This course, offered in conjunction with the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, provides participants with an understanding of Israel's perspective on some of the most complicated questions regarding the peace process. Learn about Israel's actions to defend its citizens, and strategies to prevent terrorism and violence in the Middle East and around the world. Presented by an official spokesman of the State of Israel, this course will help participants acquire a historical perspective on the conflict, attain a good grasp of the key agreements and obligations, and gain deeper insight into the complex topics at the core of negotiations for peace.
The Next Session begins February 19th, 2006
Course Overview
This course will give participants an understanding of Israel's perspective on some of the most complicated questions posed to Israel's advocates regarding the situation in the region - the peace process, Israel's actions to defend its citizens and strategies to preventing terror and violence in the region and around the world.
Presented by an official spokesman of the State of Israel this course will give participants an historical perspective on the conflict, a better grasp of the key agreements and obligations, and a deeper look at the complex topics that are at the core of negotiations for peace.
- Is Israel in violation of agreements or International Law? What are Israel's answers to questions on settlements, targeting terrorists, the rights of Palestinians, the Security Fence and the future of the peace process? How can Israel say it still wants peace?
Find the answers to these questions and more!
Target Audience: This course is for anyone who wants to present a well informed and detailed perspective about Israel and the Middle East conflict.
Goals:
To provide facts regarding topics central to understanding the current political situation in Israel;occupation,settlements,human rights, refugees,the right of return,the security fence,and the international law regarding the peace process.
To present a historical perspective of the conflict and the efforts towards peace.
To present relevant facts and references to be used as tools in advocating effectively for Israel.
To access a wide reference library of relevant documents,books, articles,and opinions on the subject. Time Commitment: 2 -4 hours a week for four weeks.
Topics Covered:
- Palestinian Land - An Historical Overview
- "Occupation"
- Refugees and the Right of Return
- Settlements
- Targeting Civilians
- The Security Fence
- Israeli Democracy
- Israel Seeks Peace and Other Key Messages
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Course Staff
ARTHUR LENK is an attorney in the Department of International Law, Office of the Legal Adviser, at Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem. He is responsible for drafting legal opinions and planning policy on matters connected with current legal issues in Israel's foreign relations, especially in regard to Israel's ties with the United Nations and other international organizations. He also deals with current issues and their relationship with international humanitarian law. He has served as a representative of Israel to the Sixth (Legal) Committee during the 56th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (2001) and has represented Israel and the Magen David Adom in their interactions with the International Committee of the Red Cross.
He serves as the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Israel's National Status Granting Body, which reviews refugee asylum claims and has represented the Foreign Ministry before Knesset committees.
Mr. Lenk joined Israel's Foreign Service in 1994 after working as an attorney in private practice. He holds law degrees (LL.B. and LL.M.) from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and is a member of the bar in both Israel and New York. His most recent article, on Israel's relations with the new International Criminal Court, "Political Misuses of International Law: The Development of the 'Crime' of Population Transfer", will be published in Eyes on the ICC in late 2003.
Since 2002, Arthur Lenk also has acted as an official government spokesman. He has briefed international media sources on government positions and provided background and analysis regarding Israeli positions on a variety of issues, including appearing on television and radio. He has appeared on CNN, BBC (television and radio), National Public Radio, and a variety of domestic and international networks and news agencies. An article written by Mr. Lenk, "Prime Minister Sharon and the Belgian 'Tool' of Law", was published in The Forward on 28 February 2003.
In 2000 and 2001, Arthur Lenk represented Israel before the Sharm el-Sheikh Fact-finding Committee and participated in planning and drafting of Israel's presentations to the "Mitchell Committee" and coordination of visits of the Committee in Israel. An article he wrote on the subject "Fact-finding as a Tool in Peace Negotiation - The Mitchell Report and the Israel-Palestinian Peace Process" was published in the Loyola of Los Angeles International and Comparative Law Review in 2002.
Prior to his return to Israel in the summer of 2000, Mr. Lenk served as an Israeli diplomat in India and the United States.
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