The Middle East Institute's (MEI) George and Rhonda Salem Family Foundation Lecture Series is pleased to host the mayor of Hebron, Dr. Daoud Zatari, for a discussion about growing tensions in the West Bank town between Palestinians, Hebron's settler population, and the Israeli Defense Forces.
The largest city in the West Bank and a holy site for both Muslims and Jews, Hebron has often been a tinderbox in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It is home to hundreds of Israeli settlers, and 20% of its territory remains in Israeli administration under the 1997 Hebron Protocol. The bisected city has seen numerous violent flare-ups in recent months, resulting in deaths on both sides and stoking resentment between the two populations. The mayor will address the surge in violence and its impact on the lives of Hebron residents.
MEI president Amb. Wendy Chamberlin will moderate the discussion.
Featured Speaker:
Dr. Daoud Zatari is the mayor of Hebron. Before he was elected in 2012, Zatari had a distinguished career in academia, serving as the president of two of Palestine's most prestigious technical universities for over 14 years. He holds a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering and is a scholar in the fields of telemedicine, information technology, and biomedical research. During his tenure as university president, Zatari worked to modernize and improve academic programs in higher education, particularly in support of scientific research. In addition to his service as mayor, he chairs the Joint Service Council of Solid Waste Management of Hebron and Bethlehem.
Moderator:
Ambassador Wendy Chamberlin has been president of the Middle East Institute since 2007. Previously, as deputy high commissioner for refugees from 2004 to 2007, she supervised the administration of the U.N. humanitarian organization. A 29-year veteran of the U.S. Foreign Service, she was ambassador to Pakistan from 2001 to 2002, when she played a key role in securing Pakistan’s cooperation in the U.S.-led campaign against al-Qaeda in Afghanistan in the wake of the terrorist attacks against the U.S. on September 11.