Sitting on his balcony overlooking the beauty and chaos of Jerusalem, John Lyons – with his wife Sylvie Le Clezio – observes daily life in Jerusalem. John’s balcony in Jerusalem is the perfect metaphor of his role in narrating the Middle East conflict, treading a thin line between two hostile parties.

John – now the head of ABC’s Investigative and In-depth Journalism – was welcomed by the Institute on Tuesday 24 April to share his unique insights from years chronicling the complexity of one of the world’s most important regions. In conversation with AIIA Fellow Professor Jocelyn Chey, he delivered profound and precise details of the years spent in Jerusalem, with stories of spies, coercion and soldier’s tales – seemingly impossible events and feats that seem to belong more in fiction than in history.

He conveyed his concern about the bleak prospect for any peace settlement. A two-state solution was becoming increasingly hard to envisage as the Palestinian populations in the occupied territories grew. Indefinite occupation was not viable. He had noted hardening attitudes among many Israelis, including tolerance of a high level of discrimination against Palestinians in the justice system.  He had observed increasing international scepticism about Israel’s behaviour, for example among younger Americans, with implications for the future.

John’s attempt to bring an impartial and truthful account of the conflict was evident through his scrupulous fact-checking, and his reputation as a threat to all parties. Yet John’s stories would not have been told if it weren’t for his defiance of the rules and limitations that authoritarian power attempted to impose.

The account given by John brings a special human element to a conflict the world has wearied of over the years. He has provided a full spectrum of perspectives, recognising the evil in both sides, but also acknowledging the love, hope, and humanity he found everywhere.

John’s experience extends well beyond Jerusalem. He was able to recount the rise, and quick demise, of the Arab Spring, which he followed across the Middle East and North Africa. His first-hand accounts told of the initial hope and jubilation dashed by death and destruction, as authoritarianism reclaimed its power and dictators, once again, began to persecute their own people.

John’s full account can be found in his recent book Balcony Over Jerusalem: A Memoir of Life in the Middle East, HarperCollins (Australia), 2017

Report by Diana Lambert,

 AIIA intern