Moderator: Mohammed Bamyeh, Professor of Sociology

Panelists:

International Law & the Arab-Israeli Conflict
Jules Lobel, Professor of Law

Implications of the Arab Spring for the Arab-Israeli Conflict, and US Foreign Policy
Sami Hermez, Visiting Professor of Contemporary and International Issues, Global Studies Center, UCIS

Reflections from Israel and the Occupied Territories
Ken Boas, Faculty of English

“We Are All Palestinians”—The World Social Forum Free Palestine
Jackie Smith, Professor of Sociology

The latest crisis in Gaza represents a serious threat to peace and stability in the Middle East. The latest escalation of violence in Gaza comes at a time of unprecedented popular uprising in the region along with heads of nations struggling to solidify and/or maintain power. How has the Arab Spring affected politics in the Middle East and how does it impact Israel’s standing in the region.
How is the international community responding? This week is the start of the World Social Forum Free Palestine which has brought thousands of activists from more than 30 countries to Porto Alegre, Brazil to discuss popular efforts to build solidarity with the Palestinian people. Can this unprecedented show of international solidarity impact regional and global social change?