Leaders from the United States, Israel and the Middle East gathered this week at the University of Cincinnati to have open conversations regarding tensions overseas.
The April 19-21 American Jewish Archives Conference, held at Nippert West Pavilion on the University of Cincinnati’s campus, brought together students, scholars and policymakers for workshops and discussions on regional issues. Topics were wide-ranging, from interfaith relations to security and peace efforts.
Mark Raider, a UC history professor who helped organize the event, said the goal was to create a platform for open dialogue on the Abraham Accords, U.S.-Israel relations, and the future of the Middle East.
The Abraham Accords, signed in 2020, expanded cooperation through travel, economic partnerships and cultural exchanges.
“It’s been very successful,” Raider said.
The conference aimed to encourage honest discussion and address complex topics about the Middle East, he added.
“We’re committed to the idea that if we’re going to have an Israel studies agenda on campus, and an Israel-related kind of component on campus, that it needs to be expansive. The US-Israel relationship is naturally a part of that,” Raider said.
Exposing the university’s large undergraduate population to Israel studies, even in limited ways, can help students better understand the issue’s complexity as they prepare for leadership roles, according to Raider. He estimated that about 130 people registered for the conference and that about 60 were present at any given time.
Several ambassadors from the Middle East joined by video after the U.S war in Iran prevented travel, Raider said. Former ambassador for Israel Dan Shapiro, former Sen. Rob Portman and U.S. Rep. Greg Landsman also attended portions of the event.
“I think there’s a lot of creative thinking here,” Shapiro told CityBeat. “Ultimately, all these processes are going to be led by societies, led by business, communities, led by people-to-people connections.”
The conference did not take official positions on the conflicts discussed. Shapiro said he hopes ideas from the event will be shared with policymakers.
Raider said he hopes to build on the conference through research and classroom work, including examining how social media and misinformation shape perspectives and helping students connect with policymakers.
The Academic Engagement Network also contributed to putting on the event.