Oren Kessler is an author, journalist, and historian based in Washington and Tel Aviv. His first book, Palestine 1936: The Great Revolt and the Roots of the Middle East Conflict, was named winner of the 2024 Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature, among the Wall Street Journal's 10 Best Books of 2023, a Booklist best book of the year, and finalist for a National Jewish Book Award (Writing Based on Archival Material) and the American Library Association's Sophie Brody Medal.
Raised in Rochester, New York, and Tel Aviv, he holds a BA in History from the University of Toronto and an MA in Government (diplomacy and conflict studies) from Reichman University. In 2024, he became a fellow of the Royal Historical Society.
Kessler was previously Arab affairs correspondent for The Jerusalem Post and an editor and translator at Haaretz English. His work has appeared in outlets including Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, Politico, the Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Post.
Academic Appointment(s)
- Primary
- The Aaron and Cecile Goldman Visiting Israeli Professor, College - Department of Government