - Inside Iran: The Politics of the Islamic Republic

Though it is a theocracy in which authority ultimately lies with unelected religious leaders, Iran also allows its people some say in the decision-making process. Iranians voted last March for a new parliament, handing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei a victory over allies of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in the country’s first election since the fraudulent 2009 presidential contest. And, in June of this year, they will go to the polls to elect a president to succeed Ahmadinejad. What is the structure of the Iranian regime? Who are its key players? Who makes up the opposition, and how powerful is it?

• Mr. Reuel Marc Gerecht

  Senior Fellow, Foundation for Defense of Democracies

• Mr. Alex Vatanka

  Adjunct Scholar, Middle East Institute

• Professor David Menashri

  President of the College of Law and Business in Israel; Professor (Emeritus), Middle Eastern and African History, Tel Aviv University.

12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Panel Discussion - Turkey and Israel: Irreconcilable Differences?

Since 1948, Israeli-Turkish ties have known periods of disagreement and tension, as well as times of cooperation and understanding. But in the past three years, relations have hit a historic low. In 2010, Israeli marines stormed a Turkish ship, to enforce a naval blockade of the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, resulting in the death of nine Turkish activists. Following a 2011 U.N. report that largely exonerated the Jewish state, Ankara expelled Israel’s ambassador and froze military cooperation. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Erdogan has accused Israel of being a terrorist state, even as he cozies up to Hamas.

• Dr. Soner Cagaptay

  Beyer Family Fellow and Director, Turkish Research Program, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy

• Mr. Dan Arbell

  Guest Scholar, The Brookings Institute

• Mr. Alan Makovsky

  Senior Professional Staff Member, House Committee on Foreign Affairs, United States House of Representatives

12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Panel Discussion - State of Flux: U.S.-Egyptian Relations Today

Egypt’s long-standing peace treaty with Israel and the billions it has received in U.S. foreign aid have for decades cemented the country’s status as an American ally in the Middle East. Yet, questions about the future have been raised since the Muslim Brotherhood emerged victorious from parliamentary and presidential elections. Ties between America and this key Middle East country are at their most fragile point in a generation.

• Ms. Carmiel Arbit

  Assistant Director, Policy and Government Affairs, AIPAC

• Dr. Wendy Chamberlain

  President, Middle East Institute

12:30 PM - 1:00 PM

Village Stage - Shooting for Success: The True Story Behind the Iron Dome

Iron Dome, the rocket defense system revolutionizing Israel’s defense capabilities, almost did not get built. While it has proved to be highly effective in shooting down rockets fired by Hamas, the initial idea by Brig. Gen. Dr. Danny Gold faced much skepticism, bureaucratic opposition and lack of funding. Refusing to take no for an answer, Gen. Gold assembled a team of top engineers who made the concept a reality in just five years. Gen. Gold will discuss this unbelievable story.

• Brig.-Gen. (Ret.) Dr. Danny Gold

  CEO & Founder of Gold R&D Technology and Innovation LTD

12:30 PM - 1:45 PM

Town Hall Meeting - Israel and the Diaspora: Challenges and Opportunities

Relations between Israeli Jews and Jews in the Diaspora have undergone significant change over the years. Israel has become a robust, globally competitive economy, while those living in the Diaspora are by and large no longer in danger, making the traditional contract between the sides obsolete. This session explores the different avenues through which Israel and the Jewish Diaspora can interact in light of new realities.

• The Honorable David Siegel

  Consul General of Los Angeles

12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Panel Discussion - Canadian Connection: Growing Ties Between Jerusalem and Ottawa

Since its 1947 vote in favor of the U.N. partition resolution, Canada has maintained a close relationship with Israel. In recent years, Prime Minister Stephen Harper has led Canada to pursue even stronger ties with the Jewish state, increasing cooperative efforts in the areas of trade, education and defense.

• Mr. Shimon Fogel

  Chief Executive Officer, The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, Canada

• The Honorable Irwin Cotler

  Member of the Canadian Parliament, Emeritus Professor of Law at McGill University, and former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

• The Honorable Robert Dechert

  Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs,, House of Commons, Canada

12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Panel Discussion - Post-War Syria: What Might the Future Hold?

Syria hosts a fragmented society of competing factions with unique interests, from the long-oppressed Kurds in the north to the majority Sunni Muslim sect. As a result of continued warfare, the country remains highly unstable. When the fighting stops, will it be possible for these different groups to find ways to share power and co-exist peacefully?

• Mr. Tony Badran

  Research Fellow, Levant, Foundation for Defense of Democracies

• Mr. Andrew Tabler

  Senior Fellow, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy

12:30 PM - 1:45 PM

Town Hall Meeting - City of Gold: The Past, Present and Future of Jerusalem

For thousands of years, Jerusalem has been the spiritual focal point of the Jewish people. For 65 years, the city has been the capital of the modern state of Israel. Explore the Jewish people’s unique bond with Jerusalem, U.S. policy toward the holy city, and the complex questions regarding the city that would need to be resolved as part of any future peace agreement with the Palestinians.

• Mr. Asher Afriat

  Founder and Chief Executive Officer, The Israel Seminar

1:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Village Stage - Faithful Friends: Non-Jewish Leaders of the Pro-Israel Movement

Increasingly, the pro-Israel movement is attracting the participation of respected Christian clergy who lead by example when it comes to supporting the U.S.-Israel relationship. Reverend Steve Ayers is pastor at Hillvue Heights Church, the largest Baptist church in Kentucky, and a politically involved AIPAC key contact who has also visited Israel with the American Israel Education Foundation. He shares his personal experiences and insights on how to grow the pro-Israel movement.

1:15 PM - 2:00 PM

Meet the Author - Charles Freilich: Zion's Dilemmas: How Israel Makes National Security Policy

In Zion's Dilemmas, former Israeli Deputy National Security Advisor Charles Freilich details the history and, in many cases, the chronic inadequacies in the making of Israeli national security policy. A hostile and highly volatile regional environment, Israel’s electoral system and structural peculiarities of the Israeli government and bureaucracy all create profound, ongoing national security problems. At the same time, achievements have been made possible by virtue of rapid and flexible responses, generally pragmatic decision making, effective planning within the defense establishment and the skills and motivation of those involved. This session is reserved exclusively for AIPAC's Capitol Club, Senate Club, President's Cabinet, Chairman's Council and Minyan members.

• Dr. Charles Freilich

  Senior Fellow, International Security Program, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard University; Former Israeli Deputy National Security Advisor

1:15 PM - 1:45 PM

Meet the Experts - No Limit: Growing the Pro-Israel Movement

While building support in Washington is essential, AIPAC is found wherever the future of the U.S.-Israel relationship can be affected. From New York to Napa and everywhere in between, AIPAC is working with activists to build vibrant pro-Israel communities large and small. How is AIPAC cultivating local support for strong international bonds between America and Israel?

• Mr. Brian Abrahams

  Midwest Regional Director, AIPAC

• Mr. Zack Bodner

  Pacific Northwest Regional Director, AIPAC

• Mr. Jonathan Missner

  Director of National Affairs & Development, AIPAC

1:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Village Stage - Shooting for Success: The True Story Behind the Iron Dome

Iron Dome, the rocket defense system revolutionizing Israel’s defense capabilities, almost did not get built. While it has proved to be highly effective in shooting down rockets fired by Hamas, the initial idea by Brig. Gen. Dr. Danny Gold faced much skepticism, bureaucratic opposition and lack of funding. Refusing to take no for an answer, Gen. Gold assembled a team of top engineers who made the concept a reality in just five years. Gen. Gold will discuss this unbelievable story.

• Brig.-Gen. (Res.) Dr. Danny Gold

  CEO & Founder of Gold R&D Technology and Innovation LTD