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Alex Joffe

Alex Joffe

Editor SPME / BDS Monitor

Alexander H. Joffe is an archaeologist and historian specializing in the Middle East and contemporary international affairs. He received a B.A. in History from Cornell University in 1981 and Ph.D. in Near Eastern Studies from the University of Arizona in 1991. From 1980 to 2003 he participated in and directed archaeological research in Israel, Jordan, Greece and the United States. Joffe taught at the Pennsylvania State University and Purchase College, and has been Director of Research for Global Policy Exchange, Ltd., and The David Project, Center for Jewish Leadership.

Joffe's work is uniquely broad. Since 1991 he has published dozens of studies on the archaeology of the Eastern Mediterranean and is a leading figure in contentious debates over the relationship between archaeology and politics in the Middle East. He has also authored numerous works on contemporary issues, including Middle Eastern environmental security threats from pollution and weapons of mass destruction. His work on the problem of dismantling intelligence agencies is widely cited by experts and democratic reformers alike.

In the past decade Joffe has written and spoken on topics as varied as the future of American Jews, the Palestinian refugee problem, and nationalism. During that time as well he has been deeply involved with combating the problems of campus antisemitism, the ‘boycott, divestment and sanctions' movement against Israel, and in educating Jews and others about threats to Israel and the West. His current projects include a biography of a British World War II general and several novels. He and his family reside near New York City.

All stories by: Alex Joffe

Student radicalism increases as protests calling to destroy Israel multiply. Governmental threats expand as the US sanctions ‘settlers’ while Muslim groups pressure national leaders to abandon Israel.
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Introduction Due to the ongoing war in Gaza the BDS movement’s targeted opposition to Israel has expanded into massive street protests, threats against politicians, and security crises for Western Jews. Increasingly individual politicians and Jews are being targeted as stand-ins…

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BDS/pro-Hamas movement merges with anti-capitalists as protests snarl campuses, cities and travel. Student and faculty groups support Hamas and official investigations expand as anti-Israel curriculums in K-12 are exposed.
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Introduction The new year began with BDS inspired antisemitism morphing fully into pro-Hamas and anti-capitalist protests. Street protests aimed at institutions regarded as supportive of or supported by Jews, including the White House and hospitals, have been targeted with impunity,…

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Anti-Israel protests roil America and Europe as campuses grapple with antisemitic free speech and ‘academic freedom.’ Leading university presidents stumble in Congressional testimony on antisemitism leading to reputational harm.
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Introduction BDS and antisemitism in December were shaped by the ongoing war in Gaza. Unwittingly, that war has set into motion of series of events, not least of all disastrous Congressional testimony from three university presidents, further compromising public trust…

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Fall semester begins with ersatz intellectual events as Soviet style ‘scientific antizionism’ becomes progressive centerpiece. Pro-BDS “Ethnic Studies” remains issue in California high school and university systems.
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Introduction The academic year began with the BDS movement further coopting academic spaces and legitimacy with an ersatz ‘literary festival’ and ‘conferences.’ Deliberately blurring the line between scholarship and advocacy has long been a BDS strategy to gain legitimacy and…

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Opposition to IHRA takes new forms with an ‘institute’ and ‘conferences.’ Electoral campaigns heat up as pro-BDS representatives condemn Israel and AIPAC.
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Introduction As the school year approaches pro-BDS faculty and far left foundations opposed to the IHRA definition of antisemitism have organized an ersatz ‘institute’ and multiple conferences to denounce this widely accepted standard. Coupled with academic boycotts adopted by anthropology…

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