Consul General Yuval Rotem spokeThursday

By G. Elena LopezStaff Writer

The best prospect for peace in the Middle East lies with the newgeneration of young Arab leaders.

This was one message Consul General of Israel Yuval Rotem conveyedto students, faculty and the community Thursday in Hardy Tower.

Rotem, the senior Israeli representative in the southwesternUnited States, made a presentation titled “The State of Israel in aTime of Crisis.”

Rotem began by briefing the audience on projections for the futureof Israel and pointed out some observations.

“This is a very tough moment for Israel,” he said.

Israel is undergoing economic as well as political difficulties.Economic growth for Israel is “practically nonexistent,” he said.

Rotem said younger Arab leaders, such as Jordan’s King AbdullahII, are more globally oriented and are gaining crucial experienceduring this conflict.

He said he sees optimism in Bahrain, where women are now able tovote and run for office. He was also hopeful about the new era ofinformation and the introduction of technological elements into theirsociety.

In the United States, Rotem said he feels safer on AmericanAirlines than before Sept. 11. In six months, the nation went a longway to improve airport security and is on the right track to protectits citizens, he said.

Audience members asked Rotem about the Middle East’s currentsituation.

One inquired what the United States’ recent support of a UnitedNations resolution favoring a Palestinian state meant.

“They do speak about a vision of the Middle East, and at thismoment I don’t see a different vision from our perspective,” Rotemsaid.

Rotem also had a message for college students:

“Read more and engage more in international relations, because inmany ways what took

place on Sept. 11 was a wake-up call to all of us,” he said.”Although you are protected by two different oceans, in this globalera, no one is protected.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re Indian, Israeli or American. We allneed to understand the threat and time of our era.”

Rotem spoke on campus through the International World Affairsgroup, a forum that brings students in direct contact withinfluential diplomats and policymakers from around the world.