Lecture Abstract:

The escalating security and political crisis in Iraq and Syria, and the strength and ambitions of the murderous Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) threatens regional security. What key regional and global interests are at stake–and what options exist for policy-makers? What affect will heightened Sunni-Shi’a conflict have on states across the region–and on the nuclear negotiations with Iran? David Harris, Executive Director of the American Jewish Committee (AJC), will offer insights into these recent developments.

David Harris has spent more than two decades travelling the world meeting with U.S. and international policy makers. As the executive director of AJC, the premier global Jewish advocacy organization, he advocates for interests of Jewish communities worldwide, such as Israel’s security and combatting anti-Semitism. David will offer insights and analysis of the unfolding events and how America’s foreign policy has evolved to meet these challenges.

About the Speaker:

David Harris has led AJC since 1990. Described by Israeli President Shimon Peres as the “foreign minister of the Jewish people,” he has been invited to speak at some of the world’s most prestigious forums, including the World Economic Forum in Davos, and has testified before the U.S. Congress, the UN Human Rights Commission, and the French Parliament. He has been honored a total of 14 times by the governments of Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Spain, and Ukraine for his international efforts in defense of human rights, advancement of the transatlantic partnership, and dedication to the Jewish people. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He has written hundreds of articles, op-eds, letters, and reviews in leading media outlets. He is a regular contributor to The Huffington Post, The Jerusalem Post, El País in Spain, and L’Opinione in Italy. Since 2001, he has had a weekly spot on the CBS Radio Network reaching millions of listeners across the United States.