Where We Are Now and Prospects For Peace and the 2-State Solution – Since the War of 1967 until 2008, there were some other possibilities to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which unfortunately has been rejected by the Palestinian leadership. If we will take, as an example, the historical visit of the former Egyptian President, Anwar Sadat, to Israel in 1977, Sadat told Arafat ‘if you will come with me, you will get a state.’ Not only did Arafat not go, he even considered Sadat an Israeli spy. Menahem Begin in that time suggested to Sadat to take over Gaza. which Sadat refused. Let’s take the 2000 negotiations between Arafat and Ehud Barak at Camp David, while Barak suggested 97% of the occupied territories to be handled by the PA, it was rejected. in 2008, with Ehud Olmert, the land-swap was rejected by Mahoud Abbas. Unfortunately, after 50 years, Israelis and Palestinians are stuck nowhere because the Israeli’s and Palestinians over the past 50 years, relied on the Americans and the Europeans, who not only failed to bring peace – but have also become a part in managing and contributing to the conflict. Many Palestinians believe that the 2-state solution is not viable or will be seen in their lifetimes and lately Palestinians have discussed the prospects of ‘2 nations in 1 homeland.’

This presentation in conversation with Bassem Eid will be led by Rabbi Jason Nevarez.

Bassem Eid is a Jericho-based political analyst, human rights pioneer, and expert commentator on Arab and Palestinian affairs.

Born in the Jordanian-occupied Old City in East Jerusalem, whose place of residence became the United Nations Refugee Works Agency (UNRWA) refugee camp of Shuafat, hee rose to prominence during the first Intifada, the Palestinian uprising, and was a senior field researcher for B’Tselem, the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories. In 1996, he founded the Jerusalem-based Palestinian Human Rights Monitoring Group. In 2016, Eid assumed the role of chairman of the Center for Near East Policy Research. Bassem Eid publicly condemned the widespread murder of Palestinian dissidents, often for reasons unrelated to the Intifada. In 1995, following his report about the Palestinian Preventive Security Service (PSF), he came under attack by some Palestinian leaders for revealing human rights violations committed by the Palestinian Authority (PA). Arrested by Arafats’ Presidential Guard (Force 17), he was released after 25 hours following widespread international condemnation. Bassem Eid has spent 26 years researching UNRWA policies and has written extensively on the subject of UNRWA reform and is an outspoken critic of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

Rabbi Jason Nevarez, Senior Rabbi @ Beth Israel, San Diego

Originally from New York City, Rabbi Jason Nevarez graduated from the Bronx High School of Science and went to the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where he received his BA in 1998. He was ordained by the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York in 2006, where he earned Master’s degrees in both Hebrew Literature and Religious Education, and was the recipient of a number of scholarships, in addition to several academic prizes in Jewish education. Rabbi Nevarez held residencies and internships at Larchmont Temple, Larchmont, NY, Temple Beth Emeth, Ann Arbor, MI, and at Temple Shaaray Tefila, Bedford NY, where he served for 17 years before becoming the Spiritual Leader of Beth Israel. Prior to entering Rabbinical School, he served as a Youth Director at synagogues in Connecticut and Michigan, and also as a Regional Director for NFTY (North American Federation of Temple Youth).

There is no fee, but please RSVP for planning purposes. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the event. For more information, contact Program Director Ilene Tatro at itatro@cbisd.org.