Yossi Mekelberg

Biography

Yossi Mekelberg has been an associate fellow with the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House since 2002.

He was previously professor of international relations at Regent’s University, where he was head of the international relations and social sciences programme, and the faculty lead on outreach projects. He had taught at Regent’s University since 1996, and before that at King’s College, London.

His fields of expertise include the politics of the Middle East, Israeli politics, the Middle East peace process, international relations theory and US foreign policy towards the MENA region.

For four years he wrote a weekly column for the Al-Arabiya network before moving to write twice a week for Arab News. He is also a member of the Human Rights Watch London Committee.

In addition Yossi is a regular contributor to international media on a variety of international affairs issues.

Past experience

2016-21	Head of International Relations, Social Sciences and Law Programme Regent’s University, London
2008-16	Director, International Relations and Social Sciences, Regent’s University London
2013 - present	Professor of International Relations, Regent’s University, London
1996-2013	Lecturer and Principal Lecturer in International Relations, Regent’s University, London
1994-96	Visiting Lecturer, King’s College London

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Confrontation with the courts shores up Netanyahu’s supporter base – even as Israel’s international isolation deepens.

The collapse of negotiations reveals the flawed logic of Israel and Hamas calculations – but the international community must now step up.

Direct clashes between Israel and Iran have brought the Middle East to the brink of a regional war. Will both sides de-escalate or have tensions reached the point of no return?

In the news

It will take Israel a long time to redeem its reputation in the eyes of the international community.

Preventing extremism and violence of the kind committed by Hamas will not be achieved by treating the entire population of Gaza as mere collateral damage.

Now that hostilities have resumed in their full intensity, what does this mean for the likely trajectory of the war in the days and weeks ahead?

Yossi Mekelberg speaks to France24 on the Hamas attack on Israel.

The president has a frosty history with Israel’s PM, and he has emphasised that US backing depends on the upholding of democratic values.

By launching as careful and measured a response as is possible, Israel will enhance its long-term security and acceptability in the region.

Although in principle the Palestinian citizens of Israel enjoy equal rights, there are many areas in which they are discriminated against.

Those countries that do not help UNRWA meet its budgetary targets should ask themselves a series of questions.

Israel’s extremist government has demonstrated that it is to pressures at home and from abroad.

Officials in Washington are running out of euphemisms to express their dismay with the current Israeli government and the person who leads it.

Firing Gallant demonstrated that it is not Netanyahu who controls the government, but the government that is controlling him.

Yossi Mekelberg, a Middle East analyst at UK think-tank Chatham House, suggests that the US could pressure Israel to change its policies towards Palestinians as it has over judicial reforms.

Channel 4 News spoke to Professor Yossi Mekelberg on protests in Israel

The international community must act swiftly and with a clear and united voice to Israel’s on divisive government.

May the people confine this government of Netanyahu’s to a very short chapter in the history books.

Most Palestinians are staying away from protests about the government’s plans for its called reform of the judiciary

The longest-serving premier in the country’s history is also the weakest he has ever been, held hostage by the most extreme partners of his coalition.

What is genuinely frightening is that the present government includes both the sinister and the simple in abundance.

Netanyahu is weaker than he ever has been and has placed himself at the mercy of the far right and the ultra-Orthodox.

However, whether a new agreement is reached or not, the hostility between Israel and Iran will remain a constant feature of Middle Eastern politics.

Galon’s return gives the progressive left a massive shot in the arm.

Iran and Israel must create conditions that serve the interests of everyone and, in doing so, avoiding a regional war that will only bring immeasurable destruction and suffering.

Israel is moving from one political crisis to another with a government that hangs on to power by the skin of its teeth.

The High Court of Justice has failed Palestinians time and again, demonstrating that there is one standard of justice and morality applied to Israelis and another to Palestinians.

Reopening the US consulate in East Jerusalem must be seen as a significant move in the right direction

Any hope for peace, coexistence and reconciliation will take root only when trust is rebuilt between the communities immersed in this conflict.

Transforming the cold peace between Egypt and Israel into a warmer one.

In recent weeks we have seen some modest diplomatic progress that might bring about change along the Israel-Gaza border.