Israel Hamas Discussion Tonight for Oregon Historical Society

PORTLAND, Ore.–  Tonight the Oregon Historical Society’s offering an educational program, to help people understand the conflict between Israel and Hamas, and how the violence has sparked protests at college campuses across the country, including PSU and the University of Oregon.  People are invited to sign up on the Oregon Historical Society’s website, for access to a live or taped program featuring Dr. Salim Yaqub, a University of California professor who has written several books about the middle east conflict.  Historian and author, Dr. Chris Nichols is also taking part in the event for the Oregon Historical Society’s “Historians and the News” series.

“I hope a lot of people listen in and you can include your questions and comments in the Q and a element of this,” said Nichols. ” This is really a conversation. It’s free with registration. You can find the registration on the website of the Oregon Historical Society. It really a broad audience who’s interested in these questions related to, Israel. Gaza, Palestine, the U. S. dimensions of the protests. There’s a lot of folks focusing on the violence that first happened on October 7th and then followed in Gaza. October 8th and thereafter question of ceasefire. So what we’re really tackling though, also is the historical context. What informs this? I think a lot of us, when we hear these information such as 40,000 Gazans killed or, that this is an unprecedented terrorist attack by Hamas.”

Nichols continued, “How did we get there? Why is there not a two state solution? In what ways is the U. S. a possible arbiter or peacemaker here?  In what ways is the U. S. ethically compromised perhaps by providing weapons to Israel? There’s lots of questions here on what the deeper history is. How did we get to this point? I think it’s really essential in trying to chart a path forward.”

The virtual event starts at 6 tonight, and it’s free to the public, though they’re asking for donations to help the Oregon Historical Society continue programs like this.