About
Itamar Rabinovich
Expert

Itamar Rabinovich

Distinguished Fellow – Foreign Policy

Itamar Rabinovich is a distinguished nonresident fellow in the Foreign Policy program focusing on Middle Eastern policy and politics as well as a member of the Brookings Institution’s International Advisory Council.

He is professor and president emeritus at Tel Aviv University and vice chair of its Institute for National Security Studies.

He previously served as Yitzhak Rabin’s ambassador to Washington and chief negotiator with Syria.

Rabinovich is the author of “Yitzhak Rabin: Soldier, Leader, Statesman” and “Syrian Requiem: The Civil War and Its Aftermath” (with Carmit Valensi). His book, “Middle Eastern Maze,” will be published by Brookings in early 2023.

  • Areas of Expertise

    • Syria-Israel relations
    • U.S.-Israel relations
    • Diplomacy
    • Foreign policy
  • Current Positions

    • International Advisory Board Member, The Brookings Institution
    • Professor Emeritus of Middle Eastern History, Tel Aviv University
    • Distinguished Global Professor, NYU
    • Chairman of the Board, the Dan David Foundation
    • Vice Chairman of the Board, Institute of National Security Studies
    • Chairman of the Advisory Board, Wexner-Israel Program
    • Member, Trilateral Commission
    • Member, International Advisory Council of APCO Worldwide.
  • Past Positions

    • Israel’s Ambassador to the United States
    • Israel’s Chief Negotiator with Syria
    •   President, Tel Aviv University
    • Chairman of the Department of Middle Eastern Studies, Tel Aviv University
    • Director, Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies, Tel Aviv University
    • Dean of Humanities, Tel Aviv University
    • Rector, Tel Aviv University
  • Education

    • B.A., Hebrew University of JerusalemM.A., Tel Aviv University Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles

Mentions and Appearances

New York Times May 23, 2024

The recognition of a Palestinian state is purely symbolic and changes nothing. If they sent 30,000 European troops to Gaza to end the war, it would be different, but we know that if 10..."

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April 15, 2024

Diplomatically, I would seize on [Israeli-Arab cooperation in defending against Iran’s attack] and try to revive and invigorate regional cooperation … But the obstacle remains, what do..."

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New York Times November 28, 2023

On Oct. 7, Hamas trampled on every sensitive nerve in the Israeli psyche. Hatred, fear and anxiety are now at their most extreme. But in the end there are two peoples coveting the same..."

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NPR October 20, 2023

The main threat right now is the prospect of Iran and their proxy in Lebanon joining in [the Israel-Gaza conflict]. [President Biden and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin] were very..."

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