CJS Release

November 4, 2003

Large Turnout for 2nd David Bar-Illan Media Conference in Ariel

More than 250 people attended the Second Annual David Bar-Illan Conference
on the Media & the Middle East, held on Sunday, November 2nd at the College
of Judea & Samaria in Ariel. The one-day event was convened to honor David
Bar-Illan, former Executive Editor of the Jerusalem Post and Director of
Communications for Prime Minister Netanyahu, for his commitment to accuracy
and objectivity in news reporting.

This year's forum focused on three important media-related issues: news
reporting during times of war and conflict, getting the public involved in
media activism and European media coverage of the Middle East.

Preceding these sessions, Isi Leibler, Senior Vice President of the World
Jewish Congress, gave the keynote address, commenting on the double
standards directed against the Jewish state by the international community,
the failure of Israel's hasbara efforts and the growing anti-Israel,
anti-Semitic feelings in Europe.

Participants included Prof. Dan Meyerstein, CJS President, Dr. Yariv
Ben-Eliezer of the CJS Mass Communications Dept., Moshe Arens, Chairman of
the CJS Board of Governors, Shai Bazak, former senior adviser to Prime
Minister Netanyahu, Moti Kirschenbaum of Channel 10 TV, Eviathar Ben-Zedeff
of the International Policy Institute for Counter-Terrorism, Maj. Sharon
Feingold of the IDF Spokesman's Office, Lutfy Mashour of As-Sennara,
Caroline B. Glick of the Jerusalem Post, Daniel Diker of IBA English News,
Yisrael Medad of Israel's Media Watch, Doreen Gainsford of the Israel Action
Center, Dr. Alexander Bligh of INSAC, Simon Wilson of the BBC, Conny Mus of
RTL 4 & 5 and Gideon Meir of the Israeli Foreign Ministry.

The audience included students, faculty, journalists and members of the
public. Also present were Beverly Bar-Illan, David's wife, and Ella and
Noga Bar-Illan, David's sisters.

Commenting on the Bar-Illan conference, Michael Stoltz, the College's Vice
President for Development, said, "I attribute the large turnout and interest
in the forum to the growing role the media plays in shaping public opinion.
Also, over the years, David Bar-Illan and his writings/activities, both at
the Jerusalem Post and in the Prime Minister's Office, have generated a
wide-spread following in Israel and abroad."

During his opening remarks, Prof. Meyerstein thanked the main sponsors of
the David Bar-Illan conference for their generous support: Arthur Cohn,
Ronald Lauder, the Bialkin Family Foundation, Marvin Josephson, Cyril Stein
and Marc Cohen.

Beverly Bar-Illan closed the conference, noting, "When David was the
Executive Editor of the Jerusalem Post, I complained that he worked too
hard, too many hours. But as I listened today, I couldn't help but think
that he has left mark. He will always be the man who was Israel's first
'Eye on the Media'".

For more details, please contact:

Office of Development & External Affairs
College of Judea & Samaria, Ariel, Israel
Tel. 972-3-906-6222; Fax. 972-3-906-7440
E-mail. development@ycariel.yosh.ac.il
Web site. www.yosh.ac.il