Avi Melamed is a geopolitical Middle East expert, intelligence analyst, author, educator, founder, and CEO of Inside the Middle East Intelligence Perspectives [ITME], an institute dedicated to apolitical Middle East education.
With a rich history as a former Israeli Intelligence Official and Senior Advisor on Arab Affairs, Avi has been uniquely positioned at the intersection of diplomacy, education, and intelligence. Fluent in Arabic, English, and Hebrew, Avi is recognized for his distinct understanding of current affairs in the Arab and Muslim world and their implications on Israel and the broader Middle East. His deep familiarity with the Arab and Muslim world has enabled him to predict key regional events.
Beyond his governmental and intelligence roles, where he undertook high-risk assignments, Avi’s most significant contribution lies in his commitment to education. His public service journey segued into academia when he was appointed the Fellow of Intelligence and Middle East Affairs at the Eisenhower Institute in Washington, D.C. During his tenure (2013 – 2018), Avi developed an undergraduate experiential education course, which later expanded to Capitol Hill, called “Inside the Middle East: Intelligence Perspectives” [ITME]. The ITME praxis rests on two core pillars: providing apolitical, non-partisan, contextualized education about the Middle East and developing critical thinking and media literacy skills. Recognizing the course’s broader implications, Avi expanded ITME into a not-for-profit independent institute. Today, guided by a diversified Board of Directors, ITME offers a wealth of customized educational programming, resources, and tools in Israel and around the world. ITME equips individuals with knowledge, resources, skills, and tools, empowering them to navigate complex global issues.
Avi has authored three books on the region, produced “The Seam Line,” a five-part docuseries exploring the many layers of the conflict in and over Jerusalem, and the soon-to-be-released Inside The Middle East | The Primer, an educational film featuring voices from the Arab and Muslim world often absent in Western discourse.
He is a frequent commentator on international media platforms such as ABC, Al-Arabiya, AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, CNN, the Financial Times, FOX, the Guardian, Newsweek, The Hill, Reuters, Sky News, Wall Street Journal and more. He is a permanent contributor to USA Today. To keep up with Avi’s analysis, please visit the ITME HUB.
