I'm tremendously saddened to report that Professor Barry Rubin passed away at the age of 64 after a long battle with cancer today in Tel Aviv.
He was an important, eloquent and prolific scholar of Middle East affairs and history as well as a strong voice for Israel.
As a director of the Global Research in International Affairs (GLORIA) Center at the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya, as a long time columnist for the Jerusalem Post and Pajamas Media, the editor of the Middle East Review of International Affairs (MERIA) Journal, and editor of the Turkish Studies Journal as well as a prolific author, his voice was always a must read for any understanding of what was going on in the Middle East.
Born in the United States, Professor Rubin, was a former Fulbright and Council on Foreign Relations fellow, received his Ph.D from Georgetown University in 1978 and taught at both Israeli and American Universities.
He was under no illusions about the rise of Islamist fascism or the West's being in denial about its danger, or the need for Israel to take steps to defend itself.
His discourse, especially with his peers was always the epitome of politeness and reasonableness while still maintaining the edge of his considerable knowledge and scholarship, and in spite of his busy schedule, he always seemed to make time to answer an e-mail or a question or indulge other writers who sought his opinions.
He had an amazing ability to analyze what was going on and put the pieces together in perspective, and you could always count of his prolific and insightful writing to illuminate the dark corners.
A good sample of his work can be found here at his blog, The Rubin Reports.
I will miss his insight and clarity tremendously, as will the world.
Professor Barry Rubin is survived by his wife Judith Colp Rubin and their two children. My heart and condolences go out to them.
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