News Article

"Look to Iraq to if you want to understand the dramatic change happening today in the Arab world."

That's the message given by Professor Amatzia Baram in a recent ASUH tour of Texas and Houston.  Prof. Baram, Director of the University of Haifa's Center for Iraq Studies, shed new light on the way America, Israel, and the West should understand the dramatic social and political change happening in the Arab world.  Iraqi identity politics, he told capacity crowds, is critical in managing the shifting landscapes in Turkey, Egypt, and Syria.

(from L-R: Terry Gardner, Norman Berkman, and Prof. Baram)

In Houston, Prof. Baram was graciously hosted by Sarah and Dennis Braham.  In addition to addressing unrest in Egypt and Syria, Prof. Baram also stressed the need to understand Iraq’s system of identity politics in order to address issues like Iran’s nuclear ambitions.  He told audiences that Israel and the United States face a complicated situation in the Middle East and are torn between ideals and core interests, which don’t always coincide. (pictured at right from L-R: Dennis Braham, Harriet and Gilbert Gertner)

Prof. Baram also returned to south Florida for several events, including a speaking engagement at Temple Emanu-El in Palm Beach and a parlour meeting in Bal Harbour, hosted by Madeline and Herbert Hillsberg with guests that included Revital Malca, Israeli Deputy Consul General to Florida and Puerto Rico.  Prof. Baram continued to stress the importance of Iraqi politics in appreciating the changing framework of Arab socio-economic systems.

(from L-R: Glorial Weintraub, Revital Malca, Prof. Baram, Madeline Hillsberg, Isabel May, Herbert Hillsberg)

For more information on Prof. Baram and to support his critical research, contact ASUH at info@asuh.org or 212.685.7880.