Michael Oren

Michael Oren is an Israeli diplomat, historian, and author who has played a pivotal role in Israeli-American relations and Middle Eastern studies.

Oren, who served as Israel's Ambassador to the United States from 2009 to 2013, undertook critical diplomatic tasks during his tenure, which included addressing Iran's nuclear agenda, furthering peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, and enhancing the U.S.-Israel alliance under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. His ambassadorial term saw major political upheavals such as the Arab Spring and shifts in U.S. policy under President Barack Obama. Oren was instrumental in securing U.S. defense aid for Israel, notably for the Iron Dome system.

In academia, Oren has distinguished himself as a historian with considerable teaching stints at Harvard, Yale, and Georgetown. He holds four honorary doctorates and has been recognized with awards like the Statesman of the Year Medal by the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and the Dr. Martin Luther King Legacy Prize for International Service. His critically acclaimed books, including "Six Days of War: June 1967 and the Making of the Modern Middle East", "Power, Faith, and Fantasy: America in the Middle East, 1776 to the Present", and "Ally: My Journey Across the American-Israeli Divide", have earned him multiple accolades such as the Los Angeles Times History Book of the Year Award and the Jewish Book Award.

Following his ambassadorship, Oren returned to Israeli politics, serving as a Member of Knesset and Deputy Minister for Diplomacy in the Prime Minister’s Office from 2015 to 2019. Currently, he is a consultant for Kirkland & Ellis LLP and is working on a book about Israel’s War of Independence.

Born in New York and a veteran of the Israel Defense Forces, Oren moved to Israel in the 1970s, where his military service included time in the paratroopers during the 1982 Lebanon War. He has also established the Lone Soldier caucus in the Knesset, reflecting his ongoing commitment to military and national service. Oren's extensive experience and scholarly work have made him a leading expert on Israeli policy and Middle Eastern affairs in the 21st century.