Edgar M. Bronfman is a leading philanthropist and chairman of the Board of Governors of Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life. He is the former CEO of the Seagram Company Ltd. and the former president of the World Jewish Congress. He has been recognized for his leadership by organizations, universities, and governments around the world. In 1999, President Clinton awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States' highest civilian honor. He is the author, with Beth Zasloff, of Hope, Not Fear: A Path to Jewish Renaissance (St. Martin's Press; September 2008).

Blog Entries by Edgar M. Bronfman

The Regional Economics of Peace

Posted October 28, 2009 | 10:39 AM (EST)


I recently wrote in these pages about the need for Israel to stop settlement construction in the West Bank, and for the Arab world to take real responsibility in ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While immensely important, additional measures by all parties need to be undertaken as well. This...

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Peacemaking Demands Peacemakers

76 Comments | Posted October 15, 2009 | 09:09 AM (EST)


I recently wrote in these pages about the need for Israel to stop settlement construction in the West Bank, and for the Arab world to take real responsibility in ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While immensely important, additional measures by all parties need to be undertaken as well. This...

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Middle East Peace Begins in the Classroom

36 Comments | Posted October 8, 2009 | 09:24 AM (EST)


I recently wrote in these pages about the need for Israel to stop settlement construction in the West Bank, and for the Arab world to take real responsibility in ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While immensely important, additional measures by all parties need to be undertaken as well. This...

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Economic Self-Interest for Peace

5 Comments | Posted September 30, 2009 | 12:54 PM (EST)


I recently wrote in these pages about the need for Israel to stop settlement construction in the West Bank, and for the Arab world to take real responsibility in ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While immensely important, additional measures by all parties need to be undertaken as well. This...

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Arab Responsibility, Not Rhetoric

9 Comments | Posted September 22, 2009 | 01:38 PM (EST)


With the Obama administration working hard to restart some kind of Middle East peace process, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu maneuvering between U.S. pressure and his own right-wing constituency regarding a settlement freeze, and the Palestinian Authority taking steps to improve the security and economy of the West Bank, the...

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Stopping Construction, Building Peace

23 Comments | Posted August 24, 2009 | 11:50 AM (EST)


These are not easy times for all of us who care deeply about Israel. It has become clear that the governments in Washington and Jerusalem are at loggerheads, primarily over the issue of settlements on the West Bank.

As someone who even during the Carter administration, 30 years ago,...

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A Real Two-State Solution

188 Comments | Posted June 8, 2009 | 09:46 AM (EST)


With President's Obama seminal speech in Cairo last Thursday, there has been renewed talk about Middle East peace and what we need to reach a future where, as the president said, "the mothers of Israelis and Palestinians can see their children grow up without fear."

As a strong opponent of...

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Realism and Leverage for Engaging Iran

Posted March 20, 2009 | 01:59 PM (EST)


President Barack Obama's unprecedented video message to the Iranian people yesterday is a strong indication that Iran will continue to be a high priority for the new administration. Engagement through new diplomatic avenues, like the video, is worthwhile, but we must not lose sight of the challenge Iran still poses....

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What Hamas Has Wrought

Posted February 9, 2009 | 09:36 AM (EST)


"We do not recognize your right to exist. We reserve the right to attack you at any point. And we will surely not honor any previous agreements regarding peace and reconciliation."

These are Hamas' positions vis-à-vis Israel, which they state publicly and repeatedly. This very same organization fires rockets at...

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Raise My Taxes

Posted December 5, 2008 | 04:52 PM (EST)


Raise my taxes. And raise them now. I have been a vocal supporter of President-elect Obama, knowing full well that he intended to raise my taxes. I am disturbed by the possibility that instead of repealing the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans at the start of his...

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Israel's Best Interest is a Morally Strong America

Posted October 30, 2008 | 05:20 PM (EST)


I am supporting Obama for president for two reasons: one is my disdain for the McCain-Palin ticket, and the other my respect and admiration for Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

Among Jewish voters, some feel the basic question is which candidate will act in the best interest of Israel....

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