Hillel at Miami University Press Release
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11 East Walnut Street, Oxford, OH 45056
Contact Julia Nayfeld (513) 368-3040 or Noam Schafer (513) 255-1407

HERB KEINON, DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENT OF THE JERUSALEM POST, TO SPEAK AT MIAMI UNIVERSITY

OXFORD (OH) --- On October 26, Miami Students for Israel (MSI), in partnership with the Journalism program, will host Herb Keinon, a world renowned diplomatic correspondent for the Jerusalem Post, at 7:00 pm in 1 Upham Hall. Mr. Keinon's speech is titled: "The War on Terror, Bush, Kerry and US Middle East Policy: An Israeli Journalist's Perspective."

“We are very excited to be hosting Keinon with the Journalism Program,” says Noam Schafer, President of MSI. “It is really great to participate with the Journalism Program on this, not only because Keinon is so established in his field, but because it's important for rising journalists to broaden their understanding of the issues surrounding Israel.”

Mr. Herb Keinon is originally from Denver. He has a B.A. in political science from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and an MA in journalism from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. He has lived in a suburb outside of Jerusalem in Israel for 23 years. Mr. Keinon has worked for the Jerusalem Post for the last 18 years. During this time he has covered a wide variety of topics, including Jerusalem, immigration and absorption, religious parties, and the controversial Israeli settlements.

In August 2000, Keinon took over the diplomatic beat. This was a crucial time for it was right after the failed Camp David summit, and just before the start of the second intifada. Keinon had the honor of covering the prime minister and foreign minister, often traveling with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on his trips abroad. Therefore, Keinon has an intimate perspective of the current Israeli-Palestinian confrontation and the various diplomatic attempts put forward to solving the conflict.

Keinon is a frequent guest commentator concerning the volatile situation in Israel on a variety of radio and television programs in the US, Canada, and Europe. Keinon has also traveled all over Israel and Canada lecturing about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Keinon's speech marks the first major campus-wide program of the 2004-2005 school year by MSI, Miami University's pro-Israel student-led organization. The goal of MSI is to promote dialogue regarding Israel and the Middle East through programming, including lectures, social and cultural events, and political activism. MSI is planning a vibrant year of programming, which includes hosting the world-acclaimed music group Seeds of Sun.

To schedule an interview with Herb Keinon, and for more information regarding his lecture, please contact Julia Nayfeld, Chair of Public Relations, or Noam Schafer, President of MSI.

2004 Executive Board of Association of Jewish Students, from left to right: Heather Goldstein, VP for Programming; Matt Strauss, VP for Religion and Culture; Ann Kravec, President; Andrea Meier, VP for Communications; Ilya Charnay, VP for Finance.