PANELISTS: Dr. John Cherian, Consulting Editor, Frontline; Prof. P.R. Kumaraswamy, Professor of Contemporary Middle East, Centre for West Asian Studies, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University and Hony. Director, Middle East Institute; and Prof. Bansidhar Pradhan, Professor, Centre for West Asian Studies, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University

CHAIR: Amb. K.P. Fabian

The Israel-Palestine Dispute has once again flared up on 10th May, with the Hamas firing rockets into Israel and the latter retaliating with air strikes. A cease-fire was agreed to after 11 days. The grim toll includes over 280 human lives lost, 77,000 rendered homeless in Gaza, not to speak of the destruction of infrastructure including water and electricity, hospitals, schools, and even a library. There is talk of reconstruction and even of the two-state solution. The panelists will address the issues including the two questions: Why did this crisis occur when it did? The role of the United States; What next?