The MERIP Podcast Episode 12: Honoring Joe Stork, Live in DC
Featuring Sarah Leah Whitson, Lisa Hajjar, Mouin Rabbani, Joel Beinin, Zachary Lockman, Rick Reinhard, Joan Mandell and Joost Hiltermann
On this episode of the MERIP Podcast we're sharing highlights of our live event Honoring Joe Stork, held at Busboys and Poets in Washington, D.C. on November 22, 2025. The event featured reflections and reminiscences about Joe Stork, our co-founder and longtime editor who passed away October 23, 2024. Featured speakers included Sarah Leah Whitson, Lisa Hajjar, Mouin Rabbani, Joel Beinin, Zachary Lockman, Rick Reinhard, Andy Shallal and Joan Mandel. The event was MC'd by Joost Hiltermann, a MERIP contributor and analyst at the International Crisis Group. All of the speakers shared stories of their experience working with Joe, from the founding of MERIP in the 1970s through his work with Human Rights Watch later in his career.
MERIP is grateful to the staff at Busboys and Poets for hosting us, and Andy Shallal, the owner of Busboys and Poets, for joining the proceedings to share a few words.
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Written by
James Ryan is the Executive Director of the Middle East Research and Information Project
Lisa Hajjar is chair of the sociology department at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Mouin Rabbani is a senior fellow at the Institute for Palestine Studies and a contributing editor of Middle East Report.
Joel Beinin is Donald J. McLachlan Professor of History and professor of Middle East history at Stanford University and a contributing editor of Middle East Report.
Zachary Lockman is professor of modern Middle East history at New York University and a contributing editor of this magazine.
Contributor to Middle East Report
Joost Hiltermann is program director for the Middle East and North Africa at the International Crisis Group.
