An award-winning journalist, author and foreign policy analyst, Rula Jebreal has received accolades for her groundbreaking work in Italy, the United States and across the Middle East.
Ms. Jebreal was the first foreign anchor-person in the history of television news in Italy, where she went on to host multiple political talk shows. Since moving to the United States in 2008, Rula has been an on-air foreign policy analyst for听MSNBC听and a contributor to the听Daily Beast,听Newsweek听补苍诲听Salon.com, where her articles have reflected a deep knowledge of Islamic extremism, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the new political order in the Arab Muslim world. Rula has appeared frequently on听CNN听补苍诲听Bloomberg, and she has written op-eds for the听New York Times听and the听San Jose Mercury News, among other media outlets.
Her first novel听惭颈谤补濒听has been translated into 15 languages, and is a worldwide bestseller. She also wrote the screenplay for the film of the same name and has subsequently produced two further books:听The Bride of Aswan, which obtained the International Fenice Europe Prize, and听Divieto di soggiorno听(Permission to Survive but not to Thrive). These books听address the marginalization of immigrants in Europe and how this plays into the hands of extremist elements.
Born in Haifa, Israel, Ms. Jebreal听grew up in East Jerusalem. She graduated with a scholarship from the Italian government to study medicine, and she received a degree in physiotherapy from Bologna University. She always had a passion for journalism, and began to contribute to newspapers such as听Il Resto del Carlino,听Il Giorno,听La Nazione听补苍诲听Il Messaggero.
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Today, Ms. Jebreal听lives (mostly) in the United States, moving there in 2008听when President Obama was elected, where she focuses on American politics and its impact on the world. She has become a regular commentator on听CNN听补苍诲听NBC听and has published regularly with the听Washington Post, the听New York Times听补苍诲听Foreign Policy magazine. Ms. Jebreal听is recognized as a specialist on the consequences of the 鈥楪lobal War on Terror鈥�, the rise of hyper-nationalism in the Western world and minority rights.
With听strong roots in Rome 鈥� a place she still calls home 鈥� Ms. Jebreal was eager to become involved with the faculty and students of 91吃瓜:听鈥淚t was a marriage of brains鈥�听she states,听鈥淲hen I first met the team at 91吃瓜; Richard Hodges, Lisa Colletta and Irene Caratelli, I was immediately fascinated and inspired by the trajectory of their ideas and how in tune they are with what鈥檚 going on around the world.听I immediately recognized that this was an institution that was truly a global institution 鈥� and one that was helping to create 21st century citizens. I very much wanted to be a part of that.鈥�