Ambassador speaks of Israeli efforts toward peace
By: Caitlin Osborne
Issue date: 5/7/08 Section: On Campus
Sallai Meridor, the Ambassador of Israel to the United States, affirmed Israel's commitment to peace and hope for the future in a speech May 5 to a full crowd in Van Munching Hall.
The lecture and reception were free and open to the public, and marked the inaugural lecture of the Richard and Elizabeth Dubin Distinguished Lecture Series entitled "Israel at 60: Facing Threats, Keeping Hope" by the Joseph and Alma Gildenhorn Institute for Israel Studies.
In his lecture, Meridor emphasized the important role young people have played and will continue to play in the future success of Israel as a nation. The increase in the Hebrew speaking population and the growth of the economy is "all due to young people," he said to the packed Tyser Auditorium that included many students and faculty as well as university President C.D. Mote Jr.
Additionally, he discussed Israel's desire to achieve peace.
"Israel is making every effort humanly possible to advance towards peace," he said, adding that peace is in the very basic value system of the Israeli people. This is apparent by the practice of saying "shalom," Hebrew for peace, as a greeting as well as in prayer. He added that Israelis owe it to their children to try for peace, and that Israel is ready to compromise.
He went on to highlight the many achievements of Israel's existence as a state for the past 60 years, including advances in technology and education, by restating a quote from Israel's former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon: "We achieved all of this with one hand," because the other hand was always "holding a sword."
This part of his speech was a highlight for sophomore history major Yosef Berman.
"I thought that that was a great quote," he said. "It really sums up Israel over the past 60 years."
Berman added, "It's important to hear [from] an official who has first hand experience in the matter, what his views are, because they will largely be indicative of the views of the state."
Ambassador Meridor ended his speech by, "We will prevail."
Meridor was named ambassador to the United States in April 2006 and began his term in January 2007.
The Ambassador was welcomed by Dean James F. Harris of the College of Arts and Humanities and introduced by Joseph Gildenhorn, U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland from 1989 to 1993 who endowed the new Israel studies chair at the university last year with his wife, Alma Gildenhorn.
Ambassador Meridor took questions at the end of the lecture. A reception was held immediately after in the courtyard of the business school.
The lecture and reception were free and open to the public, and marked the inaugural lecture of the Richard and Elizabeth Dubin Distinguished Lecture Series entitled "Israel at 60: Facing Threats, Keeping Hope" by the Joseph and Alma Gildenhorn Institute for Israel Studies.
In his lecture, Meridor emphasized the important role young people have played and will continue to play in the future success of Israel as a nation. The increase in the Hebrew speaking population and the growth of the economy is "all due to young people," he said to the packed Tyser Auditorium that included many students and faculty as well as university President C.D. Mote Jr.
Additionally, he discussed Israel's desire to achieve peace.
"Israel is making every effort humanly possible to advance towards peace," he said, adding that peace is in the very basic value system of the Israeli people. This is apparent by the practice of saying "shalom," Hebrew for peace, as a greeting as well as in prayer. He added that Israelis owe it to their children to try for peace, and that Israel is ready to compromise.
He went on to highlight the many achievements of Israel's existence as a state for the past 60 years, including advances in technology and education, by restating a quote from Israel's former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon: "We achieved all of this with one hand," because the other hand was always "holding a sword."
This part of his speech was a highlight for sophomore history major Yosef Berman.
"I thought that that was a great quote," he said. "It really sums up Israel over the past 60 years."
Berman added, "It's important to hear [from] an official who has first hand experience in the matter, what his views are, because they will largely be indicative of the views of the state."
Ambassador Meridor ended his speech by, "We will prevail."
Meridor was named ambassador to the United States in April 2006 and began his term in January 2007.
The Ambassador was welcomed by Dean James F. Harris of the College of Arts and Humanities and introduced by Joseph Gildenhorn, U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland from 1989 to 1993 who endowed the new Israel studies chair at the university last year with his wife, Alma Gildenhorn.
Ambassador Meridor took questions at the end of the lecture. A reception was held immediately after in the courtyard of the business school.
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