Public Health in Context

These special educational events give insight into today's political and social crises through a public health lens.  

The Israel-Hamas War: Implications and Issues

November 8, 2024 
11:30 a.m. - 12:50 p.m. | Hyribd Event
Allan Rosenfield Building, 722 W. 168th Street, 8th Floor Auditorium | Zoom Webinar 
This event is open to Columbia Mailman School of Public Health students, faculty and staff. 

David and Ghaith are experts in Arab-Israeli relations. They will discuss how we've arrived at this point, the ongoing, complex situation in the Israel-Hamas war, and the implications of the situation in the Middle East. They will speak about the importance of finding a pragmatic, realistic approach to managing and resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This is a continuation of efforts to put "public health in context" and address this topic within the Mailman community. 

David Makovsky
Ziegler distinguished fellow at The Washington Institute and director of the Project on Arab-Israel Relations 
Adjunct professor in Middle East studies at Johns Hopkins University's Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) Columbia College grad ('82) 

Ghaith al-Omari
Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation Senior Fellow 
Irwin Levy Family Program on the U.S.-Israel Strategic Relationship  
Former Executive Director of the American Task Force on Palestine

About the Speakers

David Makovsky is the Ziegler Distinguished Fellow at The Washington Institute and Director of the Koret Project on Arab-Israel Relations. He is also an adjunct professor in Middle East studies at Johns Hopkins University's Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and president of the board for the National Library of Israel's U.S. affiliate (NLI-USA). In 2013-2014, he worked in the Office of the U.S. Secretary of State, serving as a senior advisor to the Special Envoy for Israeli-Palestinian Negotiations. He is the author of three books, two co-authored with Ambassador Dennis Ross, and host of the Decision Points podcast, which examines Israeli history and U.S.-Israel relations. 

Ghaith al-Omari, the Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation Senior Fellow in The Washington Institute's Irwin Levy Family Program on the U.S.-Israel Strategic Relationship, is the former executive director of the American Task Force on Palestine. He served as advisor to the negotiating team during the 1999–2001 permanent-status talks in addition to holding various other positions within the Palestinian Authority.