On the heels of a hotly-contested national election, one of Israel’s most respected political analysts and the co-creator of the internationally-acclaimed Netflix drama Fauda will speak in Montreal on Tuesday, May 14.
As part of the Canadian Associates of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev’s annual main event, Avi Issacharoff will join National Post columnist Barbara Kay in conversation on Israeli politics, conflict with Palestinians and broader relations with the Arab world.
Issacharoff’s insights into the Conflict are unparalleled. Fluent in Arabic, he served in an elite commando unit of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) known for its work in Arab territories before graduating cum laude from Ben Gurion University, later adding an MA in Middle Eastern Studies and Literature from Tel Aviv University, where he now lectures. He then began his journalism career as a radio news reporter and Middle East Affairs correspondent for Israel Radio.
After publishing two award-winning books on the second Intifada and the 2006 Lebanon war, Issacharoff joined the Ha’aretz newspaper as its Palestinian and Arab Affairs correspondent. By 2015, Fauda premiered on Israel’s Yes network, co-created with actor and screenwriter Lior Raz, who stars in the show based on their experiences in the military.
Shortly thereafter, Fauda became international hit on Netflix, broadcast in 190 countries. It has won multiple Ophir (Israeli Oscar) awards for best drama, actor, screenplay, cinematography and more. The New York Times named Fauda the best international TV series of 2017.
“The intensity, artistry and high intelligence that characterize Fauda have captivated viewers around the world, myself included,” said Kay, who follows her son Jonathan Kay as host of last year’s record-breaking Bill Browder event. “I am delighted at the prospect of discussing this brilliant project’s evolution with its co-creator.”
Fauda’s highly-anticipated third season is currently in production and will debut later this year.
“As an Israeli political analyst, Issacharoff’s understanding of the situation in Israel and the Middle East promises to be very perceptive,” added Jack Altman, CABGU Quebec president. “We are proud that he is a BGU graduate.”
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For further information:
Simon Bensimon
Executive Director,
Canadian Associates of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (Montreal)
About Canadian Associates of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
Canadian Associates of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (CABGU) was formed on July 27th, 1973. Since then it has played a vital role in sustaining David Ben-Gurion’s vision of creating a world-class institution of education and research in the Israeli desert, nurturing the Negev community and sharing the University’s expertise locally and around the globe.
Photo: Netflix
