FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Former PLO Journalist to Visit UCI by Invitation of Anteaters for Israel

IRVINE, CA – Anteaters for Israel is hosting a speech by former Palestinian Liberation Organization journalist Khaled Abu Toameh on the topic of the recent Israel-Hamas war. Toameh is an award-winning Arab-Israeli journalist for the Jerusalem Post best known for his coverage of Palestinian ongoings in the West Bank and Gaza. His behind-the-scenes knowledge of the Palestinian Authority compels him to speak out against the lack of free speech and press within the PA controlled areas and its affect on the foreign press’ coverage of Israel, as well as the biased opinions within the foreign press.

Toameh’s visit to UC Irvine’s campus at the hand of AFI heralds the first Palestinian speaker to visit UCI in years, let alone one with such close experience to a Palestinian organization. Coupled with his respectable international reputation, Toameh is known for having taken a rather unbiased stance regarding the Israeli-Arab conflict. He will be speaking in Pacific Ballroom C on February 25th, 2009 at 7 PM and will address such matters as his experience with the PA, the Palestinians’ current government, Hamas, and the recent Gaza conflict.

About Anteaters for Israel: AFI is a pro-Israel student group at UC Irvine.  They have invited speakers such as the internationally-lauded scholar and lawyer Alan M. Dershowitz and the Israeli Counsel General Jacob Dayan. The group acts as the campus’ primary pro-Israel voice and hosted last year’s first annual iFest with the help of Irvine’s Jewish and pro-Israel community.

Questions may be directed to Isaac Yerushalmi via email at president@anteatersforisrael.org.

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