Award-winning journalist David Makovsky spoke at the Lowell Center Tuesday night about the state of Arab-Israeli affairs and Iran’s increasing influence in the Middle East. Makovsky stressed to a standing-room only audience that a pessimistic view on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will not contribute to a peaceful, two-state solution.

“We can all talk about who’s suffering more,” Makovsky said. “I’m more interested in how we go forward. How we try to deal with this conflict in a way that will end this tragedy.”

Makovsky, director of The Washington Institute’s Project on the Middle East Peace Process, acknowledged the Israelis and Arabs both contribute to the continuation of the conflict and contain elements of radical nationalism. He said both sides must make concessions to reach a peaceful solution.

“There’s a lot at stake for these parties,” Makovsky said. “There’s a lot at stake for the region. There’s a lot at stake for countries like Iran, who want to exploit things for their purposes. There’s a lot at stake for the United States.”

“I just have some hope in the resilience of the people, and that ultimately the view of the radicals will not be vindicated but will be rejected.”

He said he thought the radicals’ view was “the will to die is greater than the will to live,” and the moderates’ will to live was “greater than the radicals’ will to die.”

Despite blizzard conditions, dozens of students came to listen to Makovsky’s speech. Many said they came for no other reason than curiosity.

“I’m a supporter of Israel,” said Dani Bachar, a UW-Madison junior. “In order for me to be a true supporter I need to know what’s going on in the Middle East.”

Makovsky explained the situation in the context of Iranian influence, saying Iran funds groups like Hamas, the Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah for its purpose of extending power through the Middle East.

“The fact is there’s a lot of enmity between the Persians and the Arabs. And here the Arabs and the Israelis are basically on the same side. How do you thwart Iran from its role of wanting to be a regional power in the Middle East?”

Makovsky cancelled his November speech on campus to advise Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for her appearance at the Annapolis Conference. The conference is the most major recent peace negotiation attempt to find a two-state solution for the Arab-Israeli conflict.