The Baker Institute for Public Policy hosted Ted Deutch, CEO of the American Jewish Committee and former chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East, for a wide-ranging conversation with Ambassador David M. Satterfield, director of the Baker Institute.
Drawing on their decades of diplomatic and congressional experience, Deutch and Satterfield discussed the shifting landscape of U.S. engagement in the Middle East, including support for Israel to strengthen and expand regional normalization efforts. They also examined the rise of antisemitism and the implications for international security, democratic institutions, and U.S. leadership. The event provided context for understanding current U.S. policy developments in the Middle East. It was free and open to the public. This event was co-sponsored by the American Jewish Committee.
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Agenda
4:30 pm CDT — Reception
5:00 pm CDT — Armchair Discussion
5:45 pm CDT — Q&A Session
Participants
Moderator
The Honorable David M. Satterfield
Director, Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy; Janice and Robert McNair Chair in Public Policy; Former ambassador to Lebanon and Turkey
Featured Speaker
Ted Deutch became CEO of the American Jewish Committee on Oct. 1, 2022, after more than 12 years representing Broward and Palm Beach counties in Congress. He chaired the House Ethics Committee and served on the Judiciary and Foreign Affairs committees, where he led the Middle East, North Africa, and Global Counterterrorism panel. Deutch advanced bipartisan efforts to strengthen U.S.-Israel cooperation, opposed attempts to delegitimize Israel at the United Nations, supported human rights and religious freedom, and championed measures to counter Iran’s nuclear and regional activities.
A founding co-chair of the House Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism, Deutch frequently spoke out against antisemitic rhetoric and helped launch an international coalition to curb online antisemitism. He previously served in the Florida Senate, authored the nation’s first state law restricting pension investments tied to Iran’s nuclear program, and worked as a commercial real estate attorney. A lifelong Jewish community leader, he has held roles with major Jewish organizations. Born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, he lives in Boca Raton, Florida, with his wife, Jill, and they have three adult children.