Paul L. Scham - Fass Speakers Bureau

Biographical information
Paul Scham is an Adjunct Scholar at the Middle East Institute in Washington, D.C. and a frequent speaker on topics involving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Israeli politics. Since 1988, he has been working on conflict resolution, civil society cooperation, and Israeli-Palestinian understanding, (both in the U.S. and in Israel) and has recently published a book on Israeli and Palestinian historical narratives, entitled Shared Histories: A Palestinian-Israeli Dialogue. His current focus is on the importance of dealing with the historical narratives of the two sides as a tool, not only an obstacle, in creating peace.

Scham attended Columbia and Princeton, and received a J.D. from the University of California at Berkeley. For several years, he practiced law in California, and came to Washington in 1987. Subsequently he moved to Jerusalem as a Fellow at the Truman Institute for the Advancement of Peace at Hebrew University, coordinating its large program of Arab-Israeli research, academic cooperation, and civil society projects. He also lived for a time in Jordan. Since his return to the U.S. in 2002, he has been primarily engaged in teaching, lecturing and writing. A frequent guest on radio and television discussing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Scham teaches courses on the "histories" of the conflict.During his time in Jerusalem, Scham participated in dozens of civil society workshops, dialogues and conferences, and published works on cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians. His current book is an outgrowth of this work, after observing countless examples of the two sides talking past each other based, among other reasons, on a completely different reading of history.

He is married to Dr. Sandra Scham, a Middle East archaeologist, and they have one daughter, Anat, who is 11.

The Jigsaw Puzzle of Israeli Politics
The average Israeli election includes about 25-30 recognized parties, of which 12-15 usually get into the Knesset. In the most recent election, as was widely reported, a very new party received the highest total of 29 seats, but four others received over ten Knesset seats each. Some news outlets reported it as a "win" for Kadima; others as a loss, since polls had originally predicted over 40. Of course, both reports were correct.Why are Israeli politics so complex? Is this the best system for Israel? What are the costs and benefits of Israel’s proportional representation system, and how have Israelis sought to change it?This witty yet admiring critique will help to explain Israeli politics to those who have never really understood the parties and the system, and will also provide food for thought for other Israeli politics mavens.
Israeli and Palestinian Historical Narratives
Is the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians primarily about land and security? Or is it also about accepting the legitimacy of both sides? In addition to the fundamental issues of land, security, Jerusalem, and settlements, are there "intangible" issues based on the historical narratives that should be considered when peace is being discussed?This discussion will be based on Paul Scham’s recent book, "Shared Histories: A Palestinian-Israeli Dialogue", and will examine how the negotiations between the two sides have rarely impacted some of the issues most important to both.
Changes Over Time: How the Israeli-Arab Conflict has Progressed Since 1967
In 1967, Israel faced a seemingly united Arab world and triumphed in a war lasting just six days. Today, two of Israel’s neighbors have regular diplomatic relations, while Israel still controls the West Bank and Gaza, though in a form few could have imagined a few years ago. Have things changed or not? What can we learn about future developments from examining the changes since 1967?In fact, both sides have changed dramatically since then, but only some of these changes have been reflected in the relations between Arabs and Jews. Whether the future will bring peace or war, or a combination of both, all those concerned with Israel need to understand how the region is a continually-changing tapestry of interests and emotions.
A Jew in Jordan
Paul Scham, an American Jew who has made aliyah to Israel, lived in Jordan in the first half of 1996 while his wife, an archaeologist, conducted her dissertation research. He has returned many times since, usually representing the Truman Institute for Peace at Hebrew University. He has had the interesting, though frequently frustrating, experience of trying to explain Israel (unofficially) to a number of Jordanians, often confronting various cultural, political, and emotional barriers. Alternately serious and light-hearted, he will relate some of his experiences in the Hashemite Kingdom, with royalty, academics, taxi drivers, and everyone in between, and will share some of his perceptions of the people and the society, both with regard to Jordan and to attitudes towards Israel.
The Lebanon War: Causes and Consequences
Israel’s second Lebanon War, in the summer of 2006, was a sobering experience for the Jewish state on many levels. The questions are many, and the consequences are only gradually unfolding. Why did Israel attack when it did? Why was it not more successful? What does Hezbollah really want? Was this a local conflict or primarily a “proxy war”? Who won, and what does that mean?

This lecture will provide an up-to-the minute expert perspective on this perplexing war, along with a consideration of how it will affect the long-term relationship between Israel and its neighbors.

For more information please contact Carol Fass Publicity & Public Relations at 212.691.9707