Raanan Gissin, Former Senior Advisor to Ariel Sharon, to Speak at Peabody Veterans Memorial High School

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Miriam A. Paskind
Media Watch International/ Caravan for Democracy
212-439-7855
mpaskind@mwio.org

February 27, 2007 -- Peabody, MA -- Dr. Raanan Gissin, former senior advisor to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, will address students and faculty at Peabody Veterans Memorial High School on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. 

Dr. Gissin will visit the school as a speaker for Caravan for Democracy, an initiative of Jewish National Fund and Media Watch International that drives constructive dialogue on high school and college campuses throughout the United States by bringing different speakers 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. 

Since its inception in 2002, Caravan has visited over 70 campuses and communities, sponsored over 180 events, and engaged more than 20,000 participants at its events and lectures.

“We are excited to offer such a great opportunity to our students,” said Lana Osher, a senior at Peabody Veterans Memorial High School who heads the student organizing committee.  “Dr. Gissin will provide insight about the conflicts facing the Middle East and the Iranian threat to Israel, the U.S. and the entire western world.”

Dr. Gissin served as the senior advisor to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.  In recent years he has become one of Israel’s leading spokesmen for the foreign press and the international community on security and strategic issues and the peace process. 

Dr. Gissin’s distinguished career with the Israel Defense Forces began in 1979 with his position as a strategic analyst in the planning branch, where hewas involved in the planning and implementation of the Sinai withdrawal.  He served as an IDF spokesman during most of the 1980s, which saw the war in Lebanon and the intifada. In 1991, Dr. Gissin served as special advisor to the Israeli Delegation at the Madrid Peace Conference and the subsequent negotiations with Arab and Palestinian delegations in Washington, D.C.  After retiring from active duty in 1993, Dr. Gissin initiated and organized the Pension 200 Conference in Israel with senior Israeli economic leaders and top fund executives and investors from the United States.  In 1996, he was appointed spokesperson of the newly created Ministry of National Infrastructures headed by Ariel Sharon.

The Caravan for Democracy lecture is coordinated by the Jewish Student Union in cooperation with the Israel on Campus Coalition.  For more information, visit http://www.caravanfordemocracy.org/ or contact Miriam Paskind at 212-439-7855 or mpaskind@mwio.org.

Photo available as a high-resolution jpeg upon request.

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