Alpher graduated from
Columbia University in 1964 before serving in the
Israel Defense Forces as an Intelligence officer, followed by service in the Mossad. From 1981 to 1995, he was associated with the Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies (JCSS) at
Tel Aviv University, ultimately serving as director of the center. While at the Jaffee Center, Alpher coordinated and coedited the JCSS research project on options for a Palestinian settlement, and produced "The Alpher Plan" for an Israeli-Palestinian territorial settlement. From 1995 to 2000 he served as director of the
American Jewish Committee's Israel/Middle East Office in Jerusalem. In July 2000 (during the
2000 Camp David Summit) he served as Special Adviser to the Prime Minister of Israel, working with Prime Minister
Ehud Barak on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Alpher writes
Hard Questions, Tough Answers, a weekly security Q&A for
Americans for Peace Now. Yossi Alpher, ex-Mossad officer and Israeli analyst, appeared in Sacha Baron Cohen’s 2009 film Brüno. In the film, Brüno attempts to broker peace between Israelis and Palestinians. Alpher and Palestinian politician Ghassan Khatib were interviewed, unaware it was satire. Bruno asked absurd questions (e.g. confusing “Hamas” with “hummus”), leading to awkward and hilarious moments. ==Published works==