Peace talk: Pitt student groups host Middle East diplomat

David Makovsky sees a future where peace in the Middle East is possible.

Makovsky, a Ziegler distinguished fellow of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy visited Pitt to discuss the Middle East peace process and how to make change in the world. Pitt College Republicans, Pitt College Democrats and Panthers for Israel teamed up to host the speaker in the William Pitt Union at 9 p.m. on Thursday.

Throughout the hour-long speech, Makovsky, who works to promote U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, talked about Israeli politics, post-Sept. 11 themes in America, the difference between Christianity and Judaism and the struggles between Israelis and Palestinians.

Gabrielle Hill and Cameron Linton, presidents of College Democrats and College Republicans, respectively, used the event as a way for the two clubs to collaborate.

“As the new president of College Democrats, I wanted to reach out to more clubs on campus, so I reached out to Cameron to arrange some sort of event that would indicate some kind of bipartisanship movement on campus,” Hill said. 

Makovsky said the fact that these three groups collaborated for this event made it even more special. 

“Whenever I see Democrats and Republicans co-sponsoring things, it gives me hope for bipartisanship,” Makovsky said. “It’s inspiration for Palestinians and Israelis.”

Panthers for Israel hoped the event would show their bipartisan nature as well, as has been the U.S.-Israeli relationship throughout history, according to Samantha Rothman, co-president of Panthers for Israel and sophomore business student. 

He opened his talk with his idea of a “Middle East Mount Rushmore,” where he has placed two prominent Israelis and two influential Arabs, including the King of Jordan, the prime minister of Palestine and the man who invented the Iron Dome for Israel. He credits these people with sparking his interest in peace negotiations.

Makovsky spent 11 years as a diplomatic correspondent for Haaretz, an Israeli daily paper, as well as seven years reporting for the Jerusalem Post and 10 months as senior adviser on Secretary of State John Kerry’s peace team.   

His work now focuses on peace negotiations and spreading awareness about conflicts in the Middle East, specifically between Israelis and Palestinians. 

Today, Makovsky travels to colleges around the United States to speak with students, who he views as “young political types,” about his work in the Middle East. 

“People in college have no recollection of 1993 and 1994, but I remember the good times,” Makovsky said. “So I tell students to hold their heads up high, and don’t let dissonant voices that say, ‘We’re not going to sit with you, we’re not going to talk to you,’ get them down, because this is a plea for coexistence and civility more than anything.” 

Makovsky also touched on his work in think tanks, which he has been participating in for the past 15 years.

A think tank, as Makovsky described it, is a group of individuals who are dedicated to promoting thinking, creativity and the problem-solving of contemporary issues.

“We have to try to think outside of the box. We think every which way, through the front door, the back door, the basement and even the chimney,” Makovsky said. 

Makovsky encouraged open communication on college campuses among different organizations. For him, this type of problem-solving is the key to making a change.

“I’m not saying its all rosy looking forward — it’s not. But we can narrow these gaps [of conflict] and the campus should be a warm spot for this coexistence,” Makovsky said. “If the governments can talk to each other during these harried times, certainly we can talk to each other here.” 

Linton said he found the talk to be enjoyable and informative.

“I thought [Makovsky] was a very eloquent speaker and had a lot of insight,” Linton said. “A lot of the things we see and hear on the news are just the top layer of what’s going on, but he provided a great layer that a lot of people don’t get to see.”