Alon Ben-Meir

Alon Ben-Meir (Hebrew: אלון בן-מאיר; born 1937) is an American expert on Middle East politics and affairs, specializing in peace negotiations between Israel and the Arab states.

He also makes regular television and radio appearances, and has been featured on networks such as CNN, FOX, PBS, ABC, Al-Jazeera (English and Arabic), Al-Arabiya, Press TV Iran, NPR and Russia Today.

Often accused of being overly optimistic in his views, notably concerning the Arab-Israeli conflict, Ben-Meir has responded, "There is enough pessimism, pain, and disdain, and I do not choose to add my voice to the chorus of doom.…..I envision a Middle East with Arabs and Jews working and living together to achieve greatness perhaps unknown in human experience.

The Global Leaders series events offer the public an opportunity to engage with top policy-makers, officials, and influential thinkers from around the world in an intimate and informal setting.

Ben-Meir regularly engages in Track II diplomacy to enable negotiations between Israeli, Arab, and Turkish officials to achieve greater peace and prosperity.

Ben-Meir in Jerusalem. The Temple Mount sits in the background.
Ben-Meir hosting ambassadors Bashar Jaafari, Khalid al-Nafisee, Hamid al-Bayati, and Riyad Mansour at a "Global Leaders: Discussions with Alon Ben-Meir," on November 30, 2010.