Mark Regev, spokesman at the Embassy of Israel in Washington, D.C., discussed terrorism and the relationship between Israel and America with students, faculty and community members at Chambers Building last night.

The event was sponsored by Caravan for Democracy, which features different Israeli speakers across college campuses in the United States to discuss the challenges Israel has had being the only democracy in the Middle East

Penn State Hillel, Chabad of Penn State, the Political Science Department, the Center for Jewish Studies and the Foundation for the Defense of Democrats also co-sponsored the discussion.

Tuvia Abramson, executive director of Hillel, said he felt it was important to inform the campus about the conflict in the Middle East.

"As a Jewish community, we support Israel. We felt there was a need to speak about Israel," Abramson said.

Regev said that next month, Israel will celebrate its 56th anniversary of independence. He said during this time Israelis will "soul search" on what they have done well and the mistakes they have made.

One fundamental failure is that Israel has not achieved peaceful relations with its neighbors, Regev said.

However, Regev said he is proud of Israel's successes in becoming a "vibrant, very strong democracy."

"Israel is far from perfect. Perfection is only in the next world," Regev said. "But I can be proud that we have built in Israel a very strong democracy."

The Jihad, Regev said, is a global phenomenon with no free press and no free speech. The lack of these rights creates extremely radical behavior, he added. "These groups can only survive in political oppression," Regev said. "All dictatorships have one thing in common -- an enemy."

A solution to the Middle Eastern conflict, Regev said, is to have a more democratic regime.

Regev pointed out that Yasser Arafat has been in power for 40 years. Since 1958, he said there have been dozens of Israeli prime ministers and 10 American presidents, but only one Arafat.

"You know if someone is in there for so long, something is rotten in Norway," Regev said. "You should support those Palestinians who want change, not the corrupt regime of Arafat."

During a question-and-answer session involving the audience, Regev addressed his views of the United States' involvement in Iraq and how to fight terrorism.

"The United States has been on my country's side for a number of years," Regev said. "I hope and pray that the U.S. is successful. Whatever your views are, we must come to a consensus to get this done and get this done right."

Regev said that too often when countries combat terror they put up defenses such as checking bags in schools and airports.

"You never win a game of football by playing defense," Regev said. "You never win terror by playing defense."

Instead, Regev said Israelis combat terror by closing down the terriost's money supply, their safe havens and legitimaticies in societies, and taking out the commander.

"You beat the terrorists by making them play defense," Regev said.

Matthew Kane (sophomore-business administration), a member of Hillel, said he came to the event to show his support for Israel.

"You usually don't get both sides of the story," Kane said. "I don't think people in America are well-informed of what's going on in Israel."

Regev said he remains optimistic with the conflict in the Middle East.

"True interests of the Palestinians and Israelis go hand in hand," Regev said. "My home is in the Middle East. I believe peace is possible."