As an accomplished counterterrorism professional devoted to fighting antisemitism, Liram Koblentz-Stenzler, PhD, has been a senior researcher and the head of the global far-right extremism desk at the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism since 2018. While serving as a visiting fellow in the sociology department at Yale University, she was tasked with teaching a course on far-right extremism, antisemitism, and terrorism.
After Dr. Koblentz-Stenzler earned a master’s degree in military security and wrote her thesis on the morality of targeted killings, she was inspired to pursue a dissertation in the field. She graduated from Tel Aviv University with a Doctor of Philosophy in political science in 2018. Alongside this degree, she holds a master’s degree in security studies from Tel Aviv University and a Bachelor of Arts in diplomacy from Reichman University, where she was also named to the Dean’s List for her academic achievements. Alongside her role at the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism, Dr. Koblentz-Stenzler has been a visiting lecturer at Yale University since 2023 and an adjunct lecturer at Reichman University since 2021.
Dr. Koblentz-Stenzler is committed to serving as a leading expert in global far-right extremism and counterterrorism in the coming years. She shares her expertise and knowledge with her interns and is known as an exceptional mentor. With an unwavering passion for teaching and writing about topics related to her discipline, she looks forward to publishing policy papers and hopes to bridge the gap between academia and the practical application of ideas. Dr. Koblentz-Stenzler hopes to reach more people, institutions, and policymakers from across the world through her work. Among her achievements in her discipline, she is proudest of leading the global far-right extremism desk with the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism.
Sought after for her expertise in military ethics, radicalization processes, preventing violent extremism, counterterrorism, and combating global far-right extremism, Dr. Koblentz-Stenzler is an esteemed member of her professional community. She maintains affiliation with NATO’s task force on women, peace, and security, and attributes her success to her ambition, passion, perfectionism, and curiosity about her field of study. Dr. Koblentz-Stenzler also cites the importance of her advisors: Professor Asa Kasher, author of the Israel Defense Force’s ethical code, and Professor Isaac Ben-Israel, an Israeli artificial intelligence expert.
In 2023, Dr. Koblentz-Stenzler published her book, titled “Targeted Killings: The Israeli Case Studies,” which features interviews with many military and government officials, including former Israeli prime ministers and members of the Ministry of Defense. She plans to publish a piece on the influence of artificial intelligence on far-right extremism, shedding light on how extremist groups use the technology to manufacture weapons and drones. Dr. Koblentz-Stenzler has been invited to speak on a panel about the interplay between artificial intelligence and far-right extremism in society, and through her work, she hopes to raise awareness about this issue and its trajectory in a technologically advanced future. Another aspect of extremism she aims to highlight is the systematic recruitment efforts undertaken by extremist groups, both on the internet and in real life. Dr. Koblentz-Stenzler notes that often, extremist groups seek to radicalize teenagers using video game platforms.
Recognized for her professional accomplishments with numerous awards, Dr. Koblentz-Stenzler was honored for Outstanding Research in the Field of Counter-Terrorism by the Israel Intelligence Heritage and Commemoration Center in 2018. In 2012, she received a Women of Vision Scholarship from the Jewish Federation, and in 2011, she earned a Fox International Scholarship from the MacMillan Center at Yale University. Dr. Koblentz-Stenzler has also been inducted into the Marquis Who’s Who Biographical Registry. She loves time with her family, and, at her leisure, enjoys sports and hiking.