Middle East Scholar Barry Rubin Has Died

I listened to Barry Rubin speak in Los Angeles in March, 2011, shortly after the revolution in Egypt. I blogged many of his articles over the years, but looking at my archives one of the last times I wrote of him was when he announced his lung cancer in 2012. Professor Rubin has now died.

The Times of Israel reports, "Barry Rubin, Middle East scholar, dies at 64." Also at JPost, "'Jerusalem Post' columnist Barry Rubin dies." (And Memeorandum.)

David Swindle has this as well, at PJ Media, "RIP Barry Rubin: You Changed My Life and Your Ideas Will Change the World."

And from Bruce Kessler, at Maggie's Farm, "Barry Rubin, my friend, was a Mensch":

About a year and a half ago, Barry was dignosed with lung cancer. He had never smoked. Israel has a generally well-working state-run health insurance system and good doctors, but costs are escalating and care getting slimmer. Barry was given a very short time to live and told to go home. Barry was, naturally, depressed. His mother-in-law, a doctor in the US, went to work researching and discussing, and came up with a medication that put Barry into full remission. Barry told me he felt it was like a rebirth, and that he should work all the harder to educate others about Israel and the Middle East. Our time on earth is limited but the potential of our contributions isn't.

At dinner in Tel Aviv, Barry said to me that the number of Americans collecting benefits from the government was the primary cause of President Obama's reelection. I replied that was secondary to the impact of the liberal dominated major media influencing swing voters. He sat back and thought a moment, and answered that was primary to Obama adding to his base supporters to be elected. Barry was always open to additional information and flexible to incorporate what was true into his own views. Civilized discourse was Barry's guiding star.

There's much more from Bruce, and you should read it all at the link.

Requiescat in pace, Barry Rubin.