Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak To Speak at Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee Community Event; One of the most recognizable names in Israeli politics, Ehud Barak was Israel’s tenth prime minister and continues to play a pivotal role in various Middle Eastern peace efforts. Last year, Foreign Policy magazine named him 13th among its “100 Global Thinkers.” Mr. Barak will talk about his life and service—and his upcoming book, “My Country, My Life: Fighting for Israel, Searching for Peace”

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak

To Speak at Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee Community Event

One of the most recognizable names in Israeli politics, Ehud Barak was Israel’s tenth prime minister and continues to play a pivotal role in various Middle Eastern peace efforts. Last year, Foreign Policy magazine named him 13th among its “100 Global Thinkers.” Mr. Barak will talk about his life and service—and his upcoming book, “My Country, My Life: Fighting for Israel, Searching for Peace.”

(Sarasota, FL) Howard Tevlowitz, executive director of The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee, announced that former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak will speak at a Sarasota-Manatee community event, open to the general public, entitled “An Evening With Ehud Barak” on Monday, February 8, 7 p.m., at the Hyatt Regency, 1000 Boulevard of the Arts, Sarasota. Tickets to the lecture are $18 and are currently on sale. To purchase tickets, visit www.jfedsrq.org or call 941-371-4546.

“Given world issues today, Mr. Barak’s insight into Israel; the Middle East and the rise of ISIS; Iran; relationships between Europe and the Middle East; and the relationship between the governments of United States and Israel, should be profound and timely,” says Tevlowitz.

As Israel’s tenth prime minister (1999-2001), Mr. Barak led the country out of prolonged recession and into an economic boom, record foreign investments, a halved deficit and significantly decreased external debt. Before being elected prime minister, Mr. Barak completed an illustrious 36-year career in the Israeli Defense Forces as the most decorated soldier in its history. He was a key architect of the 1976 Entebbe Operation for the rescue of passengers on the Air France aircraft hijacked by terrorists and forced to land at the Entebbe Airport in Uganda. Additionally, Mr. Barak served as chief of the general staff of the IDF where he was involved in the negotiation and implementation of the 1994 peace treaty with Jordan. Mr. Barak also previously served his country as Minister of the Interior and Minister of Foreign Affairs.

A global statesman, Mr. Barak plays a pivotal role in various Middle Eastern peace efforts. Last year, Foreign Policy magazine named him 13th among its “100 Global Thinkers.” The Wall Street Journal declared him “one of Israel’s towering military figures for much of the past two decades. He is seen as the architect of Israel’s air-power-heavy modern deterrence doctrine. Mr. Barak ended Israel’s 18-year occupation of southern Lebanon in 2000, and his peace proposals at the 2000 Camp David negotiations with the Palestinians remain a blueprint for ending the conflict.”

Event chairs are Bunny and Mort Skirboll and Hannah and Norman Weinberg. The program will be moderated by David Chaifetz, a Federation board member and community leader, who served as moderator for last year’s program with Alan Dershowitz.

About The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee

The Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to save Jewish lives and enhance Jewish life in the Sarasota-Manatee region, in Israel, and throughout the world. In addition, the Federation is responsive when worldwide catastrophes occur. For more information, call 941-371-4546 or visit www.jfedsrq.org.