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b'Seventy years after Israel\\u2019s establishment as an independent state, its accomplishments in high tech, medical research and innovation has far exceeded expectations of a country its size. Some might be surprised to learn that Israel consistently ranks in the top 15 countries on the \\u201cHappiness Index.\\u201d \\n\\nAll this despite the fact that Israel has been at war with its neighbours since its inception \\u2013 and the threats to its security are as real today as they were in 1948.\\n\\nIn this talk, the speakers will describe the complex and long history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, beginning with the longing of the Jewish people for a state, the emergence of the Zionist movement, the British Mandatory period and the Arab world\\u2019s rejection of Israel\\u2019s right to exist. In the absence of diplomatic relations between Israel and its neighbours, wars have played a significant role in determining borders. Hope for a peaceful resolution of the conflict in the 1990s resulted in peace agreements with the Egyptians and Jordanians, but a settlement with the Palestinians remains illusive.\\n\\nQuestions to be explored are: Where are we today? What are the barriers to peace? Is there hope for a two-state solution? \\n\\nSpeakers:\\n\\nJudy Shapiro, Associate Executive Director, Calgary Jewish Federation\\nJared Shore, Chair, Community Relations Committee, Calgary Jewish Federation\\nJeffrey Smith, Board Member, The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA)\\n\\nModerator: Trevor Page\\n\\nDate: Thursday, May 17, 2018\\nTime: Doors open 11:30 am, Presentation 12 noon, buffet lunch 12:30 pm, Q&A 1 \\u2013 1:30 pm \\nLocation: Royal Canadian Legion (north door) 324 Mayor Magrath Dr. S. Lethbridge \\nCost: $14 buffet lunch with desert & coffee/tea/juice or $2 coffee/tea/juice. RSVP not required'