Dear Friends and colleagues,
In November 2013 I am planning another speaking tour across the United States and Canada. I am planning to be in North America from November 13 – 29.
My portfolio of speaking topics will include the following:
- What’s happening on the negotiating front? Current events, news from behind the scenes of Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts.
- The Secret Conduit to Freedom – the story of the secret negotiations between Israel and Hamas that I conducted.
- Is Israeli-Palestinian peace still viable? Is the two-states for two-peoples option still alive?
- What can we learn from the failed Israeli-Palestinian peace process? Lessons learned and their broader relevance to this and other conflict zones.
My book FREEING GILAD: The Secret Back Channel (in Hebrew) and The Negotiator –
Freeing Gilad Schalit from Hamas (in English) about the secret negotiations between Israel and Hamas that I conducted will be out in both English and Hebrew.
“Gershon Baskin’s strategic thinking and planning background give him a unique perspective for assessing the key challenges of sustainable peace, international diplomacy, environmental security and globalization in the 21st century.”
Click here to book Gershon Baskin for a Keynote Address or a Motivational Speech at your next event!
Read some recommendations from previous speaking engagements:
“My students were absolutely riveted by your story and your assessment of the current situation. One student told me that after a decade of studying the conflict and four different classes in college and law school, he felt for the first time that he had a coherent understanding after hearing from you.”
Professor Andrea Kupfer Schneider
Director, Dispute Resolution Program, Marquette University Law School
“We are still getting wonderful responses by phone, email, and in person. The attendance at your event was very high given that it was a holiday weekend. Your presentation spoke to the hunger that many have for information from and about Israel that isn’t focused on either feel-good jingoistic advocacy or on relentlessly withering criticism. People tell me they were spellbound, and that your presentation was overall excellent, fascinating, and enlightening. They were in awe of what you had accomplished, and many noted in particular that they left the event with a feeling of greater optimism about Israel’s future than they have felt for a long time. They were taken with the idea that back-channels even exist, and that many seemingly intractable issues can potentially be solved this way; they credit you for bringing decades of knowledge and experience to those back-channels, helping to account for their success. They commented on the extent to which your observations did not fit neatly into a single ideological box, and they found this very refreshing. You may recall that many of them simply thanked you at the end of the presentation, and didn’t even have questions or comments. “I could have sat there listening forever,” has been said to me frequently, and some of the most positive comments came from people who weren’t even in attendance, but heard from their friends what they had missed!”
Sherry Rosen, Princeton University
“ It was one of the most profound discussions I’ve had on the subject of Israel-Palestine relations in nearly seven years of radio broadcasting. This master negotiator, who orchestrated the release of Gilad Schalit, an IDF soldier kidnapped by Hamas and held for seven years, favors ceasefire over blood-letting. The clear-eyed pragmatist imparts as hopeful a message as I’ve heard in a long time. Can his approach change the algebra of the region? Here’s link for interview with Gershon:
http://kruufm.com/node/15134“
James Edward Moore
Tell Somebody, A weekly public affairs program on KKFI-FM 90.1, Kansas City community radio
“Not only are you a fascinating man and a wonderful speaker but your presence on campus has truly begun to open a discussion on campus on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. I can only wait to see what is going to happen next!”
Ariela Weinberger
Muhlenberg College
“Cannot begin to describe how much I enjoyed your presentation in Houston on Wednesday evening. My only regret is that many people who should have been there were not.”
Alan Livingston, World Affairs Council of Houston
I wanted to share with you a response to the comment made at dinner where you were told you were “very optimistic.” A few weeks ago, in a class that the Institute for Jewish Christian Understanding here at Muhlenberg is offering along with the Shalom Hartman Institute in Israel, we read and discussed the Proclamation of Independence of the State of Israel. This is such a powerful document; anyone who holds the State of Israel as their beloved homeland can’t help but feel optimistic and full of pride when reading this Proclamation. A few weeks ago, I might have agreed with my colleague that your optimism is perplexing, but not now. As my pastor would say, “It’s in the DNA of your beliefs.” This morning I ran across this statement in a book I’m reading:
“Peacemakers [are] sustained by a willingness to suffer if necessary, to endure abuse without retaliation, to overcome hatred of the enemy, and to keep hope and patience alive during a long period of struggle.” You demonstrated the last portion of this statement so well in last night’s talk. Thank you so much for giving us American peaceniks a demonstration of the endurance necessary to achieve peaceful, thoughtful, practical approaches that honor life. I feel I’ve been given a great gift and I’m honored and somewhat fearful of it.
Sheila Clever
Peace and Justice Team of First Presbyterian Church in Allentown
Thank you for your powerful words, your wonderful presentations, and for the boost you’ve given us in Sarasota, Austin and Houston. In all three cities, your visit inspired new people, reinvigorated longtime activists, and we’re capitalizing on the momentum across the board.
Rachel Streitfeld, South Regional Director, J Street
What a memorable and moving presentation I had the privilege to attend this afternoon . Yashar Koach! Please accept my deep admiration, appreciation and gratitude for your heroic efforts in fulfilling this great mitzvah of Pidyon Shuyim. You are a Rodef Shalom.
Rabbi Mark Joel Mahler
Temple Emanuel of South Hills
Pittsburgh, PA
It was a pleasure working with you, and if I didn’t say it before, I’ll say now that you were the absolute best speaker we’ve had to date!
Leslie Cheron Garrison
Rodef Shalom Congregation
Pittsburgh, PA
“Gershon Baskin spoke to a spellbound audience about the current situation in the Middle East. He addressed both Palestine and Israel’s need to protect themselves from violence and terror as well as the desirability of continuing negotiations towards a sustainable and viable peace. Baskin was an eloquent guest speaker, bringing the audience to their feet numerous times. Both before and after his presentation, he was both cordial and courteous with his time and very amiable and friendly in meeting many of our community members. We were honored to have him as our special guest speaker and gratified by the reception that his ideas received.”
Chaim Cohen, PeaceChannels
CSP AND ASCF REACH AGREEMENT REGARDING USE OF “PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH”