Dr. Alon Ben-Meir is a professor of international relations at the Center for Global Affairs at NYU. He teaches courses on international negotiation and Middle Eastern studies. alon@alonben-meir.com
Published books available on Amazon include:
* A Strategy for Implementing the Reconciliation Process Between Israel and the Palestinians
*A War We Must Win
* Framework for Arab-Israeli Peace
* In Defiance of Time
* Israel: The Challenge of the Fourth Decade
* Lost Perspectives
* Middle East Imperatives and Choices
* Spring or Cruel Winter: The Evolution of the Arab Revolutions
* Toward The Abyss: Israel and the Palestinians
This is the first in a series of articles based in part on eyewitness accounts about the rapidly deteriorating socio-political conditions in Turkey and what the future may hold for the country. By Alon Ben-Meir NEW YORK — During the past few months I interviewed scores of Turkish citizens who escaped from Turkey following […]
Erdogan’s lust for power destroying Turkish democracy Read More »
Alon Ben-Meir, Middle EastBy Alon Ben-Meir NEW YORK — The conference for peace between Israel and the Palestinians initiated by the French government that took place on January 15 in Paris was positive in many ways. The concluding declaration that collectively emerged pointed out the need to establish a Palestinian state as a prerequisite to peace and stability, urged
Reviving the two-state peace discussion Read More »
Alon Ben-Meir, Middle EastBy Alon Ben-Meir NEW YORK — President-elect Trump’s appointment of David Friedman (known for his support of the settlements) to be the US ambassador to Israel, his appointment of Walid Phares (a Maronite Christian known for his pro-Israel track record and distaste for the Palestinians) as his Middle East advisor, and charging his son-in-law Jared Kushner
The case against a one- state solution Read More »
Alon Ben-Meir, Middle EastBy Alon Ben-Meir NEW YORK–Recent developments in connection with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict demonstrated the huge gap between the Israeli government and the international community’s position about the settlements in the occupied territories and the prospect of a two-state solution. United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334, followed by Secretary of State John Kerry’s speech condemning the
A three- track approach to Mideast peace Read More »
Alon Ben-Meir, International, Middle East, USABy Alon Ben-Meir NEW YORK — Although Christians have lived in the Middle East – the birthplace of Christianity – for nearly two thousand years, as a result of years of persecution and discrimination, especially in the past 15 years, they now constitute no more than 3-4% of the region’s population, down from 20% a
Protecting Christians, other minorities in the Middle East Read More »
Alon Ben-Meir, Middle EastBy Alon Ben-Meir NEW YORK – In a recent conversation I had with students, faculty, and alumni at New York University just before the start of my program “Global Leaders: Conversations with Alon Ben-Meir” on November 3, I had the opportunity to answer some questions concerning the turmoil in the Middle East and America’s role
What will America’s role be in the world? Read More »
Alon Ben-Meir, International, Middle East, USABy Alon Ben-Meir NEW YORK — If nothing else, the 2016 elections have once again reaffirmed America’s solid democratic system. Without any major incidents, tens of millions of Americans went to polling stations across the land, voted for the candidate of their choice, and readied themselves, as always, for the peaceful transfer of power. I
Trump’s three big Middle East challenges Read More »
Alon Ben-Meir, Middle East, USABy Alon Ben-Meir NEW YORK — I am skeptical of what Israel’s Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman says as I have judged him only by his actions. For the Palestinians, however, to immediately dismiss what he said in an interview with the Palestinian daily al-Quds—that he supports a two-state solution and would lift Israel’s blockade of Gaza
Lieberman’s Gaza offer deserves testing Read More »
Alon Ben-Meir, Middle EastBy Alon Ben-Meir NEW YORK — Much has been written about the unfolding tragedy in Syria, but how many of these unimaginable atrocities have been etched in the consciousness of the American public? As president, Obama refuses to rise up to stop this unfathomable horror; thousands more innocent men, women, and children are butchered each
U.S. must not stand idly by as civilians die in Syria Read More »
Alon Ben-Meir, International, Middle East, USABy Alon Ben-Meir NEW YORK — Turkey’s President Erdogan has claimed that military operations against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) will continue until “the very last rebel is killed.” What is puzzling about this statement is that after more than 30 years of violence that has claimed the lives of over 40,000 Turks and
Time for Turkey to negotiate with the Kurds Read More »
Alon Ben-Meir, Middle EastBy Alon Ben-Meir NEW YORK–Israel’s continued settlement activity—whether retroactively approving ‘unauthorized’ outposts or advancing plans for new units as was recently announced—represents yet another nail in the coffin of the peace process. The settlements have become nothing but Israel’s self-entrapment, threatening its very existence. Prime Minister Netanyahu and his coalition partners, however, are not concerned
Israel’s settlement policy is self- destructive Read More »
Alon Ben-Meir, Middle EastBy Alon Ben-Meir NEW YORK — The international conference that was convened by France on June 3rd in Paris to advance the Israeli-Palestinian peace process ended up without concretely establishing specific measures that would persuade both parties to resume negotiations in order to reach a peace agreement. The joint communiqué issued following the conference stated “The
Trust- building required for Middle East peace Read More »
Alon Ben-Meir, International, Middle East, USABy Alon Ben-Meir, PhD NEW YORK — Two weeks ago, President Obama announced that the US will draw down its troops in Afghanistan from 9,800 to 8,400, altering his original plan to reduce the number to 5,500. His decision suggests that conditions on the ground are not as promising as he expected them to
Time for an exit strategy in Afghanistan Read More »
Alon Ben-Meir, InternationalBy Alon Ben-Meir NEW YORK — Now that Iraqi forces, with the support of the international coalition, are gearing up to recapture Mosul — ISIS’s last major stronghold in Iraq–the question that looms high is what will be the fate of the Iraqi Sunni community following ISIS’s inevitable defeat? I maintain that unless the political discussion begins
Defeating ISIS and ending Sunni-Shiite war in Iraq Read More »
Alon Ben-Meir, Middle East, USA