James Weinstein

James Weinstein, the Amelia Lewis Professor of Constitutional Law at the College of Law, will moderate a panel discussion, “Achieving Security and Peace in the Middle East: A Diversity of Jewish Voices,” on Sunday, Oct. 30.

The event, sponsored by Voices for Middle East Understanding, will begin at 1 p.m. in the Great Hall of Armstrong Hall. Parking is available in the visitor's lot of the Rural Road parking structure. Click here for a map.

Speakers include:

• Miko Peled, whose grandfather signed the Israeli Declaration of Independence, and whose father, Israeli war hero Gen. Matti Peled, called for establishing a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Miko Peled, an outspoken critic of Israeli government policy, is the author of a forthcoming book, The General’s Son.

• Rabbi Pinchas Allouche, head Rabbi at Congregation Beth Tefillah in Scottsdale. He is a respected rabbinic figure, a sought-after lecturer and author of many essays on the Jewish faith, mysticism and social-criticism. Through his many writings and solidarity actions, Rabbi Allouche is known for his unapologetic support of Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state.

• Yonatan Shapira, a Blackhawk helicopter pilot for the IDF, who opted to become a refusnik and authored the Pilots’ Letter in 2003. Shapira co-founded Combatants for Peace and is now with Boycott! Supporting the Palestinian Call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions.

• Devin Sper, who lived in Israel for 10 years, has a degree in Jewish History from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and served in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Sper, author of The Future of Israel, speaks in defense of Israel and asserts that Israel must resume a commitment of accumulation of Jewish power.

• Dalit Baum, Ph.D., a feminist author who teaches courses on militarism and the global economy from a feminist perspective at Haifa University. In the U.S. activist-in-residence with Global Exchange this year, Baum is also an activist with the Coalition of Women for Peace in Israel and a founder of Who Profits from the Occupation.

• Amit Ron, assistant professor at ASU’s New College of Interdisciplinary Arts & Science. Ron has published articles on the role of public participation and deliberation in peace processes. Born in a kibbutz and raised in Haifa, he also served in the IDF between the first infitada and the end of the first Gulf War.

For more information, email voicesformiddleeastunderstanding@cox.net.