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{{short description|German-born American (born 1930)}}
⚫ {{Infobox Writer
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⚫ {{Infobox writer
| name = Henry Siegman | name = Henry Siegman
| image = Replace_this_image_male.svg | image =
| imagesize = | imagesize =
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| pseudonym = | pseudonym =
| birthname = | birth_name =
| birthdate = 1930 | birth_date = 1930
| birthplace = ], ] | birth_place = ]
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| occupation = ] and ] | occupation = Writer and journalist
| nationality = American | nationality = American
| ethnicity = | ethnicity =
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| website = http://www.cfr.org/bios/bio.html?id=122 | website =
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'''Henry Siegman''' (born 1930) is a ]-born American. He is President of the ] (USMEP),<ref></ref> an initiative focused on U.S.-Middle East policy that strives to advance peace through a dignified resolution of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. To examine how those issues interact with the shifting terrain of global geopolitics, it was launched by the Council on Foreign Relations in 1994, and established as an independent policy institute in 2006,<ref></ref> originally under the chairmanship of General (Ret.) Brent Scowcroftand. As of July 1, 2016 Siegman assumed the title of President Emeritus of the USMEP.
'''Henry Siegman''' is a ]-born ] ] ] and a ] specializing in the ] policy towards ], and a visiting professor at the ].<ref> at ''The International Herald Tribune'' website.</ref> He is a former Senior Fellow at the ].<ref>, on the ] website.</ref> Prior to that, he was the Executive Director of the ] (1978-1994). He frequently appeared on '']'' to comment on Israel related topics and contributed to the '']'', the '']'', the '']'', '']'', '']'' and other publications.

Mr. Siegman is a former National Director of the ], serving as its Executive Director for 16 years.<ref></ref><ref></ref> He is a former non-resident visiting research professor at the Sir ] Middle East Program of the ], ] and a former Senior Fellow on the Middle East at the ].


==Early life and education== ==Early life and education==
Siegman was born in 1930 in ], ]<ref> at the ''Euro|topics magazine''.</ref> which he fled with his family in 1933 to ], ], and then to the ]. In America, he studied at ] (BA Math) and ]. He was ordained as an ] by ]. He served as a ] in the ], where he was awarded a ] and a ].<ref>, by Chris Hedges, '']'', ], ].</ref> Siegman, a ], was born in 1930 in ].<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120803064126/http://www.eurotopics.net/en/presseschau/autorenindex/autor-siegman-henry/ |date=August 3, 2012 }} at the ''Euro|topics magazine''.</ref> Moving to the United States, Siegman studied and was ordained as an ] by ]. He served as a ] chaplain in the ], where he was awarded the ] and the ].<ref name="Hedges2002NYT">{{cite news|last1=Hedges|first1=Chris|title=Separating Spiritual and Political, He Pays a Price|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/13/nyregion/public-lives-separating-spiritual-and-political-he-pays-a-price.html|access-date=13 March 2018|work=The New York Times|date=13 June 2002}}</ref><ref name="forward.com"></ref>


==Career==
==Siegman's opinions==
He is a former senior fellow at the ]. Prior to that, he was the executive director of the ] (1978–1994).<ref name="Hedges2002NYT" />
Siegman is a frequent critic of the Israeli policies in the ].<ref>,
by Ralph Seliger.</ref> Former ] ] identified his views as similar to that of ]'s left wing.<ref> by Itamar Rabinovich, '']'', October 29, 2007.</ref> Siegman supports the ] and the ] in the ].<ref> by Henry Siegman, '']'', June 18, 2006 (from CFR website)</ref> He advocates engagement with ]<ref> by Henry Siegman, ''The New York Review of Books'', April 27, 2006.</ref><ref> by ] and Henry Siegman, ''The International Herald Tribune'', December 27, 2006.</ref> and recently visited ], Hamas leader exiled in ].<ref> by ], June 15, 2008.</ref> He says that ] made a "disastrous mistake" in rejecting the peace offer, but claims that "based on my 14 years of dealings with Arafat, I reject the notion that he was bent on Israel's destruction."<ref> by ], ''The New York Times'', November 11, 2004.</ref> Siegman is sharply critical of ], about whom he wrote: "The war Sharon is waging is not aimed at the defeat of Palestinian terrorism but at the defeat of the Palestinian people and their aspirations for national self-determination."<ref> by Henry Siegman, ''The New York Review of Books'', December 18, 2003.</ref> He strongly defended former president ]'s book ''].''<ref> by Henry Siegman, ''], ], ].</ref> He also sharply criticized the ongoing peace efforts by ] and ].<ref> by Henry Siegman, The ], 16 August 2007.</ref> Siegman has described the process as a “scam” because of a “consensus reached long ago by Israel’s decision-making elites that Israel will never allow the emergence of a Palestinian state”.<ref name="lrb.co.uk"> Henry Siegman, London Review of Books, 16 August 2007</ref> Writing in the ], Siegman states:


==Political views==
{{cquote|The Middle East peace process may well be the most spectacular deception in modern diplomatic history. Since the failed Camp David summit of 2000, and actually well before it, Israel’s interest in a peace process – other than for the purpose of obtaining Palestinian and international acceptance of the status quo – has been a fiction that has served primarily to provide cover for its systematic confiscation of Palestinian land and an occupation whose goal, according to the former IDF chief of staff Moshe Ya’alon, is ‘to sear deep into the consciousness of Palestinians that they are a defeated people’. <ref name="lrb.co.uk"/>}}
Siegman is a critic of ] policies in the ].<ref></ref>


He refers to Israel as a "] and has said in 2012 and 2014 that, without substantial objective change, the "] is dead".<ref name="forward.com" /><ref></ref>
The Ya’alon quotation cited by Siegman above was reported to be unverifiable by the New York Times, and did not appear in the interview where he is usually attributed to have said it. The fabricated quotation is traced by some to journalist Arnaud de Borchgrave, ; and by others to Siegman, neither of whom provided a citation. A citation was apparently first provided by historian Rashid Khalidi in his 2004 book Resurrecting Empire, to an interview in Ha’aretz where, according to the New York Times, the quote cannot be found. What Ya’alon actually said in the cited interview was: “The facts that are being determined in this confrontation - in terms of what will be burned into the Palestinian consciousness - are fateful. If we end the confrontation in a way that makes it clear to every Palestinian that terrorism does not lead to agreements, that will improve our strategic position. On the other hand, if their feeling at the end of the confrontation is that they can defeat us by means of terrorism, our situation will become more and more difficult.”


Siegman supports the idea of ] in the ].<ref>Henry Siegman, ] Vol. 40 No. 10 · 24 May 2018 pages 17-18</ref><ref></ref> He advocates engagement with ]<ref> by Henry Siegman, ''The New York Review of Books'', April 27, 2006.</ref> and believes that ] president ] is able to form a unity government between Hamas and his own ] and make peace with Israel.<ref> by ] and Henry Siegman, '']'', December 27, 2006.</ref> Siegman met with Hamas' leader ] in ].<ref> by ], June 15, 2008.</ref>
⚫ Siegman's works and opinions received a widespread recognition in the media. ] calls him "a leading U.S. expert on the Middle East."<ref> by Jeffrey Donovan, ], March 23, 2004.</ref>

⚫ Jewish daily '']'' credits him for publicizing the "]".<ref> by Nathan Guttman, '']'', January 19, 2007.</ref> Journalist ] calls him "the most perceptive American observer-participant in the last two decades of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations."<ref> by ], ''The New York Times'', April 25, 2004.</ref>
He says that ] made a "disastrous mistake" in rejecting the peace offer, but that "based on my 14 years of dealings with Arafat, I reject the notion that he was bent on Israel's destruction".<ref> by ], ''The New York Times'', November 11, 2004.</ref> Siegman is critical of ], about whom he wrote: "The war Sharon is waging is not aimed at the defeat of Palestinian terrorism but at the defeat of the Palestinian people and their aspirations for national self-determination".<ref> by Henry Siegman, ''The New York Review of Books'', December 18, 2003.</ref>

He strongly defended former president ]'s book '']''.<ref> by Henry Siegman, '']'', January 4, 2007.</ref> He has also criticized the peace efforts by ] and ].<ref name="MEPPScam"> Henry Siegman, ''London Review of Books'', August 16, 2007</ref> Siegman has described the process as a "scam" because of a "consensus reached long ago by Israel's decision-making elites that Israel will never allow the emergence of a Palestinian state".<ref name="MEPPScam" />

==Reception==
⚫ Jeffrey Donovan, writing in ], calls him "a leading U.S. expert on the Middle East".<ref> by Jeffrey Donovan, ], March 23, 2004.</ref>

Nathan Guttman, writing in '']'' said that Siegman helped to publicize the "]", after it was revealed publicly for the first time in '']''.<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080508233553/http://www.forward.com/articles/saudis-push-bush-team-on-peace-plan/ |date=May 8, 2008 }} by Nathan Guttman, '']'', January 19, 2007.</ref> In addition, Guttman writes that Siegman is in the "far-left corner of the Middle East worldview".<ref name="forward.com" />

⚫ Journalist ] said, in 2004, that Siegman is "perhaps the most perceptive American observer-participant in the last two decades of ]".<ref> by ], ''The New York Times'', April 25, 2004.</ref>

], national director of the ], said that Siegman was known as holding left-of-center views that fit with the American Jewish Congress's liberal approach, and that "when he left the organization, it became clearer he was no longer a critic of Israel, that his criticism borders being anti-Israel".<ref name="forward.com"/>

==See Also==

* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]


==References== ==References==
{{reflist}} {{reflist|2}}


==External links==
<!-- Metadata: see ] -->
* , Henry Siegman's interview with '']'' on Palestine in general and Gaza war in 2014

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Siegman, Henry}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Siegman, Henry}}
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Latest revision as of 15:21, 4 December 2024

German-born American (born 1930)

Henry Siegman
Born1930
Frankfurt, Germany
OccupationWriter and journalist
NationalityAmerican

Henry Siegman (born 1930) is a German-born American. He is President of the U.S./Middle East Project (USMEP), an initiative focused on U.S.-Middle East policy that strives to advance peace through a dignified resolution of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. To examine how those issues interact with the shifting terrain of global geopolitics, it was launched by the Council on Foreign Relations in 1994, and established as an independent policy institute in 2006, originally under the chairmanship of General (Ret.) Brent Scowcroftand. As of July 1, 2016 Siegman assumed the title of President Emeritus of the USMEP.

Mr. Siegman is a former National Director of the American Jewish Congress, serving as its Executive Director for 16 years. He is a former non-resident visiting research professor at the Sir Joseph Hotung Middle East Program of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London and a former Senior Fellow on the Middle East at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Early life and education

Siegman, a Jewish American, was born in 1930 in Frankfurt, Germany. Moving to the United States, Siegman studied and was ordained as an Orthodox Rabbi by Yeshiva Torah Vodaas. He served as a United States Army chaplain in the Korean War, where he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart.

Career

He is a former senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. Prior to that, he was the executive director of the American Jewish Congress (1978–1994).

Political views

Siegman is a critic of Israeli policies in the West Bank.

He refers to Israel as a "de-facto apartheid" state and has said in 2012 and 2014 that, without substantial objective change, the "two-state solution is dead".

Siegman supports the idea of moral equivalence in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. He advocates engagement with Hamas and believes that Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas is able to form a unity government between Hamas and his own Fatah and make peace with Israel. Siegman met with Hamas' leader Khaled Mashal in Syria.

He says that Yasser Arafat made a "disastrous mistake" in rejecting the peace offer, but that "based on my 14 years of dealings with Arafat, I reject the notion that he was bent on Israel's destruction". Siegman is critical of Ariel Sharon, about whom he wrote: "The war Sharon is waging is not aimed at the defeat of Palestinian terrorism but at the defeat of the Palestinian people and their aspirations for national self-determination".

He strongly defended former president Jimmy Carter's book Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid. He has also criticized the peace efforts by Ehud Olmert and George W. Bush. Siegman has described the process as a "scam" because of a "consensus reached long ago by Israel's decision-making elites that Israel will never allow the emergence of a Palestinian state".

Reception

Jeffrey Donovan, writing in Radio Free Europe, calls him "a leading U.S. expert on the Middle East".

Nathan Guttman, writing in The Forward said that Siegman helped to publicize the "Saudi plan", after it was revealed publicly for the first time in The New York Times. In addition, Guttman writes that Siegman is in the "far-left corner of the Middle East worldview".

Journalist David Rieff said, in 2004, that Siegman is "perhaps the most perceptive American observer-participant in the last two decades of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations".

Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, said that Siegman was known as holding left-of-center views that fit with the American Jewish Congress's liberal approach, and that "when he left the organization, it became clearer he was no longer a critic of Israel, that his criticism borders being anti-Israel".

See Also

References

  1. U.S./Middle East Project (USMEP).
  2. About USMEP.
  3. Henry Siegman Bio
  4. Henry Seigman President Emeritus
  5. Brief biography Archived August 3, 2012, at archive.today at the Euro|topics magazine.
  6. ^ Hedges, Chris (June 13, 2002). "Separating Spiritual and Political, He Pays a Price". The New York Times. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  7. ^ Behind Henry Siegman's Turn on Israel
  8. Henry Siegman On Democracy Now! July 30, 2014.
  9. Henry Siegman On Democracy Now! July 30, 2014.
  10. Henry Siegman, 'The Two-State Solution: An Autopsy,' London Review of Books Vol. 40 No. 10 · 24 May 2018 pages 17-18
  11. Is 'moral equivalency' really so wrong?
  12. Hamas: The Last Chance for Peace? by Henry Siegman, The New York Review of Books, April 27, 2006.
  13. The Hamas factor by Robert Malley and Henry Siegman, The International Herald Tribune, December 27, 2006.
  14. Hamas and Gaza Emerge Reshaped After Takeover by Ethan Bronner, June 15, 2008.
  15. Yasir Arafat, Father and Leader of Palestinian Nationalism, Dies at 75 by Judith Miller, The New York Times, November 11, 2004.
  16. Sharon's Phony War by Henry Siegman, The New York Review of Books, December 18, 2003.
  17. Hurricane Carter by Henry Siegman, The Nation, January 4, 2007.
  18. ^ The Great Middle East Peace Process Scam Henry Siegman, London Review of Books, August 16, 2007
  19. Middle East: Will Israel's Killing Of Hamas Leader Affect U.S. Policy? by Jeffrey Donovan, Radio Free Europe, March 23, 2004.
  20. Saudis Push Bush Team On Peace Plan Archived May 8, 2008, at the Wayback Machine by Nathan Guttman, The Forward, January 19, 2007.
  21. Arafat Among the Ruins by David Rieff, The New York Times, April 25, 2004.

External links

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