Consul General of Israel Ido Aharoni discusses "The Arab Spring - One Year Later" at Stroock
NEW YORK, June 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Ambassador Ido Aharoni, the Consul General of Israel, discussed the rise of political Islam in the Middle East in a talk, "The Arab Spring – One Year Later," at a forum today hosted by Stroock & Stroock & Lavan in the law firm's New York offices.
In 2011, the world was riveted to events in the Middle East involving popular uprisings against tyrannical government rule. Ambassador Aharoni provided an assessment of what has transpired in several of these countries, possible scenarios of how their histories might unfold for the US and the West as well as its implications for Israel's future.
Stroock partner Robert Abrams, former Attorney General of New York and Chair of the firm's Government Relations practice, and Stroock Co-Managing partner Alan M. Klinger followed the presentation with questions for the Ambassador.
Aharoni said that upheavals in Arab countries are not related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but have to do with the social unrest in each of those countries including political, religious, tribal and national conflicts.
He noted that "Israel cares deeply about making peace with the Arabs and supports a two-state solution. The conflicts are not about territory but about the right of Israel to exist."
Discussing Iran, Aharoni began by saying that of 193 United Nations members, only one country – Iran – has called for the destruction of another – Israel, and that Iran in fact aspires to destabilize the entire region. "This isn't Israel versus Iran, it's the world versus Iran, and the world doesn't have the luxury of allowing Iran to develop a nuclear program. Iran's motivation, coupled with opportunity and capability is a recipe for disaster, especially if the nuclear devices get into the hands of terrorists. It will change the way we live."
Aharoni concluded with an optimistic tone about the Middle East: "Every instability presents an opportunity" for progress.
"Ambassador Aharoni offered fascinating insight into the developing landscape of the Middle East and how the struggle for leadership in those countries is impacting its relationship with Israel and the West," said Abrams. "He helped open a window into the dynamics of the Middle East that informs our understanding of the region," added Klinger.
Ambassador Aharoni, who has been at his post since 2010, represents the State of Israel to communities in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. A member of Israel's Foreign Service since 1991, he has held overseas positions in Los Angeles and New York. He previously served in the Israel Defense Forces as a company commander in the infantry during the first Lebanon war, and also served under then-Foreign Minister Shimon Peres as policy assistant to Israel's chief negotiator with the Palestinians. He earned a bachelor's degree from Tel Aviv University and a master's degree from Emerson College.
The event was the ninth in a series hosted by Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP during the last year. Previous participants included New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman; New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli; high-level prosecutors in a forum on public corruption; Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi; Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr.; Congressman Jerrold Nadler; Patrick J. Foye, Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey; Thomas F. Prendergast, President MTA New York City Transit; James Vacca, New York City Council – Transportation Chair; and Gene Russianoff, Attorney and Spokesman for the Straphangers Campaign; New York City Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, former New York City Comptroller and Democratic candidate for Mayor William Thompson.
Today's event was sponsored by Stroock's Government Relations group, which is comprised of former prosecutors, judges, and government agency officials. The practice is led by Mr. Abrams, who also served as President of the National Association of Attorneys General, Executive Chair of New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's Transition Committee and Honorary Co-Chair of Attorney General Schneiderman's Transition Committee.
SOURCE Stroock & Stroock & Lavan
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