Life & Career
Born in Dumfries, Scotland, in January 1965 — the same week Sir Winston Churchill lay in state at Westminster Hall — Neill Lochery grew up amid the rugged beauty of southwest Scotland, a landscape that instilled in him a lifelong love of reflection and storytelling. His early years were shaped as much by the windswept links of Scottish golf courses, which taught him precision and patience, as by the books, music, and history that would later define his career.
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A deep curiosity about the world led him from Britain to the Middle East and Portugal in early adulthood. Lisbon, still emerging from its 1974 revolution, captured his imagination with its vibrant culture and often-overlooked history. This fascination grew into a decades-long engagement with the country and its role in global affairs.
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Neill’s passions extend beyond history. Jazz, especially the improvisational genius of Miles Davis and the haunting trumpet of Chet Baker, has shaped his creative rhythm — always moving forward, never repeating the past. Photography, influenced by Saul Leiter’s play with color and light, and literature, especially F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, have deepened his appreciation for fleeting moments and layered narratives. These influences permeate his writing, infusing historical analysis with artistry and emotional depth.
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​Today, Neill is a globally renowned historian and international bestselling author, celebrated for his original, accessible works on modern Europe and the Mediterranean Middle East. His fourteen books — translated into multiple languages — combine meticulous research with vivid storytelling to reveal the hidden forces that shaped the 20th and 21st centuries. This includes his best selling book Lisbon: War in the Shadows of the City of Light, 1939–1945 , which has gained international acclaim.
​A sought-after speaker and trusted advisor, Neill has addressed audiences at the National WWII Museum, YPO, the Chief Executives Organization, and 92NY Roundtable. His writing has appeared in The Wall Street Journal and other leading outlets, and he regularly briefs business leaders, diplomats, and policymakers on the historical roots of today’s pressing challenges.
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Beyond the written word, he has curated acclaimed exhibitions with cultural leaders — from Lisbon: Bottleneck of Europe in World War II to 1941: Guggenheim and Fleming – Artists and Spies in WWII Portugal — bringing rare archival treasures to the public and shaping collective memory.
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A Professor at University College London, Neill continues to write, speak, and consult internationally. His work bridges scholarly insight with a storyteller’s touch, making history resonate with those who shape the future — from publishers and policymakers to anyone captivated by the interplay of past and present.
3 Documents Which Shaped Neill´s Research
Research often begins with one question, one document, or a seemingly insignificant clue that sends you down a completely unexpected path. For Neill, three such discoveries revealed hidden stories which not only set the course for much of his academic work, but also became the lense through with he has re-examined major events of the 20th century and helped reshaped the very narrative of history.
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1. The British Foreign Office Telegram: A Tangled Web of Diplomacy and Refugees in WWII Lisbon​​​
At the British National Archives in Kew, Neill discovered a telegram from the British Foreign Office instructing the ambassador in Lisbon to pressure Portuguese dictator Salazar to block Jewish rescue organizations. Although Lisbon was neutral and a refuge for thousands fleeing Nazi persecution, Britain feared that refugees might seek entry to Palestine, potentially destabilizing the region and jeopardizing wartime relations with the Arab world. This directive reflected a complex interplay of diplomacy, refugee crises, and geopolitical strategy. The telegram became a cornerstone of my research, prompting a deeper investigation into WWII-era Lisbon, the role of neutral countries, and how intelligence and refugee movements influenced the broader political landscape.
2. The British-Supplied Heavy Water: Uncovering Israel's Nuclear Program
While researching Israel's early nuclear program, Neill discovered a memo in the British National Archives detailing the transfer of heavy water from Britain to Israel via Norway in the early 1960s. As a critical component for nuclear technology, this revealed Britain’s covert role in supporting Israel’s nuclear ambitions at a pivotal time when the country was solidifying its regional power. The document reshaped my research, prompting deeper investigation into Anglo-Israeli relations, the international arms trade, and the clandestine networks that enabled nuclear proliferation during the Cold War, highlighting how strategic interests often outweighed moral considerations.
3. The British-Supplied Heavy Water: Uncovering Israel's Nuclear Program
At the American National Archives, Neill found a file on a Lisbon bookshop funded by a man with a Nazi past. Though it appeared cultural, the shop was a front for selling looted Jewish art and treasures smuggled from occupied Europe. This revelation exposed Lisbon as a hub in the wartime art theft network, highlighting how neutral countries sometimes facilitated or ignored Nazi crimes. The document deepened my research into art looting, the black market, and the intricate connections between Nazi officials, local collaborators, and opportunistic intermediaries during the war.
Journalism
(2021). Why Portugal's Troubled History of Political Crises Will Continue. The Spectator Read Archived Abstract >> (2017). The Six-Day War. The Jewish Chronicle. Read Archived Abstract >> (2017). How Netanyahu Beat Obama. Politico Read Archived Abstract >> (2014). Renewed Israeli Turkish Ties in the New Middle East. The Jerusalem Post Read Archived Abstract >> (2014). Portugal's Golden Mystery. Wall Street Journal Read Archived Abstract >> (2014). Northern Ireland is still a tinder box. National Post, Canada Read Archived Abstract >> (2014). No Chance for Peace in the Middle East. National Post, Canada Read Archived Abstract >> (2011). There May Be Trouble Ahead in Northern Ireland. Wall Street Journal Read Archived Abstract >> (2011). Being Bashar Assad. Wall Street Journal Read Archived Abstract >> (2011). Portugal's PM cancels Christmas. Wall Street Journal Read Archived Abstract >> (2011). Waiting for Salazar. Wall Street Journal. Read Archived Abstract >> 2011). Portugal's Golden Dilemma. Wall Street Journal. Read Archived Abstract >> (2004). Zigzag as Strategy. Jerusalem Post. Read Archived Abstract >> (2004). What Odds Sharon and Arafat. National Post (2003). Arafat Moves to Fill the Void in the Arab World. National Post. (2003). How a Middle East Deal Might Take Shape. National Post. (2003). Farewell to Arms. Jerusalem Post. Read Archived Abstract >> (2003). Jews Are the Victims. Abbas Is the Target. National Post. (2003). It’s Time to Tell the World about the other 1948 Refugees. Jerusalem Post. Read Archived Abstract >> (2003). Peres Mideast Vision Is Resurrected. National Post. (2003). Sharon is Still the Best Choice. National Post. (2003). Hebron: The Heart of the Problem. Jerusalem Post. Read Archived Abstract >> (2003). So Who Are These Israeli Settlers. National Post. (2003). Why Turkey and Why Now? Jerusalem Post. Read Archived Abstract >> (2002). A Time for Historic Decision-making. Jerusalem Post. (2002). A Visit to Bethlehem. Jerusalem Post. Read Archived Abstract >> (2002). A Way to Reassure the Israeli Public. Jerusalem Post. Read Archived Abstract >> (2002). Abdullahâ´s Empty Gesture. National Post. (2002). Admit It: Israeli Cities Have Become War Zones. National Post. (2002). After Iraq, More Problems. United Press International syndicated (UPI). (2002). After the Rogues. Jerusalem Post. Read Archived Abstract >> (2002). Arab States Have Only Themselves to Blame. National Post. (2002). Arafat Needs Hamas. United Press International syndicated (UPI). (2002). Arafat Seeks Triumph As a Myth. United Press International syndicated (UPI). (2002). Arafatâ´s Fiction is Still a Western Best-Seller. National Post. (2002). As Election Looms, So Does the Threat of War. National Post. (2002). Bibi Versus Arik in the Likud. National Post. (2002). Blair and Israel: The Reality. Jerusalem Post. (2002). Bullies and Blarney. Jerusalem Post. Read Archived Abstract >> (2002). Can Pariah States Change Their Spots? National Post. (2002). Change and Continuity in the Middle East. Jerusalem Post. (2002). Death of the Two-State Solution. United Press International syndicated (UPI). (2002). Dialogue with Arafat Odious but Necessary. National Post. (2002). Don´t Give Arafat an Exit Strategy. National Post. (2002). Don´t Isolate Israel, Use It, Washington Times. Read Archived Abstract >> (2002). Free killers Bring No Peace. United Press International syndicated (UPI). (2002). Hamas on the Horizon. Jerusalem Post. (2002). How to Beat the Terror Bullies. United Press International syndicated (UPI). (2002). In an Election, Hamas Could Come Up the Middle. National Post. (2002). Is Arafat Successor Surfacing? Chicago Sun-Times. (2002). Is Israel Backing Barghouti? United Press International syndicated (UPI). (2002). Israel Gets Its Dream Ticket. National Post. (2002). Israel Must Learn from History, Chicago Sun-Times. (2002). Israel Needs to Shift Terms of Conflict. United Press International syndicated (UPI). (2002). Israel Should Say No. Jerusalem Post. (2002). Israel´s Labor Out in the Cold. United Press International syndicated (UPI). (2002). Israel´s Labour Party Still Not Trusted. National Post. (2002). Israel´s New Strategies in War with Hamas. United Press International syndicated (UPI). (2002). Israel´s Role in Toppling Saddam. National Post. (2002). Lessons of Oslo Accords. National Post. (2002). Look to the Future Palestinian Leadership. National Post. (2002). Mideast End Game Not in Sight. National Post. (2002). Oslo´s Lessons. Jerusalem Post. Read Archived Abstract >> (2002). Palestinian State Will Add to Chaos. United Press International syndicated (UPI). (2002). Peace Proposals and Other Tactical Ploys. National Post. (2002). Political Reform First - Then Peace. National Post. (2002). Radicals of Hamas Are Waiting in the Wings. Chicago Sun-Times. (2002). Revive the Jordan Option. United Press International syndicated (UPI). (2002). Saudi Arabia´s Simplistic Peace Plan Likely to Spur Violence. Middle East Times. (2002). A Time for Historic Decision Making. Jerusalem Post. Read Archived Abstract >> (2002). Sharon Wins Leadership Battle. United Press International syndicated (UPI). (2002). Should We Teach Palestinians To Shoot Straight? National Post. (2002). Tactical Transformations. Jerusalem Post. Read Archived Abstract >> (2002). Talk Can Be Worse Than Cheap. National Post. (2002). Terms for Keeping Arafat. National Post. (2002). The Palestinian Heir Apparent. Jerusalem Post. Read Archived Abstract >> (2002). The Unlikely Palestinian Civil War. Jerusalem Post. Read Archived Abstract >> (2002). There´s No Reforming the Palestinian Authority. Chicago Sun-Times. (2002). This War is No Intifada. United Press International syndicated (UPI). (2002). Let Arafat Topple his own House of Cards. Jerusalem Post. (2002). Three Languages, Three Mideast Wars. National Post. (2002). Trends After Bush Speech. United Press International syndicated (UPI). (2002). War and Peace in the Middle East. United Press International syndicated (UPI). (2002). What Can Be Done About the Arafat Problem. Chicago Sun-Times. (2002). Why Tony Blair is Only a Fair-Weather Friend of Israel. The Scotsman. (2002). Nutty Professors: A Worrying Time for the Academic Study of Israel. Jerusalem Post. Read Archived Abstract >> (2002). Why War Won´t Work for Israel. United Press International syndicated (UPI). (2001). Allow the PLO and Arafat to Go Under. National Post. (2001). Another Forum for Arab Bashing. National Post. (2001). Arafat and Sharon Too Insecure for Peace. National Post. (2001). Arafat Unmasked. National Post. (2001). Arafat up Against the Iron Wall. National Post. (2001). Scholarship or Propaganda: The Arab-Israeli Conflict. Middle Eastern Studies (issue 37) (2001). Works on Israel and the Arab-Israeli Conflict. Middle East Studies (issue 37) (2001). Beating Palestinian Swords into Fence Posts. National Post (2001). Before Peace Democracy. National Post (2001). Bush Can't Fight Terror by Appeasing Arafat. National Post (2001). Don't Pay with Israeli Currency. National Post (2001). Hamas Ceasefire is Only Tactical. National Post (2001). Hamas Hates America Too. United Press International (2001). Israel Backs Palestinian Doves. National Post (2001). Israel Comes Full Circle. National Post (2001). Israel Has Let Down Its Guard. National Post (2001). Israel Strikes Back. National Post (2001). Israel Turns its Attention to Plan B. National Post (2001). Israel under Sharon. National Post (2001). Jerusalem the Heart of the Matter. National Post (2001). Landslide Buries Barak's Promises. National Post (2001). Making a Fragile Ceasefire Permanent. National Post (2001). Middle East Quagmire May Draw in Moderates. National Post (2001). New Levels of Terrorism. Montreal Gazette (2001). Now We'll See Who Controls the Palestinians. National Post (2001). Partition the Only Way to Defuse Israel's Demographic Time Bomb. National Post (2001). Peacekeepers Don't Belong in Israel. National Post (2001). Revolutionary Goals-Conservative Strategies. National Post (2001). Sometimes Fighting is the Only Answer. National Post (2001). Spilling Fire on the Oils of Gaza. National Post (2001). Strategic Dogma: Tactical Flexibility. United Press International (2001). Terrorism and Arafatism. National Post (2001). Terrorism Hits Home. National Post (2001). The Arab Strategy to Isolate Israel. National Post (2001). The Message to Sharon to form Ze'evi's killers. National Post (2001). The Road to War. National Post (2001). The Settlement Issue is a Red Herring. National Post (2001). U.S. Middle East Policy Stuck in Oslo Mode. National Post (2001). Zionism Equals Racism? National Post (2000). A War Weary Israel Leaves Lebanon. National Post (2000). After Eighteen Years, Israel is leaving Lebanon. National Post (2000). Crunch Time Nears in Middle East Talks. National Post (2000). New Wine into Old Bottles: Literature on Israel in 2000. Middle Eastern Studies (issue 36) (2000). The Netanyahu Era: from Crisis to Crisis, 1996-1999. Israel Affairs (issue 6) (2000). Israel's Other Election Issues. National Post (2000). On the Edge of the Abyss (Again) National Post (2000). Palestinians Aren't Ready for Statehood. National Post (2000). Referendum on Golan Heights is a Minefield. National Post (2000). Talks Hold the Key to Lebanon. National Post (2000). The Only Solution Now is Separation. National Post (2000). The Process Counts not the Summit. National Post (2000). Waiting for Netanyahu. National Post (1999). What Did Israel´s Elections Decide. Middle East Quarterly (1999). Netanyahu Deciphered. Middle East Quarterly (1999). Israel-Turkey: Deepening ties and Strategic Implications. Israel Affairs (issue 5)