UpDate - Vol. 15, No. 28, Page 4
April 18, 1996
Israeli diplomat to discuss peace

     Eli Avidar, a consulate general of Israel based in Philadelphia,
will discuss "Peace in the Middle East: The Dawn of a New Era" at 7
p.m., Thursday, April 25, in 100 Kirkbride Lecture Hall.
     Avidar will share his insights and observations on recent
developments in the peace process. He said it is his hope that, as the
country is able to move toward greater peace, its resources will be
committed to enhancing the economy and to fostering research in the
fields of agriculture, science and medicine.
     In 1989, he attended the Hebrew University in Jerusalem majoring
in Middle East and Islamic studies and philosophy, focusing on Islamic
thought and philosophy in early and modern Islam.
     In 1992, Avidar joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in
Jerusalem and was assigned to the PLO desk in the Center for Political
Research. During that period, he was actively engaged in following the
peace process in Washington and the developments between the
Palestinian delegation and the PLO.
     He then served in the Asia department and was involved in the
development of diplomatic relations between Israel and Vietnam from
the pre-diplomatic relations stage to the establishment of official
diplomatic relations and Israel's embassy in Hanoi.
     He has served in his current post, responsible for six states,
since 1993.
     His Newark appearance is sponsored by the Frank and Yetta Chaiken
Center for Jewish Studies. For information, call 831-3324.