Background
His father, Abe, was for decades a grocer and leading businessman in Ames, Iowa, and was famous for his philanthropy.
His father, Abe, was for decades a grocer and leading businessman in Ames, Iowa, and was famous for his philanthropy.
Norton studied history at Wisconson University under George Mosse, Howard K. Beale and William Appleman Williams.
He is a Distinguished University Professor, Emeritus, Central Connecticut State University and is the president of the International Council for Middle East Studies, an academic think tank in Washington, District of Columbia
Norton Mezvinsky is from a well-known Iowa family long involved in Jewish politics. At the same time he corresponded with rabbi Elmer Berger, with whom he was to work and come very close to Mezvinsky was married to the playwright and novelist, Shirley Lauro, and has one daughter with her.
Nathan Guttman, writing in The Forward, described Mezvinsky as "an academic known for his anti-Israel views..who has been labeled as anti-Zionist holds strong views questioning the right of Jews to a homeland in Israel".
He has written numerous published books, articles and book reviews that deal with various aspects of the Arab-Israeli conflict and Zionism.
Norton"s brother, Edward Mezvinsky, was an Iowa state representative, a member of the United States House of Representatives and the United States. Representative to the United Nations Human Rights Committee in the 1970s.