IPS Fellow Phyllis Bennis directs the New Internationalism Project at IPS, focusing on the Middle East, U.S. militarism, and UN issues. She is also a fellow of the Transnational Institute in Amsterdam.

In 2001 she helped found the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights and more recently spent six years on the board of Jewish Voice for Peace, where she now serves as its International Adviser. She works with many anti-war and Palestinian rights organizations, writing and speaking widely across the U.S. and around the world. She has served as an informal adviser to several top UN officials on Middle East issues and was twice short-listed to become the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Phyllis has written and edited 11 books. Among her latest is the 7th updated edition of her popular Understanding the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict, published in 2018. She is also the author of Before & After: U.S. Foreign Policy and the War on Terror and Challenging Empire.

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Latest

Stormy Elections, Wars, and Occupations

Giant superstorms can’t stop all our movement’s work.

Why Elections Matter, and Why We’re Still Arguing About It

Anyone who thinks that choosing a “better” leader for the U.S. empire will somehow bring about “radical transformations” has been watching too many campaign infomercials. Only powerful social movements can do that.

Paul Wellstone, We Miss You

He proved that progressives without much money could win statewide elections.

What Went Unmentioned in the Vice Presidential Debate

Once again the drone war, militarization of U.S. policy in Africa, and Palestine all remain unmentioned.

A Tale of Two Speeches

Palestinian Chairman Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu addressed the United Nations, told of the worst of times

The Middle East in Turmoil Once Again: And It’s Not All About Us

The New Internationalism newsletter focuses on the protests in the Middle East and marks the 30 year anniversary of the Sabra-Shatila massacre.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly from the World of Wars, Uprisings, and the Media

In this edition of the New Internationalism newsletter, we look at good and bad news from the world of wars and rumors of wars, uprisings and suppression of uprisings, media coverage and media collaboration.

Syrian Uprising Morphs Into Regional and Global Wars

A divided, balkanized Syria looms as a dangerous possibility as even UN Secretary-General Ban ki-Moon acknowledges the conflict has become a proxy war between world powers.

Romney Backs Israel in the Battle of the Iran Red Lines

Romney’s foot-in-mouth disease shows no signs of healing, but there’s danger as well as his foreign policy trip shows he is okay with a war-mongering agenda.

Military Intervention in Syria: No

In our strategic dialogue on Syria, Phyllis Bennis argues that military intervention would only make a civil war that much worse.

Wars, Occupations, Threats of New Wars Still Hot As Mainstream Churches Launch New Boycott of Israeli Settlement Goods

In this edition of the New Internationalism Newsletter, Phyllis focuses on the threats of war with Iran, the sadly escalating conflict in Syria, the Arab Spring’s mixed bag of results in Egypt, and why the Presbyterian church is joining the movement to boycott, divest, and sanction Israel.

VIDEO: From Grievance to Action: Mapping Grassroots Movements in Palestine

This panel examines the role of grassroots movements as a practical approach to fulfilling the shortcomings of political representation, with special attention to protests, hunger strikes, and other forms of resistance seen today.

VIDEO: Wrongful U.S. Hostility towards Iran

Bennis, a Institute of Policy Studies fellow, urges citizen activism to correct wrongful U.S. and Israeli hostility toward Iran at a teach-In at All Souls Church on June 28, 2012

Is the State Department Going Rogue? Or Did It Just Forget How to Spell?

Regarding Iran, the State Department made odd allusions to facts about the crisis of which nobody else in the administration seems to be aware.

VIDEO: Is Iran’s Show of Force a Real Threat?

As it conducts missile tests, Al-Jazeera’s Inside Story asks IPS fellow Phyllis Bennis if Iran will give up its nuclear program in exchange for removal of sanctions.

Syria: Only Diplomacy Can Stop the War

Outside powers should stop military involvement and support new diplomatic initiative.

LETTER: Which Direction for the Mideast?

Responding to the New York Times’ article “The Third Intifada is Inevitable,” Phyllis focuses on the potential power of the Boycotts, Sanctions, and Divestment (BDS) movement.

Celebration and Relief in Egypt

Many of the secular activists and organizations who had played such a central role in the Arab Spring uprising came together with the Muslim Brotherhood in a unified front to challenge the military’s continuing seizure of power.

Palestinians Hunger Strikers and U.S. Veterans Returning Service Medals Lead Movements for Peace

Bold action by ordinary people works to bring support for peaceful, equal societies.

We’re Fighting in a War We Lost Before the War Began

New poll shows support for Afghanistan war lower than ever, and for good reason.

Program Director

New Internationalism

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anti-war movements, International Law, Iran, Iraq, ISIS, Israel-Palestine, Middle East, military budget, Refugees, sanctuary movement, Saudi Arabia, Syria, terrorism, Torture, U.S. foreign policy, U.S. wars, United Nations, War on Terror, Yemen

Talkies

KPFA | May 3, 2024

Phyllis Bennis joins Tavis Smiley

The Tavis Smiley Show | April 14, 2024

Gaza Ceasefire Resolution

CounterSpin, FAIR | March 29, 2024

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