Inside the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Reflections from a US Foreign Service Officer

Retired US Senior Foreign Service Officer Norm Olsen will speak about his personal experiences in his 34-year service in the Middle East.

Cape Elizabeth native Norm Olsen served 26 years in the U.S. Foreign Service, including nine years in Israel and the Gaza Strip. He reported from Gaza during the First and Second Intifadas and major milestones such as the Oslo process, the establishment of the Palestinian Authority, Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza, and regional conflicts. His work earned a National Human Intelligence Reporting Award, and he retired as a Senior Foreign Service Officer in 2008.