Ames residents will have the opportunity to hear several views of the Middle East peace process at a series of lectures beginning Thursday.

The Ames Coalition for Peace has organized a series of scholarly lectures designed to educate the public about Israel’s current struggle for peace and the horrors of everyday life as it exists today.

The first in this series of lectures concerning efforts for peace in the Middle East is at 8 p.m. Thursday in the Ames City Auditorium.

A group of Ames and Des Moines residents have recognized the need to better inform Ames and the surrounding communities with more information about the current conflicts in the Middle East, how these conflicts began and a brief history of Israel as related to the conflicts, said Carole Horowitz, independent public relations consultant and one of the series’ organizers.

“Our concern is people not understanding the history, current life or future of Israel and the endemic problems they face,” Horowitz said. “Anti-Israeli and anti-Palestinian problems are more prevalent now than ever before all over the world. Hopefully, by identifying and giving certain information, we can ward off that ‘anti’ feeling here in Ames and the surrounding communities.”

The lecture series is titled “Israel’s Quest for Peace: Past, Present and Future” and will feature three prominent scholars who will travel to Ames in the months of March, April and May.

“This is an educational experience that shares two sides to a very big problem in the Middle East — the Palestinian view, as well as the Israeli view. This is not a pro-Israel experience; it is a scholar partnership and that is what gives it credibility,” Horowitz said.

The first lecturer in the series will be Howard Sachar, professor of history at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Sachar is a two-time recipient of the National Jewish Book Award, said Murray Kaplan, professor of food science and human nutrition and president of the Ames Jewish Congregation.

Sachar will provide a historical perspective with a lecture titled “Israel in Modern History: An Escape from Polemics,” Kaplan said, discussing the enduring Jewish presence in the Middle East, the foundation of Israel and events that led to the region’s current situation.

The second lecture will feature Jessica Stern, lecturer in public policy and a faculty affiliate of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University. Stern has published many works on terrorism, Kaplan said, including her recently published book, “Terror in the Name of God.” She was also the subject of the movie “The Peacemaker.”

Stern will speak at 8 p.m. April 21 in the Sun Room of the Memorial Union.

“When people aim for civilians, that’s terrorism, no matter who’s doing it,” Kaplan said. “Terrorism is never justifiable by any excuse whatsoever, and it is a key issue for us in the United State, Europe and all over the world.”

The final speaker in the series will be the editor of the Jerusalem Report, David Horowitz.

Kaplan said Horowitz has written several books and often provides commentary for CNN, the British Broadcasting Corp. and National Public Radio and has been presented the B’nai Brith International Award for Journalism. Horowitz will lecture at 8 p.m. May 6 in the Ames City Auditorium.

“We are very fortunate that these three lecturers were our top three choices and they are coming to Ames,” Carole Horowitz said. “We were so lucky to find the three people we pinpointed. Each is very knowledgeable and articulate.”

Following each lecture, there will be a reception with time for book-signing. Steffen Schmidt, university professor of political science, will introduce each speaker and oversee each lecture.