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
By Alon Ben-Meir NEW YORK –In my last article, I argued that the ultimate solution to the Palestinian refugees’ right of return rests on resettlement and/or compensation. Indeed, given the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its psychological, political, and demographic dimensions, there is simply no other viable solution. Many Palestinians living in and outside […]
Palestinian Refugees: Right vs. Reality Read More »
Alon Ben-Meir, Middle EastBy Alon Ben-Meir NEW YORK — The nearly three months of demonstrations by Palestinians along the Israel-Gaza border under the banner of the “March of Return,” turned violent and has remained as such as of this writing. This provides another manifestation of how wrong and astray the Palestinians have been led, believing that there is
Time to resettle or compensate Palestinian refugees Read More »
Alon Ben-Meir, International, Middle East, USABy Alon Ben-Meir and Arbana Xharra NEW YORK — Banned from promoting his dangerous Islamic agenda across the European Union, Turkish President Erdogan is now seeking to use his growing influence in the Balkans against the Western countries. Erdogan’s aggressive return to the Balkans increased concerns among critics in southeastern Europe—the region where he
EU and Turkey vie for Balkan influence Read More »
Alon Ben-Meir, International, Middle EastBy Alon Ben-Meir NEW YORK — Last week, the Israeli Knesset passed a new basic law which in the main enshrines “Israel [as] the historical homeland of the Jewish people in which the State of Israel was established… The right to exercise national self-determination in the State of Israel is unique to the Jewish people…
OpEd: Israel’s nation state law alienates world Jewry Read More »
Alon Ben-Meir, International, Middle East, USABy Alon Ben-Meir NEW YORK — My visit to Brussels last week during the NATO annual conference was nothing short of bewildering and dismaying. Trump’s rampage against our most trusted and faithful allies sent shivers throughout the city, especially in the halls of the European Parliament where I spent considerable time talking to officials from
EU and NATO before and after Trump Read More »
Alon Ben-Meir, International, USABy Alon Ben-Meir NEW YORK — Any protracted conflict can come to an end under certain circumstances that either evolve over a period of time or are precipitated by one side or the other of the conflicting parties, including: when both sides conclude they can no longer benefit from the continuation of the conflict; when
Why Hamas may seek another war Read More »
Alon Ben-Meir, Middle EastBy Alon Ben-Meir NEW YORK — The reelection of Turkey’s President Erdogan, falsely considered to be free, fair, and representative of the will of the majority of the Turkish population, has dire implications both domestic and foreign. Supporters of Erdogan suggest that the elections only reinforce the democratic nature of the country and that critics
Rigged election makes Erdogan an absolute dictator Read More »
Alon Ben-Meir, International, Middle East
By Alon Ben-Meir and Arbana Xharra NEW YORK — Turkey’s President Erdogan makes no secret of his ambition to spread his neo-Ottoman wings all over the Balkans. He views Macedonia as another Turkish satellite in the making, which sadly the Macedonian government seems to have embraced without carefully assessing the long-term adverse ramifications. Very few
Erdogan’s ‘Trojan Horse’ in Macedonia Read More »
Alon Ben-Meir, International, Middle EastBy Alon Ben-Meir NEW YORK — Dear Prime Minister Netanyahu: The latest demonstration of Palestinians along the Gaza border with Israel that turned violent was no surprise to me or perhaps to a multitude of Israelis and Palestinians as well. This tragic confrontation that resulted in the death of 120 Palestinians was not the first and
Open letters to Netanyahu and Hamas leaders Read More »
Alon Ben-Meir, Middle East, USABy Alon Ben-Meir NEW YORK –In early April, Trump stated that the US should withdraw its military forces from Syria. Secretary of Defense Mattis seems to have persuaded Trump to postpone this plan for at least six months, citing strategic necessity, with which I fully agree. Beyond that, however, US forces must not only remain
U.S. must deter Iran in Syria Read More »
Alon Ben-Meir, Middle East, USABy Alon Ben-Meir and Arbana Xharra NEW YORK (Press Release) — As the EU seeks to increase its influence in the Balkans, Russia and Turkey have been working hard to strengthen their own ties to the region. The EU’s renewed interest in its southern backyard has been prompted by fears of Moscow’s mounting impact in
Russia, Turkey, and Serbia are allies in the Balkans Read More »
Alon Ben-Meir, International, Middle EastBy Alon Ben-Meir NEW YORK — At seventy, Israel has every reason to celebrate its remarkable achievements that every Israeli can take pride in. Israel’s accomplishments in various walks of life have made the country a global power; it did so with one hand tied behind its back as the country fought wars, battled violent
Israel’s 70th: The laudable and the lamentable Read More »
Alon Ben-Meir, Middle EastBy Alon Ben-Meir NEW YORK — The decertification of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) by Trump is most unfortunate. It seems that Trump was not swayed by either France’s President Macron or Germany’s Chancellor Merkel to preserve the deal. Instead, he appears to have taken Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s advice to decertify the
Trump’s decision will have serious adverse results Read More »
Alon Ben-Meir, International, Middle East, USABy Alon Ben-Meir and Arbana Xharra NEW YORK — The ‘Sultan’ of an illusionary Ottoman Empire—Turkey’s President Erdogan—is pressuring submissive politicians throughout the Balkan countries to do his bidding to restore the glory of the Ottoman period. For Erdogan, this is not simply an unfulfilled quest; he has been targeting the Balkans for the past
Albania Must Choose Between the EU and Turkey Read More »
Alon Ben-Meir, International