Raanan Gissin, Former Senior Advisor to Ariel Sharon, to Speak at Boston University

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

February 21, 2007 -- Boston, MA -- Former senior advisor to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon Dr. Raanan Gissin will address students and faculty at Boston University on Wednesday, February 28, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. 

Dr. Gissin will visit the Boston University 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 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.

The lecture will take place on the fourth floor of the Florence & Chafetz Hillel House, located at 213 Baystate Road, and will be followed by a question and answer session.  Students are encouraged to pre-register for the event at http://www.caravanfordemocracy.org/.  

"We are excited to bring Dr. Gissin, an experienced member of the Israeli political system, to address pressing issues that not only affect Israel, but the United States and the west as a whole," said Boston University sophomore Dan Hazony, who heads the event organizing committee with junior Eric Migicovsky.

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 he was 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 lecture is part of Dr. Gissin's national college tour sponsored by Caravan for Democracy and the Israel on Campus Coalition- a coalition of 31 national Jewish organizations dedicated to promoting Israel education and advocacy on campus.  This joint endeavor will provide an educational resource to students on over 15 college campuses.  Co-sponsors at Boston University are Boston University Hillel, Boston University Students for Israel and Jews With A Cause.

For more information about this and other Caravan for Democracy events, 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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