Palestinian ambassador to visit School of International Affairs

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Ambassador Husam Zomlot, the head of the General Delegation of Palestine Liberation Organization to the United States, will join the Penn State School of International Affairs and Penn State Law on February 14 to discuss one of the most pressing issues in global diplomacy.

The ambassador’s presentation—“The Palestine Question in the Trump Era”—is free and open to the public, and will be held from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the Sutliff Auditorium of the Lewis Katz Building. Prior registration is requested.

Zomlot will examine the intricacies of the relationship between Palestine and Israel, its influence on international affairs, and how the election and foreign policy of President Donald Trump may shape this complex situation.

Zomlot, who previously served as ambassador-at-large for the Palestinian presidency and charge de affairs of the Palestinian Mission to the United Kingdom, is being brought to campus by the School of International Affairs Student Government Association and the Penn State Law International Law and Diplomacy Society, who are co-sponsoring his address.

“It is both a pleasure and an honor to help bring such a distinguished diplomat to Penn State,” said SIA student government president Caroline Katba, who previously worked as the media coordinator with the Palestinian Diplomatic Mission before coming to Penn State. “In times such as these, to be able to learn from representatives from other nations is a great benefit for my fellow students, especially my colleagues who hope to pursue careers in diplomacy and international relations.”

In addition to his diplomatic career, Zomlot holds a Ph.D. in economics from the University of London and served a professor of public policy at Birzeit Univerity, where he co-founded and chaired the Birzeit School of Government. He also held teaching and research positions at Harvard University and the University of London. His professional experiences include working as an economist for the United Nations and economic researcher with the London School of Economics and the Palestine Economic Policy Research Institute.