Aspen is a place for leaders to lift their sights above the possessions which possess them. To confront their own nature as human beings, to regain control over their own humanity by becoming more self-aware, more self-correcting, and hence more self-fulfilling.
In the first episode of Season 4 of Leadership in Action, a documentary series by the Bertelsmann Foundation and the Aspen Ministers Forum, former Jordanian Foreign Minister Marwan Muasher shares his remarkable personal story. From his family’s experience during the 1948 Arab Israeli war to his groundbreaking role as Jordan’s first ambassador to Israel following the 1994 peace agreement, Muasher reflects on the challenges and opportunities of diplomacy in a divided region.
After earning a PhD in computer engineering, Muasher discovered a growing interest in political and social issues. His desire to explore questions of governance, rights, and reform led him to a second career in journalism, a path that would reshape his life. Through his thoughtful commentary and incisive writing, he was recruited to the Ministry of Planning and later appointed press advisor to the Prime Minister, marking the beginning of a distinguished career in public service.
He went on to serve as his government’s spokesperson in Washington, DC, where he played a key role in facilitating the 1994 peace agreement between Jordan and Israel. Soon after, His Majesty King Hussein asked Muasher to open and lead Jordan’s first embassy in Israel.
This assignment, diplomatically delicate and historically significant, required leadership, courage, empathy, and an unwavering commitment to dialogue. Muasher’s reflections in this episode are particularly resonant today, amid a fragile ceasefire between Hamas and the Israeli Defense Forces in October 2025, following more than two years of conflict. As the world cautiously hopes for a renewed path toward peace, his story reminds us of the perseverance and creativity required to pursue reconciliation when it feels most out of reach.
“I hope my personal story in the Middle East, a region where peace is elusive, can help illuminate the human dimensions of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict,” Muasher reflects. “Amid the war on Gaza and the suffering of Palestinians, my goal was to help viewers better understand the complexities of this conflict beyond abstract concepts.”
As with all Leadership in Action episodes, the series aims to highlight the insight and determination of leaders and diplomats working to address the world’s most pressing challenges. Watch more videos from the series here.
The Aspen Ministers Forum is a nonpartisan initiative of former foreign ministers from around the world. The group meets regularly to exchange ideas, apply lessons from past negotiations, and craft new strategies to confront today’s global challenges. Learn more about the Aspen Ministers Forum here.
The Bertelsmann Foundation is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit think tank based in Washington, DC, dedicated to strengthening the transatlantic relationship. For more information, visit bfna.org.
