Arnon Perlman to Speak at State University of NY at Buffalo

Contact: Laura Hemlock • State University of New York at Buffalo • 516 698 8653 • lhemlock@gmail.com / Miriam Paskind • Caravan for Democracy • 212 439 7855 • mpaskind@mwio.org

October 19, 2007 -- Buffalo, NY -- Arnon Perlman, who served as senior advisor and chief spokesman to former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, will address students and faculty at the State University of New York at Buffalo on Monday, October 22 at 6:30 p.m.

Perlman will visit the Buffalo campus as a speaker for Caravan for Democracy, an initiative of Jewish National Fund and Media Watch International that drives constructive dialogue on college campuses throughout the U.S. by bringing speakers representing a wide spectrum of political and philosophical thought from Israel to discuss the issues affecting Israel, how it is covered in the media, and its unique role as the only democracy in the Middle East.

The lecture will take place in Room 330 Assembly Hall, located in the Student Union, and will be followed by a question and answer session.  Students are encouraged to pre-register for the event at http://www.caravanfordemocracy.org/.
 
“All of usat UB in general, and Hillel of Buffalo in particular, are thrilled to have a speaker of Arnon Perlman's caliber coming to our campus,” said graduate student Laura Hemlock, one of two students responsible for coordinating Caravan programming at Buffalo.  “We believe the insights he'll share with us will be interesting and enlightening, and we're anxious to hear his presentation.”
 
As a senior advisor and chief spokesman to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Perlman served as headof the Media and Communications Division of the Prime Minister's office and as the media advisor and communications emissary to Europe and the United States.

Since leaving the Israeli cabinet in 2004, Perlman has held numerous posts including representing Israel and managing the Vladimir Gusinski case.  In addition, he is vice chairman of the board of directors of Maariv daily newspaper, and member of the board of the Reut institute, NEXTCOM, and LILIT.  He also works with the Economic Cooperation Foundation. 

In 1999, Perlman acted as the manager of the spokesmen's team for Prime Minister Ehud Barak's election campaign.  In the late 1990s, he was the campaign manager for the Minister of Health, and was the spokesman for the Tel Aviv-Yaffo Municipality and Mayor Roni Milo.

Perlman has also served as an economic journalist with the Telegraph newspaper, and was a chief reporter for Ha’aretz daily newspaper.  He began his career as an intelligence officer in the Israeli Navy, and currently lives in Tel Aviv with his wife.

This Caravan for Democracy lecture is co-sponsored by Hillel at Buffalo, the Jewish Student Union and the Jewish Law Student Association.

For more information, visit http://www.caravanfordemocracy.org/ or contact Laura Hemlock at lhemlock@gmail.com.

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