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George Vlahakis
IU Media Relations
gvlahaki@indiana.edu
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812-855-4682

Last modified: Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak to speak at IU Oct. 30

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 26, 2006

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak

EDITORS: Additional information for media wishing to cover this event will be released in the near future.

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Israel's most decorated soldier and former prime minister will present a lecture on Oct. 30 at Indiana University Bloomington hosted by Indiana Memorial Union Board.

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak will speak at the IU Auditorium, 1211 E. Seventh St., at 7:30 p.m. The lecture is free and open to the public, but general admission tickets will be required to attend the lecture.

There will be a two ticket limit per person. Tickets will be available to students with a valid IU Bloomington ID on Oct. 16. Faculty, staff and general public tickets will be available on Oct. 19. Tickets can be picked up at the IU Auditorium Box Office (open Monday-Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.). For questions about tickets call 812-855-1103.

Barak is the most decorated soldier in Israel's history and led his country from 1999-2001. During his tenure as Israel's 10th prime minister, Barak led the country out of prolonged recession and into an economic boom. However, the core of the Barak government's efforts was devoted to the peace process.

In May 2000, Barak ordered the withdrawal of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) from South Lebanon, ending 18 years of Israel's presence there. He led far-reaching efforts to negotiate peace agreements -- first with Syria and later with the Palestinian authority -- with the active participation of U.S. President Bill Clinton and his administration.

Additionally, he served as chief of the general staff of the IDF, where he was involved in the negotiation and implementation of the 1994 peace treaty with Jordan -- an especially meaningful event for Barak in light of his warm relationship with Jordan's King Hussein. Barak also served his country as Minister of the Interior, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defense Minister.

Barak's political, educational and military background gives him a unique perspective for assessing the key challenges of world terror, international diplomacy, globalization and the free world in the 21st century. Union Board Lectures Director Amanda Prager says, "This unique vision and background that Prime Minister Barak brings is invaluable for students as they get ready to become professionals in a global world -- Union Board is proud to be able to bring him to Indiana University."

The Indiana Memorial Union Board has brought thousands of programs to the IU community since its inception in 1909. Union Board is comprised of 16 student and four non-student directors responsible for campus programming that entertains and educates the IU community. The Indiana Memorial Union Board offices are located in room 270 of the Student Activities Tower in the Indiana Memorial Union. For more information about Union Board, call 812-855-4682 or e-mail ubpr@indiana.edu.