Élie Barnavi (Hebrew: אלי בר-נביא; born 1946) is an Israeli historian, essayist, and diplomat. He served as the Israeli ambassador to France from 2000 to 2002.
Biography
Born in Bucharest, Romania, in 1946, Barnavi emigrated as a child to Tel Aviv and became an Israeli citizen. He earned degrees in history and political science from Tel Aviv University (TAU) and received his PhD in modern history from the University of Paris in 1971. He was subsequently appointed professor of modern Western history at TAU, where he headed the Department of General History and the Center for International Studies.
Career
Barnavi became the scientific director of the Museum of Europe in Brussels in 1998. He served as the Israeli ambassador to France between 2000 and 2002, after which he resumed teaching at TAU and returned to his work at the museum. He is professor emeritus of modern Western history at Tel Aviv University.
He has authored approximately fifteen books on France and Europe during the period of the Religious Wars, as well as on the contemporary history of Israel and the Jewish people. He has published numerous studies in professional journals in Europe, the United States, and Canada, along with political articles in the Israeli and European press.
Political Views
Barnavi is an advocate for peace in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict and supports the creation of a Palestinian state. He was a member of the Peace Now movement, the Israeli Labor Party, and the left-wing-liberal Meretz party. In 2010, he helped create JCall and supported its "Call for Reason" campaign, which advocates for a two-state solution.
Awards
Barnavi has received several honors, including the Grand prix de la Francophonie de l'Académie française, the Prix Montaigne de Bordeaux, and the Prix Aujourd'hui.
