Eli Kowaz is a Canadian-Israeli writer and Middle East analyst at IPF whose articles have been published in Israeli-based English-language media such as Ha'aretz, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, The Times of Israel, and The Jerusalem Post, with his posts on X (formerly Twitter) included there and additional media, particularly since the 2023 Israeli War on Gaza. He was 29 years old in December 2019,[1] placing his birth year in 1989 or 1988.
Kowaz is a Middle East analyst[2] at Israel Policy Forum (IPF),[3] promoting a two-station solution for Israel and Palestine, working with policymakers, convening roundtable discussions and panels with congresspeople, congressional staffers and opinion leaders, as well as organizing events in synagogues. He was previously communications director at IPF.[1]
Background
Kowaz is from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada where grew up in the Oakridge neighbourhood with an Israeli father, Joseph Kowaz, who moved to Vancouver in his 20s, and a mother, Andrea (Rogow) Kowaz, who moved there from New York in her youth. His mother's parents, Sally and Robert Rogow, were community leaders and academics.[1]
Kowaz attended Vancouver Talmud Torah and Hebrew Academy for elementary school and Magee and King David high schools, resulting in a mix of Orthodox Jewish, secular traditional (private), and public education.[1] Kowaz graduated from McGill University in Montreal and receiving a B.A. Honors in Jewish Studies and Psychology. Then he completed a master's degree in Digital Media from Ryerson University in Toronto.[citation needed] He has studied in Israel at both Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.[citation needed]
Prior to IPF, Kowaz spent the 2011 year running an international marketing campaign for an Israeli startup. He then built a second branch of his family business in Toronto. Kowaz has additional experience in both digital publishing and web design. He started an online magazine focused on Middle East politics in 2012.[4]
Criticism
Action on Armed Violence (AOAV) criticized what is called Kowaz's "grossly incorrect interpretation" of AOAV data trends, claiming that the Israel Defense Forces hhas low casualty rate in their attacks on Gaza. AOAV complained that even though Kowaz later deleted the post, that others continue to spread what it termed the "misinformation".[5]
References
- ^ a b c d Johnson, Pat (13 December 2019). "Eli Kowaz". Retrieved 27 January 2024.
- ^ Reporter, Aleks Phillips U. S. News (30 November 2023). "Jerusalem attack puts Gaza ceasefire under pressure". Newsweek. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
- ^ "Eli Kowaz". Israel Policy Forum. 15 June 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
- ^ "Eli Walter Kowaz". Toronto Metropolitan University. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
- ^ Torelli, Chiara (12 December 2023). "X (Twitter) analyst Eli Kowaz's grossly incorrect interpretation of AOAV data trends, claiming IDF has low Gaza casualty rate. Kowaz later deletes post but others continue to spread the misinformation". AOAV. Retrieved 27 January 2024.