Settlements vs. Security – Why Addressing Settlements is Critical to Next Steps in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

July 12, 2007, 12:00pm – 2:00pm

About This Event

Given recent developments in Israel and the Palestinian territories and efforts to ease conditions and work toward a political horizon, Sasson and General Paz offer a uniquely Israeli perspective on what is most needed on the ground, what is possible, and how it might work. There are few people with such expertise, seniority, and hands-on experience from within the Israeli system. We hope you can join us. Featured Speakers:

Brigadier General (Ret.) Ilan Paz, Former head of the Israeli Civil Administration in the West Bank (2002-2005).

Talia Sasson, Legal adviser to Prime Minister Sharon on settlements and illegal outposts and author of the definitive and far-reaching "Sasson Report" on the issues of settlements, outposts, and law enforcement in the Palestinian territories.

Introduction by:
Daniel Levy, Senior Fellow, The Century Foundation, adviser, Middle East Progress

Moderated by:
Mara Rudman, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress, adviser, Middle East Progress

Location

Center for American Progress
1333 H St. NW, 10th Floor
Washington, DC 20005

Biographies

Brigadier General (Ret.) Ilan Paz is a retired high-ranking IDF Officer with broad expertise derived from 28 years' varied military service, including senior positions in special units, the naval command, anti-terror combat and the civil administration of the West Bank. From 1978 to 1995, he served in the Naval commando, rising to the rank of Deputy Commander of the Naval Commando. He then became West Bank Territorial Brigades Commander, serving in this position from 1996 to 2002. As Head of the Civil Administration in the West Bank and Jordan Valley (2002-2005), General Paz led attempts to preserve dialogue with the PA in the period following Operation Defensive Shield. The Civil Administration was the only Israeli Authority in contact with the PA during this phase. He also spearheaded efforts to ensure law enforcement vis-à-vis Israeli settlers harassing or harming Palestinians and facilitated the necessary coordination of international NGOs working in the West Bank with the Israeli authorities. He is currently a senior strategic consultant to several NGOs, think tanks, and academic institutions seeking to further an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement.

Attorney Talia Sasson worked in the State Attorney's Office between 1979 and 2004. Between 1992 until 1996 she was in charge of criminal, civil, and administrative files of the Supreme Court of Israel. From 1996 to 2004, she headed the Department for Special Tasks in the State Attorney's Office. From August 2004 to March 2005, she was the prime minister's special adviser for law enforcement in the Palestinian territories and unauthorized outposts in the West Bank. In that function, she prepared an opinion paper on this issue that was presented by her to the prime minister and the government of Israel in March 2005 (The Sasson Report). From March 2005 to July 2005, she was the special adviser of the ministerial committee created by Prime Minister Sharon's government for the implementation of the recommendations contained in the report on the unauthorized outposts. From 2004-06, she taught a course to second degree students in Tel Aviv University on the defense of Israeli democracy through law.

Currently, she heads her own law firm, providing advice and representing individuals and organizations in administrative and civil cases. She continues her public activities by lectures on various issues in public and academic forums. She comments frequently on public and legal affairs on radio and television.