Avi Shlaim is an Israeli historian and professor emeritus of international relations at the University of Oxford. He is best known for his work on the Arab-Israeli conflict, particularly his book The Iron Wall: Israel and the Arab World. Shlaim has written extensively on the history of the Middle East, and his work has been praised for its balanced and nuanced approach to the region's complex history. He has also been a vocal critic of Israeli policies, particularly the occupation of the Palestinian territories. Shlaim has received numerous awards for his work, including the Israel Prize for History in 2004. He is a member of the British Academy and the Royal Historical Society, and is a frequent contributor to the media on Middle Eastern affairs.