Michael Dougall Bell
Michael Dougall Bell | |
---|---|
Canada Ambassador to Jordan | |
In office 1987–1990 | |
Preceded by | Gary Richard Harman |
Succeeded by | Arthur Percy Sherwood |
Canada Ambassador to Israel | |
In office 1990–1992 | |
Preceded by | James Bartleman |
Succeeded by | Norman Spector |
Canada Ambassador to Cyprus | |
In office 1991–1992 | |
Preceded by | James Bartleman |
Succeeded by | Norman Spector |
Canada Ambassador to Egypt | |
In office 1994–1998 | |
Preceded by | Jacques T. Simard |
Succeeded by | Marie-Andrée Beauchemin |
Canada Ambassador to Israel | |
In office 1999–2003 | |
Preceded by | David Berger |
Succeeded by | Donald Sinclair |
Personal details | |
Born |
Windsor, Ontario, Canada | September 10, 1943
Nationality | Canadian |
Residence | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
Alma mater | University of Windsor |
Michael Dougall Bell (born September 10, 1943) is a former Canadian Foreign Service Officer with 36 years experience in the Department of Foreign Affairs, mostly focused on the Middle East. He was Canada's Ambassador to Jordan (1987–90), Egypt (1994–98), and Israel (1990–92 and 1999–2003). Also former Chair of the Donor Committee of the International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq. In his public pronouncements, he is known as an Arabist who is hostile to Israel,[1] and opposed the Harper's government's cooperation with the Jewish state.[2]
Early life
Bell was born on September 10, 1943 in Windsor, Ontario. He attended Assumption College School from 1958–1962, and later attended the University of Windsor. At Windsor he received his B.A. Hons (1966) and M.A. (1967) in Political Science and Economic Studies.
Foreign Service
After completing his M.A. he joined the Canadian Foreign Service, holding early positions in Kingston, Jamaica (1968–1970), Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago (1970–1972), and Rome, Italy (1981–1983). He Also Served as the Senior Political Officer in Tel Aviv, Israel from 1975 to 1978. He was Executive Assistant for Middle East Affairs to the Honourable Robert Stanfield (1978–1979), and Director of the Middle East Relations Division (1983–1987), Director General for Central and Eastern Europe (1992–1994). He served as Canadian Ambassador to Egypt, Jordan and Israel (twice), as well as High Commissioner to Cyprus. He was also an Arms Inspector for UNSCOM for a short period.[3]
After the Foreign Service
Bell served as the Fellow at the Weatherhead Centre for International Affairs at Harvard University (1998–99) and from 2003-2005 he was Senior Scholar on Diplomacy at the Munk Centre for International Studies, at the University of Toronto.[3]
Bell has been a contributor to the Globe and Mail. He has also published in the Literary Review of Canada, the Behind the Headlines series of the Canadian Institute of International Affairs, Idea&s: the Arts and Science Review of the University of Toronto, the International Journal, and the Journal of International Law and International Relations.[3]
Current work
Michael Bell is currently the Paul Martin (Sr.) Senior Scholar on International Diplomacy at the University of Windsor, where he teaches on the law and politics of the modern Middle East. He is also engaged in a major study on the future governance of Jerusalem’s Old City. The project is designed to stimulate thinking amongst decision makers, respecting options for the future governance of the old city for possible use by negotiators, in the event of renewed negotiations for a comprehensive peace between Israelis and Palestinians.[4] Critics note that this activity was detached from regional realities, "misguided"[5] and unhelpful.[6][7] The funding originally provided by the Canadian government was ended.
Political activity
Bell joined a Justin Trudeau initiative "to help him persuade voters he has the foreign policy chops to be prime minister in 2015", which was unveiled on 16 December 2014 in the lead-up to the 2015 Canadian election. The group of 14 experts included several candidates for office, a Calgary-based lawyer who advocates for Chinese state-owned enterprises, and another lawyer who wrote "lamenting the lack of diversity and women in positions of power in corporate Canada".[8] In the months between the two events, he was interviewed on the P5+1 Iran deal and said:[9]
“ | It’s been clear for some time that Israeli intelligence did not agree with Netanyahu’s statements about Iran’s intentions. This revelation will now put Republicans in the U.S. and Netanyahu and his supporters in Israel on the defensive. What people need to remember is that Iran wants to be integrated into the international system. And I think we can trust the P5 countries to make sure any deal with Iran won’t allow it to develop nuclear weapons. | ” |
and he has written in The Globe and Mail pieces such as:
- "To respond to terror, we must distinguish its three varieties", 13 January 2015
- "Why a weakened IS gives Harper a political boost", 12 February 2015
- "Israel will pay a price for Netanyahu’s Iran obsession", 5 March 2015
- "Another round of Netanyahu – for Israelis and the world", 18 March 2015
- "Lost in the headlines: Another tragedy looms in Lebanon", 14 April 2015
- "Jordan needs more than muscle", 30 April 2015
References
- ↑ "Exposing Michael Bell's Falsehoods in the Globe and Mail". 2014-04-17. Retrieved 2016-09-15.
- ↑ "Another round of Netanyahu – for Israelis and the world". Retrieved 2016-09-15.
- 1 2 3 University of Windsor - Research - Prof. M. Bell - Main
- ↑ uwindsor.ca: "Jerusalem Old City Initiative / About Us / Who We Are"
- ↑ CJN, The (2008-09-11). "A letter to Bob Rae - The Canadian Jewish News". Retrieved 2016-09-15.
- ↑ "Slander: Former Canadian Ambassador Says Jews, Not Arabs, Stoned Leftist (UPDATE)". Algemeiner.com. Retrieved 2016-09-15.
- ↑ Ben-Dat, Mordechai (2009-01-08). "Free, but unhelpful advice - The Canadian Jewish News". Retrieved 2016-09-15.
- ↑ globeandmail.com: "Trudeau unveils foreign policy team of ex-military officers, ambassadors", 16 Dec 2014
- ↑ theglobeandmail.com: "Leaked files show Mossad, Netanyahu differed on timetable for Iran nuclear program", 23 Feb 2015
External links
- Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada Complete List of Posts
- Michael Bell's Website at the University of Windsor
- http://uwindsor.ca/jerusaleminitiative
Diplomatic posts | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded by Gary Richard Harman |
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Jordan 1987-1990 |
Succeeded by Arthur Percy Sherwood |
Preceded by James Bartleman |
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Israel 1990-1992 |
Succeeded by Norman Spector |
Preceded by James Bartleman |
High Commissioner to Cyprus 1991-1992 |
Succeeded by Norman Spector |
Preceded by Jacques T. Simard |
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Egypt 1994-1998 |
Succeeded by Marie-Andrée Beauchemin |
Preceded by David Berger |
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Israel 1999-2003 |
Succeeded by Donald Sinclair |