Experts to explore relationship between U.S., Israel at UNLV forum Sunday

Three high-profile experts will be at UNLV on Sunday night to discuss the relationship between the United States and Israel.

The event, scheduled for 7-9 p.m. in the university's Ham Concert Hall, is free and open to the public.

"This is about having an open dialogue," said Elliot Karp, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Las Vegas, the event's co-sponsor. UNLV and the Review-Journal are also sponsors.

Scheduled to speak are the following:

■ Avraham Burg, a leftist Israeli political leader and activist best known as once being the youngest speaker ever of the Knesset, Israel's legislative body;

■ Dennis Prager, a conservative columnist, author and radio host. Prager is a favorite of some on the right for his arguments against secularism in America;

■ Joe Klein, a Time magazine columnist and author, who will act as the event's moderator. Klein is best known as the once-anonymous author of the novel "Primary Colors," a fictional account of a presidential campaign remarkably similar to Bill Clinton's.

Karp said the goal was to bring together intellectuals from both sides of the political aisle who could rationally discuss Middle Eastern issues without the event degenerating into a "Crossfire"-like argument.

He said he expects there will be many issues discussed, including the Arab Spring, the relationship between Israel and the Palestinians, and what a nuclear-armed Iran would mean for the region.

He said the current presidential election is also likely to be a topic of discussion, especially as the panelists see it relating to Israel and the Middle East.

Richard Hollander, president and CEO of Temple Sinai in Las Vegas, said a congregant was fed up with the polarizing nature of political discussion in America. He helped establish this new speaker series.

The congregant, Jeffrey Moskow, is a former UNLV instructor who several years ago donated $1 million to the university for a speaker series at the Business College. He also recently donated $500,000 to the college to help students learn about investing in startup companies and existing businesses with high-growth potential.

Moskow was unavailable for comment Wednesday.

Hollander said the goal of Sunday's event, the first in what could become a series of such events, is to break through standard political rhetoric.

"What better way than to have some credible speakers come in and broach these subjects from both sides of the political spectrum," he said.

"We hope it sparks continued discussion."

Contact reporter Richard Lake at rlake@reviewjournal .com or 702-383-0307.