Author
Alon Ben-Meir
Middle East Director of the World Policy Institute, New School for Social Research
Dr. Alon Ben Meir is a professor and Retired Senior Fellow at New York University’s Center for Global Affairs and Senior Fellow at the World Policy Institute.
Dr. Ben-Meir is an expert on Middle East politics and affairs, specializing in international negotiations and conflict resolution.
In the past seventeen years, Ben-Meir has been directly involved in various negotiations between Israel and its neighboring countries and Turkey.
Ben-Meir hosts “Global Leaders: Conversations with Alon Ben-Meir,” a speaking series of debates and conversations with top policy-makers from around the world held each semester at NYU. He also regularly briefs at the U.S. State Department for the International Visitors Program.
He writes a weekly article that appear in scores of newspapers, magazines and websites including the Huffington Post, Jerusalem Post, Middle East Times, Times of Israel, Epoch Times, the Political Quarterly, the Harvard Review, and many other publications in Arabic and English.
He has been featured on networks such as ABC, Al Jazeera (English and Arabic), Al Arabiya, al-Hurra, CNN, Russia Today and NBC.
He has authored seven books related to Middle East and is currently working on a new book about the psychological dimension of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Dr. Ben-Meir holds a master’s degree in philosophy and a doctorate in international relations from Oxford University.
Articles by Alon Ben-Meir
Sinwar’s Death Presents a New Challenge to Israel and Hamas
The death of Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind behind the savage October 7 attack that led to the Gaza war, presents a new challenge to Netanyahu and Hamas. Both now face a new reality they cannot wish away.
October 28, 2024
The Four Roots of the Israel-Hamas Conflict
Hamas’ attack and Israel’s retaliatory war are the dire by-products of decades-long psychological impediments — historical, ideological, religious and humanitarian. They have hindered any progress toward a solution while making the conflict ever more intractable.
October 6, 2024
Neutralizing Iran’s Nuclear Threat Without Force or Sanctions
The U.S. and Israel must develop a new strategy that factors in the possibility that Iran will become a nuclear power but renders it futile without using force or sanctions while creating a sustainable regional security order.
August 30, 2024
Cooperating With Iran’s President-elect Pezeshkian Will Far Outweigh the Risks
The election of the reformist Masoud Pezeshkian as Iran’s president augurs well for the Iranian people and for relations between the West and Iran.
July 12, 2024
What’s Next for Israel?
After Gantz’s resignation, Netanyahu’s options are trying to hold on, forming a new government or new elections.
June 12, 2024
Erdogan’s Golden Opportunity
Turkey’s President Erdogan could have emerged from the Israel-Hamas war as a peacemaker.
May 6, 2024
Mission: Stop Iran In Its Tracks
Can the United States create a strategic alliance ranging from the Gulf to the Mediterranean to counter Iran’s ambitions?
March 23, 2024
The Charge Sheet Against Netanyahu
13 reasons why Benjamin Netanyahu must go before he causes further irreversible harm to Israel.
January 4, 2024
The Breakdown In Israeli-Palestinian Relations: Where Do We Go From Here?
The horrific massacre that Hamas perpetrated against innocent Israelis offers an unprecedented opportunity to reach an Israeli-Palestinian peace which has eluded both sides for 75 years.
November 4, 2023
Hamas’ Brutal Attack Could Have Been Avoided
Hamas's brutal attack occurred under the “watch“ of the most militant government in Israel’s history – and has proven its ineptitude and that ignoring the Palestinian problem will happen at Israel’s peril.
October 12, 2023
The U.S. Faces Its Greatest Peril Since the Civil War
Republicans who claim to put country before party must rise up along with their Democratic colleagues to save the United States from Donald Trump.
July 3, 2023
Why Turkey’s Elections Matter Globally
Turkish voters must not forget Erdogan’s evil deeds.
May 12, 2023
Saudi Arabia’s New Geostrategic Doctrine
The resumption of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran signals the Saudis’ reassessment of their geostrategic interests.
May 4, 2023
Brazil: The Global Benefits of Bolsonaro‘s Defeat
Bolsonaro’s election loss gives hope to climate change advocates in the battle to protect the Amazon rainforest.
November 17, 2022
Bennett Is Siding With Putin, the Ruthless Killer
By opting for “neutrality” on Putin’s war against Ukraine, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has gravely betrayed Israel’s founding moral principles.
April 12, 2022
An Open Letter to President Erdogan
When Erdogan leaves the political scene, it will be with a public mixture of contempt and relief – not with the reverence that was bestowed upon Atatürk.
December 2, 2021
Erdogan’s Misogyny Transcends His Moral Decadence
Erdogan’s decision to withdraw Turkey from the 2011 Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combatting Violence Against Women is despicable
June 6, 2021
South Sudan’s Fragile Peace
The peace accord to end the civil war in South Sudan remains fragile and needs international support.
April 9, 2021
Why Was I Ever Born? Yemen — A Poem Article
While tens of thousands of Yemeni men, women and children are dying from starvation and disease, the world is shamelessly watching with deafening silence.
February 5, 2021
I Want My American Dream Back
Never has it occurred that one man, in four short years, would nearly shatter everything that the US stood for.
November 7, 2020
US Prisons: Outrageously Unjust
The time is overdue to reform the US prison system. It reflects very poorly on the country‘s moral values.
September 9, 2020
J’Accuse Erdogan
The weaker Recep Tayyip Erdogan is at home politically, the longer the list of the Turkish President’s transgressions gets.
July 9, 2020
The Saudis’ War in Yemen Is a Crime Against Humanity
For Saudi Arabia, which leads the Sunni Muslim world, to act as brutally as it has in Yemen is a gross violation of Islam and constitutes crimes against humanity.
April 18, 2020
I Am Proud To Be a Socialist
If valuing human rights and dignity is “socialist,” then sign me up.
February 27, 2020
U.S.-Iran: The Soleimani Killing and Global Order
What sort of global order will we have left if the leaders of one country eliminate the leaders of another? Nothing but global chaos would ensue.
January 26, 2020
Middle East: Ever More Unstable
A review of seven Mideast conflicts, each one ever more intractable.
January 5, 2020
How to Spell Out Donald J. Trump?
Trump has brought shame and dishonor to the most prestigious office in the world—the US Presidency. This is how his name is really spelled.
December 28, 2019
Trump and the Kurds: An Act of Betrayal and Infamy
Trump abandoning the Kurds will damage the U.S. and embolden its foes. It amounts to nothing less than treason.
October 12, 2019
Daring to Question American Jews’ Loyalty
Trump is an antisemite in his blood. That there is even a small chance that he will be reelected should send shivers down the spine of every decent American.
August 23, 2019
Trump: A Racist President
Donald Trump’s embrace of white supremacy is poisoning America’s soul.
August 7, 2019
Modernity: No Shield Against Genocide
As long as we put our short-sighted political interest above human lives, we prove we have learned little from history and are condemned to repeat it.
June 1, 2019
The Beginning of the End of Erdogan’s Era
Public sentiment is moving away from President Erdogan in Turkey’s largest cities, especially his hometown of Istanbul. This will have major political ramifications.
April 29, 2019
Changing the Face of Israel
Netanyahu’s reelection should give serious pause to every Jew and friend of Israel, as the consequences for Israel’s future will be extremely dire.
April 12, 2019
The Balkans: Feeding Russia’s and Turkey’s Hunger
While Serbia is trying to balance its bilateral relations between Russia and the EU, Kosovo and Macedonia are more transparent in seeking Europeanization.
March 17, 2019
The Taliban and the US: Accepting the Inevitable
It took the deaths of 2,300 U.S. soldiers and tens of thousands of Afghans to reach the agreement to end the longest war in U.S. history.
February 11, 2019
Time to Dump Netanyahu
Can the leaders of Israel’s political parties for once put the national interest above their party and their lust for power?
January 19, 2019
Corruption in the Balkans Is Impeding EU Membership
Addressing the problem of corruption in the Balkans is central to the EU’s geostrategic interests and the Balkans’ future wellbeing.
January 11, 2019
Trump’s New Year’s Gift to Putin, Rouhani and Erdogan
Trump’s decision to withdraw forces from Syria and Afghanistan points only to his abdication of the US’ moral responsibility.
December 21, 2018
The Democrats’ Victory Can Save the Republican Party
Democratic control of the House of Representatives offers Republicans the chance to redeem themselves and begin the process of healing a dangerously divided country.
November 18, 2018
America Must Not Live and Die by the Gun
America is at war with itself. We must demand effective gun control measures from our leaders to end the slaughter.
November 10, 2018
Erdogan’s Hooligans Came Knocking on NYU’s Doors
Why do we tolerate a foreign autocrat dispatching his thugs to our country and challenging our right to free speech and assembly?
November 3, 2018
The Saudi Butchery in Yemen and the World’s Apathy
It is time for Muslims to stop killing each other. The only way out of the Yemen morass is reconciliation and peaceful coexistence.
October 26, 2018
Trump, Israel and the Palestinians
Trump’s “deal of the century” for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict may well put an end to any prospect of a two-state solution.
September 23, 2018
Trump’s Betrayal and the Future of the EU
In the age of Trump, the EU must strive toward ending its psychological and emotional dependency on the U.S. and be prepared to act unilaterally and independently.
August 5, 2018
The Serbia-Turkey-Russia Axis: Alarm Bells for Europe
Erdogan and Putin are working hard to undermine the EU’s and NATO’s strategic interests in the Balkans.
June 2, 2018
Albania Must Choose Between the EU and Turkey
Turkey’s President views the Balkan countries as easy prey. A close-up look at Albania's future path.
May 19, 2018
Decertifying the Iran Deal Is Dangerously Reckless
Trump’s dreadful mistake of decertifying the JCPOA could have horrifying consequences for the Middle East.
May 9, 2018
“Army of Islam”: Erdogan’s Plot Against Israel
How many more sinister steps can Erdogan take before the EU and the U.S. recognize that he is a threat to Western strategic interests?
March 26, 2018
After Parkland: Murder By Congress
Reflections on the latest high school shooting in the United States and what it says about the state of American "civilization."
February 18, 2018
South Sudan: Losing the Last Vestiges of Our Moral Fabric
“Never again,” adopted in the wake of the Second World War, has become nothing but an empty slogan in South Sudan, Syria, Libya and Yemen.
November 19, 2017
Time to Kick Turkey Out of NATO?
Violations of the free press and of human rights demand that the West reevaluate its relationship with Turkey.
November 9, 2017
Trump Vs. America’s Children: Child Poverty In America Is Indefensible
For the country’s poor, the American dream is a living nightmare which is heightened by Trump’s ill-conceived budget.
October 29, 2017
Annulling the Iran Deal: A Dangerous Strategic Mistake
Trump rendering the Iran deal null and void will irreparably undermine America’s global, moral and political leadership.
October 9, 2017
The US Has to Accept North Korea as a Nuclear Power
We must accept that North Korea is a nuclear power and rely on nuclear deterrence while normalizing relations in the process.
September 10, 2017
An Open Letter To President Trump
It is time to resign now and do so with dignity for the sake of the country.
August 31, 2017
Trump’s “New” Strategy in Afghanistan Is Doomed To Fail
After 16 years of fighting, dispatching an additional force of 4,000 soldiers will not change anything.
August 24, 2017
Ending Iraq’s Humanitarian Crisis
The Iraqi people must rise above sectarianism and chart their own destiny.
August 8, 2017
Afghanistan: A Morally Corrupting War
There is no military solution to the war in Afghanistan. The solution to the debacle lies with the Afghan tribes.
July 21, 2017
Fifty Years of Immoral Occupation of Palestine
If the Israelis and the Palestinians learned to live in peace, it would usher in a renaissance the likes of which has never been seen before.
July 19, 2017
The Kurds Under Erdogan’s Tyrannical Governance
When will Erdogan come to his senses to see that the solution to the conflict with the Kurds lies only in peace negotiations?
July 10, 2017
Doing Netanyahu’s Bidding
The disunity of Israel's opposition parties is serving the Occupation.
May 13, 2017
The Battle Over Syria’s Future
The six things that the United States and Russia ought to do with regard to Syria.
April 2, 2017
Erdogan: Sultan of an Illusionary Ottoman Empire
Turkey has no chance to become as powerful and influential as the Ottoman Empire was during its heyday. And it’s all Erdogan’s fault.
March 9, 2017
Trump And Netanyahu: Embracing Illusions, Ignoring Reality
Netanyahu is under multiple criminal investigations and Trump is being attacked from every corner. Both have found comfort with one another.
February 22, 2017
Moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem: Strings Attached
How Trump would need to manage the fallout of such a decision, to achieve a breakthrough instead of disaster.
February 11, 2017
Turkey and the Kurds: Violence Is Not the Answer
Erdogan never understood the Kurds' mindset. He needs to revisit history to see the hardships they have experienced.
September 26, 2016
Turkey’s Elected Dictator
It is high time for the United States and EU to condemn the unruly way in which Erdogan exercised his power.
July 22, 2016
Arab World: No Shortcuts to Deradicalization
The root cause of radicalization is embedded in a nation's internal socio-economic and political disorder.
July 18, 2016
How Turkey Became a De Facto Dictatorship
President Erdogan's lust for power has now taken down even his competent prime minister.
May 23, 2016
Saudi Arabia Abroad: A Kingdom In Retreat
Despite military adventurism beyond Saudi borders, the comfortable status quo is fading.
April 21, 2016
Quicksand Kingdom: A Shaky Saudi Home Front
Domestic prospects look bleak for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
April 20, 2016
The Truth About Israel’s National Security
There can be no safety without a peace deal.
February 13, 2016
Middle East Peace: God Has Already Spoken
Why has the religious dimension of the Israel-Palestine conflict received scant attention?
September 2, 2010
Palestine and the Fayyad Difference
Does Salam Fayyad's plan for Palestine offer an exit from the Israel-Palestine conflict?
August 3, 2010
Supporting Fayyad’s Vision
Will Prime Minister Salam Fayyad's plan for Palestinian statehood bring new hope to the region?
September 1, 2009
Wake Up, Israel (Part II)
How can Israel work with Arab nations to bring about peace in the region?
June 3, 2009
Wake Up, Israel (Part I)
Are Israelis facing a critical juncture that will determine their future security and prosperity?
June 2, 2009
Netanyahu’s Second Act
In what direction will Benjamin Netanyahu lean during his second shot as Prime Minister?
April 21, 2009
Coalition Politics and Peace in Israel
Will contenders Tzipi Livni and Benjamin Netanyahu rise to the occasion, join forces and put the country on a path of recovery?
February 17, 2009
One Last Shot in the Middle East
Is the United States facing its last chance to help resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?
January 24, 2007
Energy Independence as a Bipartisan Agenda
Why does U.S. national security depend on alternative energy sources?
November 28, 2006
The Saudi-Israeli Axis
How can the Shiite axis threat help forge better Arab-Israeli relations?
November 10, 2006