Events Detail

Meyrav Wurmser, Director of Hudson's Center for Middle East Policy,

held a foreign policy discussion and luncheon on

U.S.-Israeli Relations at a Crossroads?

Challenges to the Special Relationship

Thursday, October 8th

10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Over the past sixty-five years, Israel and the United States have enjoyed a “special relationship” based on diplomatic and military ties as well as a range of economic, technological, academic, religious, and other bonds. Yet the elections of President Barack Obama in the United States and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel have opened a new chapter in the relations between the two allies.

Although both Israel and the United States continue to share a deep friendship and see eye-to-eye on most strategic issues, they have differences of opinion on some of the most crucial strategic questions facing both countries. The United States and Israel share a common concern about Iranian nuclear ambitions, yet differences remain on an optimal solution to the problem. Americans are uncertain and divided about the best approach.

In light of this new climate, will Israel’s special relationship with the United States — which is a key cornerstone of Israel’s National Security Strategy — suffer immensely? Does this new source of fissure represent a lasting change in U.S.-Israeli relations?

             Ambassador Michael Oren

   Weinstein, Miller, Feith, Levy, Lieber

        Shulsky, Wurmser, Makovsky,

                Indyk, and Abrams

10:00 – 11:00 AM: Keynote Address: Ambassador Michael Oren, Israeli Ambassador to the United States

Introduction: Meyrav Wurmser, Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute

11:00 AM – 12:30 PM: "The War of Narratives: Do the Obama Administration and Israel Have Different Views of History?"

Aaron David Miller, Public Policy Fellow, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars

Douglas Feith, Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute

Robert Lieber, Professor of Government and International Affairs, Georgetown University

Daniel Levy, Senior Research Fellow, the New American Foundation

Moderator: Kenneth Weinstein, CEO, Hudson Institute

12:30 - 1:00 PM:  Luncheon

1:00 - 2:30 PM: "The Battle to Define the 'Pro-Israel Camp:' Will the Current Crisis Split the American Jewish Community?"

Martin Peretz, Editor in Chief, The New Republic

Peter Beinart, Professor of Journalism and Political Science, CUNY; Senior Fellow, New America Foundation; Senior Political Writer, Daily Beast

Jay Lefkowitz, Senior Partner, Kirkland and Ellis

Gabriel Schoenfeld, Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute and Former Senior Editor, Commentary

Tevi Troy, Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute

Moderator: Amy Kauffman, Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute

2:30 - 4:00 PM: "The Divergence of Peace and Security Policies?"

Ambassador Martin Indyk,Vice President for Foreign Policy, Brookings Institution

Elliott Abrams, Senior Fellow for Middle Eastern Studies, Council on Foreign Relations

David Wurmser, CEO, Delphi Global Analysis Group

Michael Makovsky, Foreign Policy Director, Bipartisan Policy Center

Moderator: Abe Shulsky, Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute

 

Betsy and Walter Stern Conference Center

Hudson Institute

 1015 15th Street, NW

Sixth Floor

Washington, DC 20036

Hudson Institute wishes to thank the Legacy Heritage Fund for its generous support which has made this event possible.