MK Ophir Pines-Paz recently
made headlines in Israel by resigning
from the Israeli cabinet to
protest the appointment of
Avigdor Lieberman of the Yisrael
Beiteinu party to the post of Minister
of Strategic Threats. In resigning,
he also announced his
candidacy for the Labor party
leadership. Pines-Paz made campus
appearances at New York
University (NYU) and Washington
University in St. Louis. At
Washington University, an open
lecture was co-sponsored by the
Near Eastern and Judaic Studies
Department, the Schusterman
Visiting Professorship/American-
Israeli Cooperative Enterprise,
and the Political Science Department,
providing a broad opportunity
for students and faculty to
hear the guest lecturer. At separate
events at the university, MK
Pines-Paz met with university and
Jewish communal leaders as well.
“This was a remarkable opportunity
to engage with a leading
Israeli politician of the caliber of
MK Ophir Pines-Paz and we are ready to embark upon a social justice
project to further his goals,” said student
leader Abel Samet, a national
debate champion and leader in fraternity
Sigma Epsilon. “He’s one of the
smartest politicians I’ve seen.”
Student leader Della Heiman, whose
father Gary Heiman made Aliyah following
his graduation from Washington
University and who went on to establish
an international textile company in
Arad (Magavot Arad), said that the visit
offered a “tangible resource right on
campus. We had the opportunity to ask
questions face to face with one of Israel’s
rising starts. He truly represents
Israel’s new leadership. He helped us
sift through our emerging belief systems
and values and discuss the Israeli
political system in an honest and forthright
manner.” MK Paz-Pines guest
lectured for the Washington University
Schusterman Israeli Professor David
Nachmias, Professor in the Lauder
School of Government, Diplomacy and
Strategy at the Interdisciplinary Center
in Herzliya. Professor Nachmias introduced
MK Paz-Pines as the ‘future
Prime Minister of Israel who exhibits
strong and ethical leadership
