World
Israeli Scholar Ori Goldberg, Al Jazeera Contributor, Dies at 50
Israeli academic and independent analyst Ori Goldberg died at the age of 50 after a long battle with colon cancer, his family said. His eldest daughter Avigail confirmed his death in a statement posted on Goldberg’s X account on Sunday, writing that he was “the best dad in the world” and that he could not be described in one sentence. In a separate post, his eldest son, identified as Dave, said his father was “the light where things looked dark.” Goldberg was a frequent contributor to Al Jazeera’s website, where his opinion pieces focused on Middle East affairs. In his final piece for the Qatar‑based media network last month, he wrote about Israeli authorities’ reaction to the award‑winning documentary *NAZA*, by Yuval Avraham and Rachel Szor. In a piece titled “Israel is imploding in December 2025,” he explored whether Israel could be losing its status as a regional hegemon while the Israeli state and society become increasingly dysfunctional. He wrote that an international coalition led by the United States with the participation of Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkey is gradually removing Gaza from Israel’s control and pressuring Israel out of its territorial escapades in Syria and Lebanon. In another piece from the same month, “Netanyahu will win again,” he explained why the Israeli prime minister’s supporters would likely vote for him in a 2026 election, describing Netanyahu as “their man” who represents them against elites who feel the country is theirs by right and who has “broke the paradigm that put Israel at the mercy of the world.” Goldberg also appeared regularly on Al Jazeera English news and current affairs shows, including *Inside Story*. He earned a PhD in History from Tel Aviv University in 2008, with a dissertation on the role of religious experience in the creation and application of Iranian Shia revolutionary discourse during the second half of the 20th century. He received many awards and scholarships, including a fellowship at the Mellon Foundation from 2013 to 2015.
Frequently asked questions
What was Ori Goldberg's cause of death?
He died after a long battle with colon cancer.
What was Ori Goldberg's academic background?
He earned a PhD in History from Tel Aviv University in 2008, with a dissertation on the role of religious experience in the creation and application of Iranian Shia revolutionary discourse during the second half of the 20th century.
What topics did Ori Goldberg cover in his Al Jazeera articles?
He wrote about Middle East affairs, including Israeli authorities' reaction to the documentary NAZA, Israel's potential loss of regional hegemon status, and predictions about Netanyahu's 2026 election.