12:00 PM - 1:15 PM

Town Hall Meeting - The Holy Land's Historic and Religious Significance

As the birthplace of Judaism and Christianity, the Holy Land’s three millennia of rich, documented history are of great importance to these faiths. From Jerusalem to the Galilee, Israel’s Biblical landmarks provide a historic and religious foundation for deep personal connections rooted in faith.

• Rabbi Efrem Goldberg

  Senior Rabbi, Boca Raton Synagogue

• Reverend Dr. Tony Crisp

  Founder and Chairman of the Board, The Olive Tree Foundation USA; Director, Center for Holy Land Studies at Tennessee Temple University

12:00 PM - 1:15 PM

Town Hall Meeting - The Long Kiss Goodnight? The Future of Israel-EU Relations

As a socialist experiment and with the memory of the Holocaust fresh, the new Jewish state was championed in Europe as the underdog. However, Israel’s victory in 1967 transformed it in the eyes of many Europeans from the plucky survivor into a regional power. Today, Europe is facing economic problems and moving to the left and experiencing a surge in Muslim population. Will these trends mark the end of the EU and UK’s relationship with Israel or can it be salvaged?

• Mr. Alan Mendoza

  Co-Founder and Executive Director,, The Henry Jackson Society

12:00 PM - 1:15 PM

Town Hall Meeting - National Service: A Key to Israel's Economic Success

An essential element in Israel’s emergence as a start-up nation can be traced to the fact that every 18-year-old Israeli is obligated to spend a couple of years in the military. The responsibility, maturity and practical skills that young Israelis acquire during their national service play a crucial role in their success as entrepreneurs and high-tech innovators. What skills and experience do Israelis gain through their compulsory national service? Can the United States learn from Israel’s success and adapt it to our culture and norms?

• Mr. Dany Gliksberg

  Deputy Director, Ayalim

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Panel Discussion - The United States and Israel: Emerging Partners in Energy

Vast gas fields recently found off Israel’s shores present both new opportunities and challenges for the Jewish state as it emerges as an important energy player. This finding, made possible thanks to cooperation between Israeli and American companies, also creates a new platform for strategic cooperation with the United States. America and Israel share the goal of reduced dependence on oil. They have already embarked on joint programs in the energy arena and have prepared the groundwork for enhanced cooperation.

• The Honorable Eli Groner

  Minister for Economic Affairs, Embassy of Israel

• Dr. Michael Leigh

  Senior Advisor, The German Marshall Fund

• Mr. Bini Zomer

  Head of Government Relations, Noble Energy

• Mr. Eric Danko

  Assistant Director, Policy and Government Affairs, AIPAC

12:00 PM - 1:15 PM

Town Hall Meeting - The Good News in the Middle East

The threats from Iran and the changes in the Middle East caused by the Arab revolts have some Israel-watchers worried about the country’s future. In fact, the Jewish state’s military and economic power has never been greater, while the Arab states around it are growing weaker by the day, beset by internal struggles and unprecedented economic woes. Israel continues to enjoy the crucial support of the United States, as it builds increasingly close ties to countries like Greece, Cyprus and India.

• Mr. David Horovitz

  Founding Editor, The Times of Israel

12:00 PM - 1:15 PM

Town Hall Meeting - Forced to Flee: The Middle East's Jewish Refugees

For political purposes, the Palestinians have for decades emphasized the issue of their “refugees,” whose number grows exponentially each year by including generations born and raised in lands far beyond Israel’s borders. However, the world has largely ignored the plight of Jewish refugees forced to flee Arab countries where they held no religious rights and were oppressed.

• Mr. Tom Sawicki

  Director of Programming, Jerusalem Office of AIPAC

12:00 PM - 1:15 PM

Town Hall Meeting - Iran in 2013: What to Watch

Despite biting sanctions that are increasingly taking their toll on the Iranian economy, Tehran continues to pursue a nuclear weapons capability. With Israel and the United States having vowed that all options are on the table for containing this threat, the issue is likely to remain one of the world’s foremost foreign policy challenges in 2013. What are the key developments likely to determine the outcome of this dangerous situation?

• Mr. Steven Beckerman

  Assistant Director, Policy and Government Affairs, AIPAC

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Panel Discussion - Iron Dome: A Revolution in Missile Defense

Little more than a flimsy plan at the Israeli Defense Ministry just seven years ago, the Iron Dome missile defense system is now hailed as a groundbreaking innovation and an embodiment of the unique relationship between Israel and the United States. The system developed in Israel won early praise from the Obama administration and Congress, which has approved hundreds of millions of dollars to aid in its production and deployment. This investment has already paid off: During Operation Pillar of Defense last November, Iron Dome successfully intercepted more than 400 rockets fired from Gaza toward Israel.

• Lt. Col. (Ret.) Yair Ramati

  Director, Israel Missile Defense Organization

• Mr. Gideon Weiss

  Vice President, Business Development and Marketing, Rafael USA

• Brig.-Gen. (Res.) Dr. Danny Gold

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

• Mr. Jeff Kuhnreich

  Deputy Director, Policy and Government Affairs, AIPAC

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Panel Discussion - Our Stories: The Remarkable Diversity of AIPAC's Staff

In recent years, the pro-Israel movement has experienced remarkable growth, and it increasingly includes non-Jewish members who are resolutely committed to bolstering U.S.-Israel ties. Nowhere is that diversity more evident than on the staff of AIPAC’s Leadership Development Department, which includes members of the African American, Mormon, Gay, Hispanic, Jewish and Christian communities. What motivated these young leaders to devote themselves full time to the pro-Israel movement by working at AIPAC?

• Mr. Vincent Foster

  National Field Organizer, AIPAC

• Ms. Sarah Spillar

  Campus Engagement Director, AIPAC

• Mr. Gregory Smith

  National Field Organizer and Strategic Advisor, AIPAC

• Ms. Lena Koncha

  National Field Organizer, AIPAC

• Mr. Jonathan Kessler

  Leadership Development Director, AIPAC

12:00 PM - 1:15 PM

Town Hall Meeting - Missed Opportunities to Reach Israeli-Palestinian Peace

An Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement seems as elusive now as ever, two decades after the Madrid Conference and the signing of the Oslo Accords. Why, despite persistent efforts and an acknowledgment of the general outline for such an agreement, have the parties failed to attain a negotiated peace?

• Dr. Raphael Danziger

  Senior Research Advisor, Policy and Government Affairs, AIPAC

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Panel Discussion - UNRWA: Part of the Problem in the Arab-Israeli Conflict

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) began providing assistance to Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon in the wake of the 1948-1949 Arab-Israeli war. Since then, the organization has survived wars, coups, uprisings and even the creation of the first-ever Palestinian governing body—the Palestinian Authority—which operates in parallel with UNRWA institutions. However, few have asked why the U.N. still operates schools, hospitals and clinics for “refugees” six decades after the partition of Mandatory Palestine.

• Dr. Asaf Romirowsky

  Adjunct Scholar, Foundation for Defense of Democracies; Adjunct Scholar, The Middle East Forum

• The Honorable Einat Wilf

  Member of Knesset, Ha'atzmaut

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Panel Discussion - U.S.- Israel Cooperation in Homeland Security

Both the United States and Israel have been forced to invest vast resources in the arena of homeland security and the fight against terrorism. What’s more, in this digital age, terrorism is no longer limited to bombings and airplane hijackings. Attacks on computer networks and government information systems are a growing worldwide threat. What are the latest threats that the United States and Israel face? What is the Israeli contribution to American counterterrorism efforts? How are the two countries cooperating to counter cyber-terrorism?

• The Honorable Michael McCaul (R-TX)

  Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security,, United States House of Representatives

• Dr. Gregg Rickman

  Deputy Director, Policy and Government Affairs, AIPAC

12:00 PM - 12:30 PM

Meet the Experts - Entrepreneurial Oasis: How Israel Flourishes as an Innovation Hotbed

With a highly skilled workforce and culture of creativity and entrepreneurship, Israeli companies are producing technologies transforming the lives of people around the globe. How has this occurred amid near constant war? What are the next big ideas coming out of Israel and how will they change the world? AIPAC TV will explore these issues in-depth with the head of the Start Up Nation Institute and a pair of Israeli entrepreneurs

• Ms. Tzameret Fuerst

  Chief Executive Officer, PrePex

• Dr. Boaz Almog

  Researcher, Tel Aviv University

• Ms. Wendy Singer

  Executive Director, Start Up Nation Institute

• Ms. Marilyn Rosenthal

  Deputy National Political Director, AIPAC

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Film Festival - Film Festival: Quarter to Eight

General Mordechai Hod was a colleague and dear friend of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and other legendary pioneers of Israel: David Ben-Gurion, Golda Meir, Itzhak Rabin, Ezer Weizmann, Levi Eshkol, Moshe Dayan, and Shimon Peres. His story and theirs are all woven together in the story of Israel’s remarkable birth and survival, as depicted in the film. Hod was a founder and commander of the Israeli Air Force and its first pilot. During the 1967 Six-Day War, he implemented an innovative, simple, logical strategy that won the war and saved Israel from destruction. Hod later became the president of Israel’s airline, El Al; founder of an air cargo company and CEO of Israel Aircraft Industries. He was a man who took risks worthy of the best Hollywood action heroes, and the film tells these stories in his own words and in the words of prime ministers, Nobel Prize winners, family members and friends.

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Panel Discussion - Friends of Faith: Evangelical Christian Support for Israel

Israel is not just an issue of concern to the Jewish community. Faithful Christians across the United States are expressing support for Israel, and in recent years, growing numbers, especially among evangelical Christians, have become involved in advocacy on behalf of the U.S.-Israel relationship.

• Reverend Aaron Roberts

  Founder/Chairman, Victory Life International

• The Honorable Jeff Duncan (R-SC)

  Member, Foreign Affairs Committee, United States House of Representatives

• French Harmon

  Pastor, First Baptist Church

• Ms. Susan Michael

  U.S.A. Director, International Christian Embassy Jerusalem

12:00 PM - 1:15 PM

Town Hall Meeting - Brotherly Behavior: The Arab States and the Palestinians

Despite expressing support for the Palestinians over the years, the Arab states have done little to integrate Palestinian refugees into their societies and grant them equal rights. And, in recent months, they have been none too eager to absorb the thousands of Palestinians fleeing the violence in Syria. How do the different Arab nations treat their Palestinian residents? What role can they play in resolving the Palestinian refugee issue?

• Ambassador Marc Ginsberg

  Former U.S. Ambassador to Morocco

12:00 PM - 1:30 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.

• Ms. Amy Berelowitz

  Legislative Assistant, Policy and Government Affairs, AIPAC

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Panel Discussion - Pillar of Defense: Israel's Deterrent Capability Post-Gaza

When Israel could no longer tolerate the firing of rockets at its citizens, it launched an operation at the end of 2012 called Pillar of Defense. Israeli military action did not include the invasion of ground forces. Instead, it consisted of surgical air strikes against Hamas and other terrorist organizations within Gaza. What did Israel’s actions accomplish, and will they do anything to prevent the next round of combat?

• Mr. Amos Harel

  Military Correspondent and Defense Analyst, Ha'aretz

• Mr. Charles Perkins

  Assistant Director, Policy and Government Affairs, AIPAC

12:15 PM - 1:00 PM

Meet the Author - Gil Troy: Moynihan's Moment: America's Fight Against Zionism as Racism

On November 10, 1975, the General Assembly of the United Nations passed Resolution 3379, which declared Zionism a form of racism. U.S. Ambassador Daniel Patrick Moynihan delivered a passionate speech against the resolution, declaring that “the United States does not acknowledge, it will not abide by, it will never acquiesce in this infamous act.” The speech made Moynihan a celebrity, but also marked the rise of a more national-interest-driven U.S. foreign policy. In Moynihan’s Moment, McGill historian Gil Troy examines the events leading up to the resolution and traces its impact in the ensuing decades. This session is reserved exclusively for AIPAC's Capitol Club, Senate Club, President's Cabinet, Chairman's Council and Minyan members.

• Mr. Gil Troy

  Professor of History, McGill University

12:30 PM - 1:45 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

12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Panel Discussion - Continental Divide: European Delegitimization of Israel

While the European Union (E.U.) is Israel’s major trading partner, and cultural and scientific ties between the two remain strong, individuals and groups seeking to delegitimize the Jewish state and to destroy these ties are becoming more vocal. Accusations equating Zionism with racism and calls for a financial, academic and cultural boycott are spreading throughout Europe. How does the E.U. view Israel, and just how effective are European efforts to undermine the legitimacy of the Jewish state?

• Dr. Richard Prasquier

  President of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions of France

• Ambassador Daniel Taub

  Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, State of Israel to the Court of St. James

• The Honorable Antonio Lopez-Isturiz White

  Secretary General and Member of the European Parliament, European People's Party

• Mr. Stephen Schneider

  Director, International Affairs, AIPAC

12:30 PM - 1:45 PM

Town Hall Meeting - The European Response to Iran's Nuclear Efforts

Though an Iranian atom bomb is a threat to Europe and European interests no less than it is to the United States and Israel, the continent did little to counter this threat until recently. Short-term economic interests trumped the longer-term threat of a nuclear Iran. Now that the European Union has implemented biting sanctions targeting Tehran’s oil exports and central bank, it is worth examining the history of relations between Europe and Iran.

• Ms. Simone Dinah Hartmann

  Stop The Bomb, Austria

• Mr. Michael Spaney

  Spokesman, Stop The Bomb, Germany

• Ambassador Kristen Silverberg

  President, United Against Nuclear Iran; Former United States Ambassador to the European Union

12:30 PM - 1:45 PM

Town Hall Meeting - Scales of Justice: Israel and the ICC

For decades, Israel’s detractors have attempted to misuse the International Criminal Court (ICC) to attack the Jewish state. The recent United Nations vote granting the Palestinians non-member observer status raises concerns that they may pursue actions against Israel at the ICC. What threats does this pose for the Jewish state? Might the court be a venue for Israel to turn the tables on its opponents?

• Mr. Keath Blatt

  In-House Counsel, AIPAC

• Ambassador Barukh Binah

  Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Israel to the United States

12:30 PM - 1:45 PM

Town Hall Meeting - The Arab-Israeli Conflict: 120 Years in 90 Minutes

Since Israel’s rebirth in 1948, it has faced a complex set of challenges and ongoing threats to its very existence. Despite its dedication to pursuing peace, Israel is continually forced to fight for its survival and to gain acceptance among its Arab neighbors. Knowing the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict is a critical element in understanding the region today.

• Ambassador Brad Gordon

  Director, Policy and Government Affairs, AIPAC

12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Panel Discussion - The Iranian Nuclear File: Past, Present and Future

Iran regards its nuclear program as a source of prestige, a way to ensure the regime’s survival and the key to regional dominance. Despite U.N. resolutions, a campaign of sabotage and ever-increasing economic sanctions, the Islamic Republic has continued enriching uranium and attempted to conceal activities connected to atomic weapons development. It has succeeded in accumulating a significant stockpile of higher-grade uranium, bringing it close to the amount needed for one atomic bomb if refined further.

• Mr. Avi Jorisch

  Founder and Director, Red Cell Intelligence Group

• Mr. Stephen Rademaker

  Former Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control, U.S. Department of State; Principal, The Podesta Group

• Mr. Mark Dubowitz

  Executive Director, Foundation for Defense of Democracies

• Ambassador Jeremy Issacharoff

  Deputy Director General for Strategic Affairs, Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs

12:30 PM - 1:00 PM

Village Stage - This session will explore why it is important to become involved in pro-Israel politics.

The core of AIPAC's mission is building a base of citizen advocates, but many people don't know how to have the greatest impact. AIPAC’s National Political Director Rob Bassin will discuss ways AIPAC members can become more effective advocates. He will provide insight into how pro-Israel Americans can become active in the campaigns of their choice to help candidates understand the challenges facing Israel and how the Jewish state helps bolster U.S. interests abroad.

• Mr. Robert Bassin

  National Political Director, AIPAC

12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Panel Discussion - Foreign Aid: The Vital Role of U.S. Assistance

American leadership around the globe relies heavily on robust foreign aid, which comprises just 1 percent of the federal budget. The United States' military assistance to Israel is vital to ensuring its security and safeguarding America’s interests in the Middle East. Aid to other countries in the region, and the conditions attached to those funds, play key roles in helping the United States pursue its foreign policy goals.

• Mr. Bill Lane

  Washington Director for Government Affairs, Caterpillar

• Ms. Liz Schrayer

  Executive Director, U.S. Global Leadership Coalition

• Ms. Ester Kurz

  Director, Legislative Strategy and Policy, AIPAC

12:30 PM - 1:45 PM

Town Hall Meeting - The Middle East Today: America's Role

Having recently withdrawn troops from Iraq and preparing for a drawdown in Afghanistan, the United States is facing a dizzying array of other serious foreign policy challenges in the Middle East. What is the appropriate American role in the Middle East today? Can the United States best achieve its strategic goals in the region through more or less direct engagement, and if so, what might that entail?

• Dr. Marvin Feuer

  Director, Policy and Government Affairs, AIPAC

• The Honorable Brad Sherman (D-CA)

  Rannking Member, Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade, United States House of Representatives

• The Honorable Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL)

  Chairman, Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Middle East and North Africa, United States House of Representatives

12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Panel Discussion - Toward a Palestinian State: Institution Building in the West Bank

A key factor in the success of a two-state solution will be the ability of Palestinians to take on the responsibilities of statehood. Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad has made some progress in his plan to build the infrastructure necessary for a viable Palestinian state by ensuring security in the West Bank, improving the economy and modernizing government services. But further progress is hampered by a crisis in funding for the Palestinian Authority.

• Ms. Mara Rudman

  Assistant Administrator for the Middle East Bureau, USAID

• Dr. Robert Danin

  Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies, Council on Foreign Relations; Former Head of the Quartet in Jerusalem

12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Panel Discussion - Eastern Interests: China's Middle East Strategy

In recent years, China’s rapid growth and energy-hungry economy have made the nation a power player in Middle East affairs. With regional interests that often conflict with U.S. policy, how will China’s relationships with Israel and Arab nations affect the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and other challenges in the region, ranging from fighting in Syria to Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons?

• Dr. Jonathan Adelman

  Professor, Graduate School of International Studies, University of Denver

• Dr. Dan Blumenthal

  Resident Fellow, American Enterprise Institute

12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Panel Discussion - Terror From Tehran: Iran as a Global Threat

Long defined as the world’s leading sponsor of terrorism, Iran in recent years has not relented in its efforts to target innocent civilians. The country’s Revolutionary Guards were behind a terrorist plot on U.S. soil against the Saudi ambassador. They have also been implicated in attacks on Israeli diplomats in India, Thailand and Azerbaijan. More Americans have been killed by Tehran's proxy army, Hezbollah, than by any other terrorist organization but al-Qaeda. Most recently, Hezbollah was involved in the attack that killed five Israeli tourists in Bulgaria. Furthermore, the terrorist group continues to threaten the entire population of Israel with its growing arsenal of missiles and rockets.

• Dr. Matthew Levitt

  Senior Fellow and Director, Stein Program on Counterterrorism and Intelligence,, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy

• Mr. Ash Jain

  Visiting Fellow, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy

• Mr. Benjamin Weinthal

  European Correspondent, The Jerusalem Post; Research Fellow, Foundation for Defense of Democracies

12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Panel Discussion - Danger Zone: What Regional Turmoil Means for Israel

The Middle East has always been a hotbed of instability, but recent events have pushed the threat level for Israel to the highest point in years. Dangerous developments taking place throughout the region-from bloodshed in Syria, to Iran’s push for nuclear weapons, to increasingly strained ties with Egypt-are having a dramatic impact on Israel’s security.

• Dr. Michael Singh

  Managing Director, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy

• Mr. Ran Segev*

  Director of National Security Doctrine Division, Ministry of Strategic Affairs, Israel

• Dr. Charles Freilich

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

12:30 PM - 1:45 PM

Town Hall Meeting - The Muslim Brotherhood: Its Origin and Ideology

The Muslim Brotherhood emerged victorious in the first parliamentary election held in post-Mubarak Egypt. In the presidential election held just four months later, its candidate, Mohamed Morsi, came out on top. Since then, he has made bold moves to consolidate power, angering the liberal and secular opposition and worrying the West. What is the history of the Muslim Brotherhood, and what are its motivations? How does the group view Israel and the United States, and what could this mean for the future of the region?

• Mr. Eric Trager

  Next Generation Fellow, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy

12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Panel Discussion - Jordan: The Hashemite Kingdom and the Arab Revolts

Jordan is a critical ally in the Middle East, but the Kingdom is facing considerable challenges in the wake of the “Arab Spring.” In addition, the Hashemite Kingdom is struggling to deal with a growing influx of Syrian refugees, who have strained the government’s limited resources.

• Mr. David Schenker

  Aufzien Fellow and Director, Program on Arab Politics, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy

• Dr. Colin Winston

  Senior Analyst and Deputy Director, Policy and Government Affairs, AIPAC

12:30 PM - 1:45 PM

Town Hall Meeting - Supplying Sustenance: Threats to Food Security in a Changing World

Most of us seldom worry that we might not have food on the table to feed ourselves and our families. But in many countries, including the United States, there are people who fret daily about physical and economic access to food. And, this problem may only get worse. As the global population grows and incomes in poor countries rise, so, too, does the demand for food. What’s more, terrorist organizations have identified the West’s food supply as the most vulnerable of all potential targets of attack, leading to fears of agroterrorism.

• Professor Daniel Chamovitz

  Director, Manna Center for Plant Biosciences, Tel Aviv University

12:30 PM - 1:45 PM

Town Hall Meeting - Under Fire: How Israelis Cope

Israelis throughout the country, and especially those who reside near the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, live under the constant threat of rocket attack. How do citizens of Israel cope with life under fire? How does the current security situation affect Israelis' feelings about what it means to live in a secure Jewish state?

• Ms. Orly Gal

  Executive Director, Israel Trauma Center for Victims of Terror and War (NATAL)

• Mr. David Kreizelman

  Foreign Policy Associate, Jerusalem Office of AIPAC

1:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Village Stage - Internal Divide: The Palestinian Split and its Impact on Israel

The Palestinians are a house divided, ruled by two rival factions: the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and the terrorist group Hamas in Gaza. Hamas’ continued violence and Palestinian Authority Chairman’s Mahmoud Abbas’ efforts at the U.N. and refusal to negotiate with Israel have compound the difficulty of reaching an Israeli-Palestinian agreement. Leading Israeli journalist and expert on the Palestinians Avi Issacharoff will examine the current status of Palestinian relations with Israel

• Mr. Avi Issacharoff

  Middle East analyst for Walla and The Tower

1:15 PM - 2:00 PM

Meet the Author - Yehuda Avner: The Prime Ministers: An Intimate Narrative of Israeli Leadership

The Prime Ministers is the first and only insider account of Israeli politics from the founding of the Jewish state to the near-present day. Written by Yehuda Avner, advisor and speechwriter to five Israeli prime ministers, it reveals stunning details of life-and-death decision making top-secret military operations and high-level peace negotiations. Mr. Avner shares his firsthand experiences from the prime minister’s office, ranging from the preparations for Operation Entebbe to meetings between Prime Minister Begin and Egyptian President Sadat before they signed the Camp David Accords. This session is reserved exclusively for AIPAC's Capitol Club, Senate Club, President's Cabinet, Chairman's Council and Minyan members.

• Ambassador Yehuda Avner

  Former Advisor to Israel's Prime Ministers;, Former Israeli Ambassador to Australia and the United Kingdom

1:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Village Stage - Innovation Hotbed: How Israeli Technology is Changing the World

In the early years of the state when they were seeking to make the desert bloom, Israelis developed groundbreaking irrigation systems. Today, Israel is a hotbed of innovation for the digital age. From medicine to communications to computing, Israelis are creating technologies that are improving the lives of billions of people. Wendy Senor Singer, executive director of the new Start Up Nation Institute will explore how Israel has become a leading center of technological achievement.

• Ms. Wendy Singer

  Executive Director, Start Up Nation Institute