WAMC's Alan Chartock Interviews Leading Israeli Thinker Yael Dayan

ALBANY, NY (11/15/2010)(readMedia)-- WAMC's Alan Chartock will sit down for a one-hour interview with leading Israeli thinker Yael Dayan this Thursday, November 18th at 1 p.m. The interview airs as part of WAMC's Speakers' Corner series.

Dayan, a longtime journalist, is the author of several novels and non-fiction works. She also served in the Israeli Knesset for three terms and is recognized as one of the foremost voices on peace, gay rights, and women's rights in Israeli politics. Dayan currently serves as chair of the Tel Aviv City Council. Her father was famed Israeli military and political figure Moshe Dayan and her grandfather, Shmuel Dayan, served in Israel's first Knesset.

"What an hour Ms. Dayan gave us," Chartock, President and CEO of WAMC, says. "For those people who think that there aren't two sides in the debate over contemporary politics in Israel, think again - and get ready to be blown out of your seats."

The interview is a wide-ranging look at Dayan's life and career. Born before the State of Israel came into existence, Dayan advocates for a two-state solution in order to quell violence between Palestinians and Israelis, including partitioning Jerusalem. In the interview, she also argues against religious orthodoxy that limits women's rights.

"We forget that it's just a normal country, in the best sense of the word," Dayan says. "Politics is giving an unpleasant screen to the reality of what Israel is. That's why we have to remove this screen … Peace is very costly, but this is what we're about. We'll never be an Israel of the quality we want Israel to be unless we go forward with a peace plan."

Member-supported WAMC Northeast Public Radio broadcasts news, informational and cultural programming to listeners in portions of seven northeastern states. WAMC is an award winning producer of regionally based programming and an affiliate of National Public Radio, American Public Media, and Public Radio International. www.wamc.org

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