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The fifth annual Jerusalem Conference is set to begin Tuesday morning, February 19. Topics in this year’s conference will range from national affairs and security to social welfare and economics; from Jewish education to Aliyah; from Israel’s status as a Jewish State to its functional relationship with its neighbors and the world’s nations.According to its website, the purpose of the Jerusalem Conference is to "deliberate core issues that will determine Israel’s future as a viable modern democratic Jewish State." Jerusalem Conference Chairman Robert Rechnitz told Israel National Radio’s Tamar Yonah that the event itself is meant to bring together all sides of the debate surrounding Israel’s future to engage in dialogue toward coming to a national consensus.The conference this year will have more of an international flavor with two United States senators addressing those gathered. Several US generals will also participate in sessions as will senior fellows from various overseas think tanks and institutes.The conference will also “explore the international threats of Jihad terrorism and Islamofacist regimes, providing focus on the existential threats to Israel from Iran and the terrorist armies of Hizbullah and Hamas.”When the Jerusalem Conference was first established, one of the motivations was the left-wing slant of the Herzliya Conference, which went to the extent of not hosting even one opponent of a Palestinian state in 2004 – the year then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon unveiled his Disengagement Plan during the keynote address.Rechnitz says the Jerusalem Conference is not seeking to be a sectarian counter-balance, but to be the new concensus – to return Jerusalem to center stage with a diverse meeting of the minds that befits a discussion on the Jewish future taking place in Israel’s eternal capital.“The agenda is a very balanced one,” he pointed out, citing the prominent slot granted to Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni (Kadima).Asked if left-leaning attendees will feel welcome there, Rechnitz said that not only would they feel welcome, “They are truly welcome, and we would love to have them. We hope people of many persuasions are there. We are not preaching to the choir. We are not looking for people of one view to focus on their own ideas. This is an outreach conference and a conference that we hope will bring together the various views…and hopefully we can put a paper together at the end of the conference and put forward a statement that will help society. The left and right will have to face off and bridge the gaps. We are a Jewish state – and the Jewish people agree on many things as well.”The location of the conference is in eastern Jerusalem, liberated in the 1967 Six Day War. According to numerous reports, it is this very part of Jerusalem over which the Olmert government is negotiating concessions with the Palestinian Authority. The Regency Hotel (formerly the Hyatt), was also the place where Tourism Minister Rechavam Ze’evi was murdered by Arab terrorists on October 17, 2001.“We are holding the conference on Mt. Scopus,” explained Rechnitz. “We think this is of great significance in light of the Annapolis Conference and plans to concede parts of Jerusalem.”The 2008 conference will feature simultaneous translation to English for attendees as well as for internet viewers. Each session will be posted and stored online along with the on-demand English-translated videos of each session.The conference’s overarching topic this year is: “After the Winograd Commission: Where are we Going?”Knesset Members, Israel Defense Forces experts, and Israeli academic and Rabbinic leaders appear in numerous sessions. During most of the conference, attendees will have to choose between two simultaneous sessions on completely different issues. Many students will attend and take advantage of the discount student package.A concert for students will take place Tuesday night from 10-11 PM following the day’s sessions.Princeton University Professor Bernard Lewis will deliver the Jerusalem Address at the conference’s closing...To read more go to:
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