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The Endowment for Middle East Truth is proud to host Dan Diker, Research Fellow at the International Institute of Counter Terrorism, Foreign Policy Fellow at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, and Jerusalem Post Columnist, who will update us on the current volatile situation on the ground in Israel.

Following the news of the tragic and brutal murder of the three innocent kidnapped teenage boys in Israel by Hamas, the Israeli Defense Forces has been tirelessly seeking to bring to justice the murderers of Eyal Yifrach, Gilad Shaar, and Naftali Frenkel, and has arresested at least 332 Hamas operatives, 133 suspects, and 12 senior Hamas operatives, 57 of whom were released in the 2011 Gilad Shalit deal.

At the same time, turmoil is hitting the entire country. The South of Israel continues to be subject to a constant barrage of rocket and mortar fire originating from Gaza, with Hamas threatening to hit unexpected targets in Israel. Gaza terrorists increased their range of attacks on Saturday, targeting the Israeli city Beersheba. Violent protests broke out in Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria by Arab youths, after the discovery of the murder of a 16 year old Arab boy – Muhammad Hussein Abu Khedir – last Wednesday, and have continued to escalate against Jewish targests.

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu was quick to condemn the “despicable murder,” determine the motive and the culprit, and urged both sides “not to take the law into their own hands.”

Without any evidence, following the news of the murder of the Arab youth, the mainstream media, international community, and the United States was quick to point the finger at Israel. A total of 17 out of 25 European Union countries have issued warnings against investing in Judea and Samaria, lending support to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement. On Sunday, six Jewish suspects were arrested for the murder of the Arab teen, and masked Palestinians and Arabs escalated their rioting, throwing stones and molotov cocktails at Jewish communties and police. The murder has been harsly condemned by the Israeli government, rabbis, and Jewish and pro-Israel organizations around the U.S.

Please join us as we hear important analysis and updates on Israel’s volatile situation, and projections about what is to come, from national security expert and writer Dan Diker.

Dan Diker is a Research Fellow at the International Institute for Counter Terrorism and Foreign Policy Fellow at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs. He is also a columnist with the Jerusalem Post where he writes on the Middle East, national security, and diplomatic affairs. Mr. Diker served as Director of Strategic Affairs and then as Secretary General of the World Jewish Congress, the global diplomatic organization representing the official Jewish communities in 100 countries. Previously, he was Knesset Affairs reporter for Israel’s Channel One English News. Mr. Diker received a BA from Harvard University Cum Laude and attended the Harvard Graduate School of Business. He received an MA in Government and Counter Terrorism Policy, Summa Cum Laude, from the Interdisciplinary Center, Herzelia. Mr. Diker has lived in Israel since 1990 residing with his family near Jerusalem.