In memory: Dore Gold, American-Israeli diplomat, died today at 71

Dore Gold was an American-born Israeli diplomat, political scientist, and author who played a significant role in shaping Israel's foreign policy over several decades. He passed away today at the age of 71, leaving behind a notable legacy in Israeli diplomacy and scholarship.

Born in 1953 in Hartford, Connecticut, he grew up in a Conservative Jewish family and later immigrated to Israel in 1980 after completing his education in the United States.

Gold’s academic journey began at Columbia University, where he earned a BA and MA in Political Science, followed by a PhD in Political Science and Middle Eastern Studies. His doctoral research focused on Saudi Arabia, which later became the basis for his 2003 New York Times bestseller, Hatred's Kingdom: How Saudi Arabia Supports the New Global Terrorism. In this book, he argued that Saudi Arabia played a significant role in funding global terrorism, a theme that reflected his broader interest in Middle Eastern geopolitics and security.

His career in Israel began in 1985 when he joined Tel Aviv University’s Moshe Dayan Centre for Near East Studies as a senior research associate. Over time, he transitioned into influential diplomatic roles. From 1997 to 1999, he served as Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, where he represented Israeli interests on the global stage. He later became a close advisor to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, notably contributing to negotiations and policy during Netanyahu’s first term in the late 1990s. One key achievement during this period was securing a U.S. commitment in 1996 affirming that Israel was not bound by prior diplomatic assurances regarding the Golan Heights, reinforcing Israel’s strategic position.

Gold also served as Director-General of Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs from May 2015 to October 2016, a role he resigned from for personal reasons. Beyond government service, he was president of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs (JCPA) from 2000 to 2022, a think tank where he influenced policy debates and published extensively on issues like Jerusalem, Iran, and radical Islam. His other notable books include The Fight for Jerusalem: Radical Islam, the West, and the Future of the Holy City (2007) and The Rise of Nuclear Iran: How Tehran Defies the West (2009), which critiqued international diplomacy toward Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

A key figure in the Abraham Accords—normalization agreements between Israel and several Arab states—Gold’s diplomatic efforts helped reshape Israel’s regional relationships. He was also known for his advocacy against Iran, leading efforts in the mid-2000s to urge UN member states to charge Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad with violating the 1948 Genocide Convention due to his inflammatory rhetoric against Israel.

Known for his sharp intellect and conservative worldview, Gold was a frequent commentator on U.S. television during the early 2000s, representing Israel on shows like Meet the Press and CNN’s Late Edition. He leaves behind his wife, Ofra, and two children. His death has been mourned as a significant loss to Israel’s diplomatic and intellectual circles, with figures like Caroline Glick praising him as a “brilliant thinker” and “epic diplomat.” However, his staunch support for Israeli policies also drew criticism from some quarters, with detractors labeling him a hardliner on Palestinian issues.

Dore Gold was a bridge between American and Israeli political spheres, blending scholarship with practical diplomacy to advance Israel’s interests during a transformative era.

May his memory be blessed.