Middle East
Harvard Received $151 Million From Foreign Governments Since January 2020
Harvard received more than $100 million in donations from government sources in the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Bangladesh in the last four years, according to data released by the Department of Education.
Roy Mottahedeh ’60, Pioneering Middle East Scholar Who Sought to Bridge U.S.-Iran Divide, Dies at 84
Roy W. P. Mottahedeh ’60, a longtime professor at Harvard who served as the founding director of the University’s Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Islamic Studies Program, died late last month at the age of 84.
Former President of Iraq Joins Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center as Senior Fellow
Former Iraq President Barham A. Salih joined the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs and Middle East Initiative as a senior fellow, the center announced on March 22.
Former Presidential Advisor Jared Kushner Discusses Israel-Hamas War at Harvard Kennedy School
Jared C. Kushner ’03, an advisor to former president Donald Trump, said acknowledging a Palestinian state would involve “supporting an act of terror perpetrated in Israel” during an event at the Harvard Kennedy School on Thursday.
More than 30 Harvard Students and Faculty Attended COP28, Expressing Optimism on Climate Initiatives
More than 30 Harvard students and faculty traveled to Dubai to attend COP28, the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference, last month.
Amid Violence in the Middle East, Palestinian American Poet Shares Work at Harvard Center for Middle Eastern Studies
Dr. Lisa Suhair Majaj — an author and scholar of Arab-American Literature — shared a collection of her poems at a Tuesday event at the Center for Middle Eastern Studies.
Five Harvard Experts Weigh in on War in Israel and Gaza
As the war in Israel and Gaza continues, five Harvard faculty and affiliates with expertise in the region spoke with The Crimson about their views on the future of the conflict.
Harvard Affiliates Rally in Copley Square Against Al-Aqsa Mosque Raids in Israel
Harvard College and Harvard Law School activists joined Boston-area students and organizers for a rally in Copley Square Sunday in response to police violence at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.
Bacow Visits Alumni, Universities During Spring Break Trip to Middle East
University President Lawrence S. Bacow traveled to Jordan, Israel, and Palestine last week, touring universities and meeting with Harvard alumni at each stop.
CMES
Harvard’s Center for Middle Eastern Studies was one of the first centers to receive funding under Title VI of President Dwight D. Eisenhower's National Defense Education Act, which provided federal funding to educational programs that sought to benefit national security and U.S. economic interests.
Harvard Name, President Bacow Played Key Role in Overcoming Freshman’s Visa Denial
Harvard’s reputation and University President Lawrence S. Bacow’s direct involvement likely played an essential role in getting Ismail B. Ajjawi ’23 to campus, experts and several people involved in the case said.
Middle East Reporting
In Sever Hall, four prominent journalists named Michael Petrou, Jonathan Guyer, Izzy Finkel, and Sharaf al-Hourani spoke about the moral responsibiliies and challenges of reporting on Middle East news.
At Private White House Dinner, Dershowitz and Trump Discussed Middle East
The dinner came as Trump is mulling whether to strike Syria. Asked whether he discussed Syria with Trump, Dershowitz replied, “Can’t tell you.”
Resettling Syrian Refugees: The Intersection of Rehabilitation and Protection
Meredith Blake moderates a panel consisting of Kate Akkaya, JD, Dr. Denis Sullivan, and H.E. Reem Abu Hassan while Dr. Amira Ahmed Mohamed contributes via Skype at a live recording of a Humanitarian Assistance Podcast episode concerning the Syrian refugee crisis at the Center for Middle Eastern Studies on Wednesday.
Center for Middle Eastern Studies
The Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Harvard University, located on 38 Kirkland St., is opening up a new field office in Tunisia.
Design School Honors Late Iraqi Architect Through Scholarship
At an event celebrating the accomplishments of the late Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid, the Graduate School of Design unveiled a new scholarship to provide financial assistance to Middle Eastern students.
Harvard Jewish Affiliates Mourn Death of Israeli Leader
Jewish Harvard affiliates are mourning the loss of former Israeli Prime Minister and Nobel Peace Prize Winner Shimon Peres, who died Wednesday at the age of 93.
Brookings Fellow Lays Out Transition Plan for New Middle Eastern Regimes
In his new book on unfinished revolutions in the Middle East, Brookings Institution Senior Foreign Policy Fellow Ibrahim Fraihat proposed that new governments lead inclusive national discussions to avoid violence and civil war.
Students Gather To Commemorate Victims of Violence in Israel
Students handed out flyers, held a banner reading “No excuse for terror,” and read aloud a list of names of people killed during the unrest in Israel.
War Correspondent Recounts Experience Reporting on ISIS
BBC foreign correspondent Paul Wood described his on-the-ground experience while on assignment in Syria at the Kennedy School discussion, titled “Understanding ISIS."
Ancient Desserts
A plate of Mersu, an ancient Mesopotamian candy made from dates, sits on a table during the Harvard Semitic Museum’s event on Ancient Near East foods.
Semitic Museum Event Draws Crowd
People stand in line at the reception for the Harvard Semitic Museum’s event on Ancient Near East foods to sample Mesopotamian cuisine.
Mesopotamian Food Reception Draws Community Members to Semitic Museum
A woman looks at an exhibit at the Harvard Semitic Museum during a reception featuring traditional Mesopotamian cuisine. Students, professors, and community members discussed the exhibit while sampling a menu featuring 4,000-year old recipes.
'Suspect and Verify,' Says Israel's Barak on Iran Deal
Barak—a former Israeli prime minister and defense minister—called for greater American support for Israeli defense.
Yemen Discussion
Fatima Abo Alasrar, Edward S. Mason Fellow and Yemeni citizen, emphasized the gravity of the humanitarian crisis in Yemen during a luncheon panel at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. The panel, according to Kennedy School Professor Michael C. Hudson, was assembled with initiative from current Yemeni students pursuing advanced degrees at the Kennedy School.