Alon Liel

Ambassador Alon Liel received his PhD from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 1986 when he completed his doctoral dissertation, “The dependence of imported energy and its impact on the foreign policy of turkey.” Since then, Liel has served as a chargé d’affaires in Turkey and as Israel’s ambassador to South Africa. Following his role in 1999 as foreign affairs adviser to then-chairman of the Labor party Ehud Barak, Liel became director-general of the Foreign Ministry in 2000. Today he lectures at Tel Aviv University, Hebrew University and the Interdisciplinary Center, Herzliya.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan

The sultan's silent partner

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s referendum win and his alliance with the Nationalist Party are another nail in the coffin of Turkish democracy.

MAY 18, 2017

UN security council votes on resolution 2334

It’s time for wide recognition of Palestine

The Paris Peace Conference should build on the momentum of Resolution 2334 and the Kerry speech.

JANUARY 17, 2017

Demonstration in Turkey

Commentary: Aftershocks in Ankara

Recep Erdogan’s crackdown on the Gulen movement could change the face of Turkey

AUGUST 10, 2016

A long, hard road

Full restoration of the Israel-Turkey strategic ties of old has a long way to go.

APRIL 26, 2016

The Turkish ship Mavi Marmara leaves Istanbul May 22, 2010, aiming to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza

A dismal decision

A modern, enlightened and democratic country cannot afford to ban a book that tells a love story between an Israeli and a Palestinian.

JANUARY 24, 2016

Bride Morel Malka, 23 and her groom Mahmoud Mansour, 26, celebrate with friends and family before their wedding on August 17.

Is Netanyahu capable?

The Palestinian issue will once again appear in the forefront of the global agenda.

OCTOBER 1, 2015

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his speech to US Congress on March 3, 2015, with US Speaker of the House John Boehner and President pro tempore of the US Senate Orrin Hatch applauding behind him

Crippling the Foreign Ministry

The current government is picking the ministry’s bones to resolve narrow party personnel problems.

JUNE 21, 2015

Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely (R) waits for European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini ahead of a meeting at King David Hotel

A European yellow card for Israel

Israelis and Palestinians cannot unravel the diplomatic impasse on their own

OCTOBER 28, 2014

A pro-Palestine demonstration outside the Houses of Parliament, London, October 13

Don’t stop, Shimon

The private Peres will probably fight for his views as a leader of the peace camp.

JUNE 24, 2014

On the Palestinian question, Shimon Peres and Reuven Rivlin (right) are polar opposites

A pity we didn’t listen

The former South African president wanted good ties with Israel, dependent on freedom for the Palestinians.

DECEMBER 15, 2013

A pity we didn’t listen

Obama, Turkey and the Palestinians

The US president has shown that when he is determined and personally involved, he gets results

APRIL 10, 2013

Obama and Netanyahu521

The fastest gun in the East

Erdogan’s obsession with Israel is visceral rather than rational

MARCH 20, 2013

Ergodan

Europe turns its back

After losing Europe, Israel will scout around for a new family.

DECEMBER 26, 2012

Bibi - Merkel