Hudson Institute’s Center for Middle East Policy cordially invites you

to a foreign policy discussion on

Violence in Lebanon and Gaza:

A Prelude to War in the Middle East?

Thursday, May 31^st, 2007

2:30 – 4:00 pm

Betsy and Walter Stern Conference Center

Hudson Institute

1015 15^th St., NW

6^th Floor

Washington, DC20005

The recent eruption of violence in Lebanonand Gazahas become a growing concern for Washington. The renewed violent internal struggle between Hamas and Fatah in Gazabordered on civil war before leading to deadly rocket attacks against Israel. The current violence in northern Lebanonmarks the deadliest clashes involving the army since the country’s civil war. The escalation of fighting between the Lebanese military and the Syrian-backed terrorist organization known as Fatah al Islam threatens Lebanon’s security, fledging democracy and even its recent independence from Syrian domination. But what are the greater repercussions for the region? Will the situation in Lebanonand Gazaspill over into a greater confrontation between Israeland other Arab countries or remain localized conflicts? To examine these and other related questions, Hudson Institute’s Center for Middle East Policy is pleased to host a panel of distinguished experts.

Panelists:

David Schenker, Senior Fellow in Arab Politics, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy

Meyrav Wurmser, Director, Center for Middle East Policy, Hudson Institute

Hillel Fradkin, Director, Center for Islam, Democracy and the Future of the Muslim World, Hudson Institute

Lee Smith, Visiting Fellow, Hudson Institute

TO RSVP(acceptances only) please contact Jean Weicher at Jeannie@hudson.org or call (202) 974-2425.