Biography
The Honorable Edward P. Djerejian’s Foreign Service career spanned eight U.S. administrations, from John F. Kennedy to William J. Clinton. Prior to his nomination as U.S. ambassador to Israel, he was assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern Affairs in both the George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton administrations. He was previously the U.S. ambassador to the Syrian Arab Republic. He also served as special assistant to President Ronald Reagan and as deputy press secretary for foreign affairs in the White House. Following his retirement from government service, Djerejian became the founding director of Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.
He is the author of “Danger and Opportunity: An American Ambassador’s Journey Through the Middle East.” He has been awarded the Presidential Distinguished Service Award; the Department of State’s Distinguished Honor Award; the Ellis Island Medal of Honor; the Anti-Defamation League’s Moral Statesman Award; the Award for Humanitarian Diplomacy from Netanya Academic College in Israel; the National Order of the Cedar, bestowed by President Émile Lahoud of Lebanon; the Order of Ouissam Alaouite, bestowed by King Mohammed VI of Morocco; and the Order of Honor, bestowed by President Serzh Sargsyan of Armenia. He is also a recipient of the Association of Rice Alumni’s Gold Medal for his service to Rice University.
Djerejian is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and is a member of the board of trustees of the Carnegie Corporation of New York.
Contact at [email protected].
Recent Publications
On ABC News: The Foreign Policy Impact of Hamas’ Oct. 7 Attack on Israel
In an interview with ABC News, Djerejian discussed the key causes of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its implications for the Middle East.
On Bloomberg: Oct. 7 Attack Shows Failure of Israel’s Deterrence Policy
“That deterrence policy has failed in my eyes, with equal consequences to the intelligence failure of not foreseeing [the Oct. 7] attack,” said Djerejian. “So that deterrence policy is what’s going to be the end game here after all the bloodshed and the military operations. Are we going back to the status quo ante? I doubt it.”
On NPR: Examining the Israel-Hamas Conflict
In an interview with NPR, Djerejian discussed the Israeli intelligence failure demonstrated by the Oct. 7 attack, the U.S. foreign policy response, and more.
Books
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Danger and Opportunity: An American Ambassador’s Journey Through the Middle East (Threshold Editions, 2008).
External Publications
- “Opinion: We Have a Responsibility to Guide Our Leaders During Pandemic Response,” Houston Chronicle, May 3, 2020.
- “A coordinated U.S. strategy on Syria,” Foreign Policy, April 5, 2013.
- “A Two-Track Solution to the Syrian Crisis,” Asharq Al-Awsat, March 28, 2013.
- “Why U.S. Engagement in Israeli-Palestinian Peace is Needed,” The Jerusalem Post, March 20, 2013.
- “Candid Talk About Iran’s Nukes,” Houston Chronicle, September 28, 2012.
- “Al-Assad Missed Chance to Reform Syria,” CNN, February 6, 2012.
- “U.S. Must Live up to Role as Mideast Honest Broker,” Houston Chronicle, September 21, 2011.
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“Science, Diplomacy and International Collaboration,” Houston Chronicle, March 19, 2011.
- “Borders Key to Peace Talks,” Houston Chronicle, May 23, 2010.
- “The Radical Legacy of 1979,” Wall Street Journal, January 1, 2010.
- “Mayor’s Task Force II on International Travelers: Report of Findings and Recommendations,” City of Houston, January 31, 2008.
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“From Conflict Management to Conflict Resolution,” Foreign Affairs, November 1, 2006.
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“Simple Plan for Mideast Diplomacy,” Financial Times, July 13, 2004.
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“Changing Minds, Winning Peace: A New Strategic Direction for U.S. Public Diplomacy in the Arab & Muslim World,” The Advisory Group on Public Diplomacy for the Arab and Muslim World, October 1, 2003.
Presentations
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“Reflections on a Career in Diplomacy,” Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service Address, October 24, 2013.
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“An American Ambassador’s Reflections on U.S. Foreign Policy in the Middle East and the Caucasus,” K. George and Carolann S. Najarian, M.D. Lecture on Human Rights, October 25, 2012.
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“German Unification: Expectations and Outcomes,” Baker Institute Panel Discussion, October 30, 2009.
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“Russia and the Caspian in the Global Energy Balance,” Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, May 7, 2009.
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“Video Briefing Transcript: Prospects for Peace in the Middle East,” February 26, 2008.