Featuring: Ambassador (ret.) Yoram Ettinger & IDF Colonel (Res.) Bentzi Gruber  

As the situation across the Arab world continues to devolve, from ISIS acquiring more and more territory throughout Iraq, Syria, and even Libya, to the overthrow of the pro-American Yemeni government by the Iranian supported Houthi rebels, to the continuing drive for nuclear weapons by the genocidal and anti-American Islamic Republic of Iran, what impact do these developments have on long-held American interests in the region? What is the impact on the American-Israel relationship, as Israel stands alone to face a nuclear armed Iran? Is the world’s – and President Obama’s – continuing preoccupation with the Palestinian issue and the peace process still relevant in a time of rapidly shifting Middle Eastern sands?  Please join us for a discussion with Amb. Yoram Ettinger as he addresses these questions, and more.

Afterward, Col. Bentzi Gruber will present a behind the scenes look at the strategic and ethical decisions that IDF commanders and officers have to make daily.  Using actual footage from Israel’s most recent wars, Col. Gruber will explore the dilemmas the IDF faces to sustain national security while upholding one of the most rigorous military codes of ethics in the world today.

Ambassador (ret.) Yoram Ettinger is an insider on US-Israel relations, Mideast politics and overseas investments in Israel’s high tech.  He is a member of the American-Israel Demographic Research Group (AIDRG), which has documented dramatic flaws behind demographic fatalism on one hand and a Jewish demographic momentum on the other hand. He served as Minister for Congressional Affairs at Israel’s Embassy in Washington (with a rank of an ambassador), Israel’s Consul General in Houston and Director of Israel’s Government Press Office. Since leaving the embassy, Mr. Ettinger has served as a consultant to Israeli Cabinet Members, legislators and to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. He serves as a consultant to members of Israel’s Cabinet and Knesset, and regularly briefs US legislators and their staff on Israel’s contribution to vital US interests, on the root causes of international terrorism and on other issues of bilateral concern. He is often interviewed on Israeli TV and radio and is a frequent contributor to most of Israel’s newspapers including Israel HaYom, Yediot Achronot, Ma’ariv, Ynet, News First Class, Jerusalem Post as well as to many American radio stations and newspapers. Yoram has served in various positions for the Government of Israel, is President of “US-Israel Opportunities Ltd.” and has been a lecturer at Hebrew University in both US and Middle East Politics.

Colonel Bentzi Gruber is Vice Commander (reserves) of Division 252, an armored division of 20,000 soldiers. As an entrepreneur, he has established Internet startups, been a real-estate developer and initiated biotech research. He is founder of “Chesed In The Field,” a non-profit that brings together IDF reservists and chronically ill and disabled children for special events throughout the year instilling the values of community and social responsibility in the hearts of thousands of soldiers. Col. Gruber also established “Ethics in the Field” to shatter myths and present the facts missing in today’s discussion of Israeli counter terrorism.  A graduate of Yeshivat Har Etzion and the Jerusalem Institute of Technology (Machon Lev), Col. Gruber received a PhD from the The International University of Business and Law (London). He serves on the boards of Yeshivat Har Etzion and Ohr Torah Stone, and the ethics committees of the Eitanim and Kfar Shaul Hospitals and has spoken at national conferences, community events, synagogues, military academies, college campuses, and middle and high schools around the world.

Lunch to be served. All dietary laws observed. Kindly RSVP to: lschneider@emetonline.org