Saban Forum 2007—War and Peace in the Middle East

Just weeks before a U.S.-sponsored peace meeting on the Middle East in Annapolis, Maryland, the Saban Forum held its fourth annual U.S.-Israel dialogue from November 3-5, 2007, bringing a high-level, bipartisan U.S. delegation to Jerusalem for discussions with their Israeli counterparts on the theme of “War and Peace in the Middle East.”

The program began on Saturday, November 3, 2007 when participants met with Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad to discuss the prospects for peace. On Sunday, November 4, 2007 the U.S. delegation departed for Amman, Jordan to meet with H.M. King Abdullah II to discuss the Arab League Peace Initiative. United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Quartet Envoy and former British prime minister Tony Blair addressed the participants at a Gala Dinner on November 4 in Jerusalem. The U.S.-Israel dialogue commenced on Monday, November 5, featuring remarks from Israeli Defense Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Ehud Barak, Leader of the Opposition Benjamin Netanyahu, former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency George Tenet, Israel’s Director of Military Intelligence Major General Amos Yadlin, Israeli Minister of Public Security Avi Dicter, and Natan Sharansky. President Shimon Peres hosted the closing session at his official residence and Ahmed Qurei‘, Chief Palestinian Peace Negotiator, spoke at the dinner.