A List
3/23/09

SLU Government Prof To Speak On Jewish-Arab-Palestinian Relations In Israel

CANTON - St. Lawrence University Assistant Professor of Government Ronnie Olesker will give a talk titled "One Land - Three Peoples? Future Prospects for Jewish-Arab-Palestinian Relations in Israel" on Monday, March 30, at 7 p.m. in the Common Room of Sykes Residence Hall. The event, part of the Contemporary Issues Forum, is open to the public, free of charge.

In the talk, Olesker will explore future prospects for relations between Israel's Jewish citizens and its Palestinian ones. Most of the discussion on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict centers on the antagonists, while the Arab citizens of Israel, of Palestinian descent, are often left out of the discourse. Is the one-state solution a viable option or is there movement toward carving up the area into three distinct entities: Israeli, Palestinian, and Arab autonomy in between?

Olesker holds a law degree, with specialization in international law, from Israel. She served as an intelligence analyst in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and worked for the district attorney's office in Tel Aviv. Olesker earned a master's degree in law and diplomacy and the Ph.D. from the Fletcher School at Tufts University. Her research focuses on majority-minority relations, and the decision-making processes of minority groups in adopting political violence against the state, and most recently, the effects of the 2008 U.S. presidential election on U.S.-Israeli bilateral relations and Israeli domestic politics.

The Contemporary Issues Forum brings experts and participants in the making of news to campus throughout the academic year.

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