Israel Policy Forum

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The Israel Policy Forum (IPF) is a New York, NY based American Jewish organization that works for a two state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. The organization lobbies American policymakers in support of this goal and writes opinion pieces that have appeared in many Jewish and non-Jewish newspapers.[1] It was founded in 1993.[2]

In September 2008, the organization named Peter Joseph (then the Forum's chairman) to succeed Seymour Reich as president. Larry Zicklin took over from Joseph as chairman.[3]

The IPF has been criticized for being pro-Palestinian; Isi Leibler called them "Jews against Zion".[4] Members of the IPF responded that working with the Palestinians is in Israel's best interest and that Mr. Leibler's attack was "offensive and deplorable".[5]

Contents

[edit] Mission

Israel Policy Forum’s (IPF) stated mission is to champion involved and continuous American diplomacy efforts, which it believes are imperative for reaching an overarching settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.[6]

Israel Policy Forum believes that a two-state solution to the conflict will bring increased security, prosperity and stability not only to Israel, but to its Arab neighbors and the region. IPF believes that a two-state solution is key to gathering the worldwide support necessary to increase international security and effectively fight terror. IPF believes that America must remain an active and consistent partner in the peace process both to reach this goal and strengthen the United States’ role in the region. IPF is committed to encouraging and supporting the United States in this effort.[7]

[edit] Policy

  • Israel Policy Forum (IPF) provides news analyses and recommendations for constructive American approaches to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and related issues. IPF works with domestic and international policy makers to help form the public conversation on Middle East issues[8]
  • IPF Friday by MJ Rosenberg is distributed nationally and in the Middle East. It is regularly reprinted online and in major publications, such as the Jerusalem Post.[9]
  • IPF’s US and Israel Advisory Councils include Israeli and American analysts and former government officials. The Councils regularly discuss policy, write position papers and communicate for IPF in the media and in various communities across the nation.[10]

[edit] Advocacy

IPF’s team of advocates and leaders—which includes members of Jewish, philanthropic, academic and political organizations—imparts policy messages to American and international leaders. IPF also regularly holds conference calls and educational training in major U.S. cities[11].

[edit] Leadership development

IPF trains advocates to promote a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through educational programs. IPF holds an annual Leadership Event to support key figures who promote peacemaking efforts. Previous speakers at the Leadership Event include President Bill Clinton[12], Vice President Al Gore[13], Senator Joseph Biden[14], Prime Minister Ehud Barak[15], then-Vice Prime Minister Ehud Olmert[16] and Vice Prime Minister Haim Ramon[17].

[edit] Public diplomacy

IPF works to enhance communication and diplomatic efforts between Israeli, Arab and American leaders. IPF arranges bi-annual delegations to the Middle East in which American leaders meet with heads-of-state, diplomats, scholars and analysts throughout the region. IPF also conducts media outreach by contributing background information and op-eds[18] to major U.S. and Israeli publications[19].

[edit] Dispute over Freeman nomination

Leaders of the Israel Policy Forum disagreed in early 2009 over the appointment of Charles Freeman to a senior US intelligence post. IPF Washington Director M.J. Rosenberg strongly supported Freeman on the grounds that Freeman's harsh criticisms of Israeli policy would make him an ideal candidate to prepare US intelligence estimates. However, the Jerusalem Post reported that the previous President of the IPF, Seymour D. Reich:

decided to step down from the forum's policy-making [Executive] committee over differences on issues including the Freeman affair...Reich said that while Freeman maintained he would have put aside his personal opinions to hold a job devoted to analyzing the information gathered by US intelligence agencies, the appointee was "clearly biased against Israel," as his blaming the "Israel Lobby" demonstrated. 'I don't see how he could have given any objective intelligence assessment on the Middle East with that baggage hanging out so openly,' Reich told The Jerusalem Post." [20]

In March 2009 the IPF removed Reich's name from its online list of members of its Executive Committee, although it did not issue any formal announcement of the change.

[edit] Leadership

IPF Officers and Executive Committee
Peter A. Joseph, President Lawrence Zicklin, Chair
Marvin Lender Geoffrey H.Lewis
Harriet Mouchly-Weiss Henry Ostberg
Unfilled (formerly Seymour D. Reich, who resigned March 2009 in dispute over Charles Freeman) James E. Walker III
Honorary Chairs
Jack Bendheim Robert K. Lifton
Michael Sonnenfeldt Judith Stern Peck
Thedore R. Mann
National Board
Dan Adler Karen Adler David Avital Lawrence Bender Mark Biderman Ed Blank Joan Bronk Stanley M. Chesley Matthew Fassler Harvey Fields
Ernest Ginsberg Stanley P. Gold H.P. Goldfield Sally Gottesman Harold Handler Steven C. Koppel Murray Koppelam Allen Kronstadt Tom Kully Jaqueline Levine
Yaffa Maritz Mark Medavoy Norman J. Pattiz Debra Pell Marcia Riklis Sy Reich Henry Rosovsky Jodi J. Schwartz Ian Slome Terri Smooke
Susan K. Stern S. Donald Sussman Steven Warnecke Alan L. Wurtzel Michael D. Young Aaron Ziegelman Eric Geller Brian Zimmet

Professionals

  • Nick Bunzl, Executive Director
  • MJ Rosenberg, Director of Policy Anyalsis
  • Thomas A. Dine, Policy Consultant
  • Roberta Fahn Schoffman, Jerusalem Consultant
National Scholars
Steven L. Spiegel, LA Stephen P. Cohen
Israel Advisory Council
Ambassador Moshe Arad Gen. (Ret.) Shlomo Gazit David Kimche Dov Lautman
Jacob Perry Gen. (Ret.) Israela Oron Gen. (Ret.) Danny Rothschild Talya Sasson
Ambassador Shimon Shamir Itschak Shrem Gen. (Ret.) Iftach Spector Nadine Baudot-Trajtenberg
Yoram Yahav
American Advisory Council
Ambassador Samuel Lewis Marshall Breger Rachel Bronson Frederic C. Hof
Aaron David Miller Michael Nacht Ambassador Robert H. Pelletreau, Jr. Ambassador Edward S. Walker, Jr.

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Israel Policy Forum". http://www.israelpolicyforum.org/display.cfm?id=1&Sub=89#q1. Retrieved 2007-09-30. 
  2. ^ Schemo, Diana J. "Barak, Addressing American Jews, Stresses Israel's Yearning for Peace ". The New York Times. Accessed September 20, 2008.
  3. ^ "Israel Policy Forum picks leaders", Jewish Telegraphic Agency, September 3, 2008. Accessed September 18, 2008.
  4. ^ "Sending our youth the wrong signals". The Jerusalem Post. Accessed September 20, 2008.
  5. ^ Seymour D. Reich, Marvin Lender. 'Who are you calling 'Jews against Zion'?". The Jerusalem Post. Accessed September 20, 2008.
  6. ^ http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-10-04-2917208176_x.htm
  7. ^ http://www.mccollum.house.gov/index.asp?Type=B_PR&SEC=%7B6CF539D3-04A5-4FFA-87B8-BBBF9269F9D4%7D&DE=%7B69E5AB11-6DEE-4D37-B605-5F6BCC34646F%7D
  8. ^ http://www.jewishjournal.com/israel/article/whither_the_left_20080215/
  9. ^ http://www.jewcy.com/tags/israel_policy_forum
  10. ^ http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2008/09/02/a_us_role_in_syrian_israeli_peace/
  11. ^ http://www.jirs.org/jirs/jirs0020co.html
  12. ^ http://www.arts.mcgill.ca/mepp/new_prrn/research/papers/clinton.htm
  13. ^ http://www.jewishsf.com/content/2-0-/module/displaystory/story_id/10402/edition_id/199/format/html/displaystory.html
  14. ^ http://biden.senate.gov/press/speeches/speech/?id=65643d52-a898-4f64-b320-f7370b5f7bab
  15. ^ http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9802E5D6123CF932A15752C1A96F958260
  16. ^ http://www.israelpolicyforum.org/display.cfm?id=10&Sub=58&Dis=27
  17. ^ http://www.israelpolicyforum.org/display.cfm?id=10&Sub=12&Dis=38
  18. ^ http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2008/04/09/an_israel_hamas_coalition_for_peace/
  19. ^ http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/26/opinion/l26jewish.html
  20. ^ Freeman imbroglio splits liberal US Jewish NGOs, Jerusalem Post, Mar. 18, 2009, http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1237114854913&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel_Policy_Forum"