The Oberlin College Dialoge Center will facilitate a discussion led by Ghaith al-Omari, former senior research fellow with New America's American Strategy Program in 2008 and early 2009. Before joining the New America Foundation, al-Omari served in various senior positions within the Palestinian Authority, including foreign policy advisor to the Palestinian president, director of the International Relations Department in the Office of the Palestinian President, and senior advisor to former Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas. In these capacities, he provided advice on foreign policy—especially vis-à-vis the United States and Israel—and security. He has extensive experience in the Palestinian-Israeli peace process, having been a member of the Palestinian negotiating team throughout the permanent status negotiations (1999–2001). In that capacity, he participated in various negotiating rounds, most notably the Camp David summit and the Taba talks.

al-Omari is a lawyer by training and a graduate of Georgetown and Oxford universities. Prior to his involvement in the Middle East peace process, he taught international law in Jordan and was active in human rights advocacy.

The event will take place in Wilder Student Union, Room 101.

The event is cosponsored by the Office of the Ombuds, MENA Studies Curricular Committee, Department of Religion, Jewish studies department, Office of the Jewish Chaplin at Oberlin, Oberlin Students for Israel, Peace and Conflict Concentration, Peace and Conflict Connections Group.