Israeli statesman to kick off Distinguished Speaker Series




Ehud Barak

Ehud Barak

Ehud Barak, former prime minister of Israel and global statesman, will appear as part of the Distinguished Speaker Series at 8 p.m. Tues., Oct. 20 at the Kavli Theatre, Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 E. T.O. Blvd.

Barak has served Israel as prime minister, chief of General Staff of the Israeli Defense Forces, foreign minister and most recently as Minister of Defense from 2007 to his retirement in 2012.

During his tenure as Israel’s 10th prime minister, Barak led the country out of a prolonged recession and into an economic boom with 5.9 percent annual growth, record foreign investments, near zero inflation, a halved deficit and decreased external debt.

Barak played a pivotal role in various Middle Eastern peace efforts. In 2000, he ordered the withdrawal of the Israeli Defense Forces from South Lebanon, ending 18 years of Israel’s presence there.

Barak is the first of seven talks offered as part of the speaker series. The evening will conclude with a half-hour question and answer session.

He will be followed by John Cleese on Nov. 10, Henry Paulson in conversation with Geoffrey Colvin on Jan. 11, 2016, Platon the photographer on Feb. 9, Michio Kaku on March 15, Leon Panetta on April 12 and Martha Stewart on May 10.

Individual tickets to Barak are not available. The speakers are only available in a subscription package of $260 to $469.

To purchase the package, call (310) 546-6222 or visit www.speakersla.com.


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