A year into the Trump presidency, we hope to explore the broad contours of the administration's approach to the Middle East and understand what the next few years will look in terms of U.S. relations with Saudi Arabia and Iran, approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the U.S. role in Syria, counterterrorism operations, etc. We will also examine how U.S. foreign policy towards the Middle East has been shaped over the decades and its impact on the way ordinary Americans perceive the region and the broader Muslim world. What must we as citizens know about our shifting diplomatic position in order to keep our government accountable? To better understand the current direction of U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, join us for a conversation with UMass Professor David Mednicoff and Professor Osamah Khalil, Syracuse University. Co-sponsors: Middle East Studies (UMass Amherst), Critical Connections, Karuna Center for Peacebuilding