Israel Policy Forum

Israel Policy Forum
Founders Robert K. Lifton, Yizhak Rabin
Type 501(c)(3) organization
90-0653286
Focus Arab–Israeli conflict
Israeli–Palestinian conflict
Location
Area served
 Israel /  USA
Method Policy
David A. Halperin
Susie Gelman
Key people
 Charles Bronfman(Board)
Alan Solow (Board)
Robert Sugarman (Board)
S. Daniel Abraham (Advisory Council)
Robert Lifton (Board)
 Haim Saban (Advisory Council)
E. Robert Goodkind (Board)

The Israel Policy Forum is a New York, NY based American Jewish organization that works for a negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict though advocacy, education and policy research.[1][2] The organization lobbies American policymakers in support of this goal and writes opinion pieces that have appeared in many Jewish and non-Jewish newspapers.[3] It was founded in 1993.[4]

The organization's Chair is Susie Gelman and its Executive Director is David Halperin.[5]

Mission

The stated mission of Israel Policy Forum is to shape the discourse and mobilize support among American Jewish leaders and U.S. policymakers for the realization of a viable two-state solution.[6] Israel Policy Forum believes that a two-state solution to the conflict will "safeguard Israel’s security and future as a Jewish and democratic state."[1]

History

Throughout its history, Israel Policy Forum has mobilized prominent Jewish leaders and American policymakers in support of pragmatic approaches to advancing Israel's security alongside the pursuit of a lasting, negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.

In 1997, it absorbed Project Nishma, a Washington-based organization that specialized in mobilizing Israeli military authorities who argued that the peace process was in Israel's security interests.[7]

Israel Policy Forum trains advocates to promote a peaceful resolution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict through educational programs. Israel Policy Forum holds an annual Leadership Event to support key figures who promote peacemaking efforts. Previous speakers at the Leadership Event include President Bill Clinton,[8] Vice President Al Gore,[9] Senator Joseph Biden,[10] Prime Minister Ehud Barak,[11] then-Vice Prime Minister Ehud Olmert[12] and Vice Prime Minister Haim Ramon.[13]

During the Clinton Administration, Israel Policy Forum served as a base of influential American Jewish support for the Israeli–Palestinian peace process, and President Clinton publicly announced the "Clinton Parameters" at an Israel Policy Forum event in his last address on the subject before leaving office.

In the wake of the violence of the second intifada, Israel Policy Forum garnered broad support for the Gaza disengagement plan as a step toward renewed Israeli–Palestinian negotiations and hosted Vice Prime Minister Ehud Olmert for a landmark speech that signaled his forthcoming political transformation. Israel Policy Forum subsequently delivered policy recommendations endorsed by top diplomats to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in support of the Arab Peace Initiative and the Annapolis international peace conference.

More recently, Israel Policy Forum has convened hundreds of community leaders across the political, denominational, and generational spectrums behind timely messages that have expressed concern about unfettered Israeli settlement activity, opposition to Palestinian incitement and violence, and support for American efforts to bring the parties to negotiate an historic compromise.

Today, Israel Policy Forum's analysis, commentary and educational initiatives are providing essential background and information to community leaders and policy makers with regard to how Israel's security can be enhanced while preserving and advancing the goal of a lasting two-state solution.[14]

Activities

Through educational initiatives such as the Two-State Security Project, written commentary and analysis, public events, briefings with politicians and thought leaders, and private meetings with government officials and policymakers, we are building a diverse network of influential individuals in support of pragmatic and realistic pathways toward two states. By providing and disseminating cutting edge research and ideas and highlighting an array of thinkers across the ideological, political, and generational spectrums, we are the intellectual home for supporters of a two-state solution.

Israel Policy Forum's team of advocates and leaders—which includes members of Jewish, philanthropic, academic and political organizations—imparts policy messages to American and international leaders. Israel Policy Forum's also regularly holds conference calls and educational training in major U.S. cities.[15]

Two-State Security

Israel Policy Forum's Two-State Security project is an in-depth educational initiative and interactive web resource that thoroughly examines Israel’s security needs in the pursuit of a two-state solution.

Matzav Review

Israel Policy Forum's Matzav Review is a collaborative effort providing analysis and commentary from a variety of experts focusing on Israeli politics and society, Israeli-Palestinian diplomacy, and the US-Israel relationship.

Briefings

Israel Policy Forum convenes Jewish leaders, legislators, and the media and provides timely resources, information, commentary, and analysis.

Koplow Column

Israel Policy Forum Policy Director Michael Koplow’s weekly Column provides nuanced commentary on Israel, peacemaking, and the American Jewish community.

IPF Atid

IPF Atid ("Atid" is Hebrew for "future") is Israel Policy Forum's national young professionals network, with branches in New York, Washington, DC, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Launched in 2017, IPF Atid's inaugural program featured Grant Rumley of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and Amir Tibon of Haaretz for a discussion on their new book, The Last Palestinian: The Rise And Reign of Mahmoud Abbas. Since then, IPF Atid organizes briefings with policymakers and experts for supporters aged 22 to 40, including in-person meetings and video calls. Featured speakers for such programs have included Member of Knesset Ksenia Svetlova, Journalist Tal Shalev, Maj. Gen. Amnon Reshef (Ret.), Obama administration sanctions official Richard Nephew, and others. IPF Atid also launches quarterly initiatives, online educational programs offering a focused batch of content on a specific topic. Initiative subjects have included Russia in the Middle East, Palestinian leadership, and the politics of Israel's Knesset. Each initiative recruits a set of featured experts to participate in podcasts, briefing calls, and answer questions from IPF Atid supporters. Past featured experts have included Israeli authors and journalists Isabella Ginor and Gideon Remez, Al-Monitor Russia-Mideast Editor Maxim Suchkov, Professor Brent E. Sasley, and others. IPF Atid is led by a national director and a group of volunteer lay leaders.[16]

Two-State Security

Israel Policy Forum's Two-State Security project is an in-depth educational initiative and interactive web resource that thoroughly examines Israel’s security needs in the pursuit of a two-state solution. The project was released in June 2016. The project consists of private and public briefings in communities nationwide as well as TwoStateSecurity.org, a unique online resource providing interactive maps and visual renderings of detailed research conducted by teams of Israeli and American former military officials.

This project derives from two unique studies published in early June, 2016. The studies, which were facilitated and coordinated by the Israel Policy Forum, were developed by the Center for a New American Security, an independent nonpartisan research institution, and Commanders for Israel’s Security,[17] a coalition of some 200 former senior members of the IDF, Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), Mossad and police forces who advocate in support of a two-state solution.[18]

Security Now[19]

Israeli measures that can be taken immediately to improve the security environment – in Gaza, Jerusalem, and the West Bank—endorsed by a network of over 215 former IDF Generals and their counterparts from the Mossad, the Shin Bet, and the police forces.

Security Long-Term[20]

A robust security framework in the context of a two- state agreement, developed by former American and Israeli officials from the Pentagon, State Department, IDF and Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 About Israel Policy Forum at Israel Policy Forum website.
  2. ↑ "Full text: Israel Policy Forum letter urges Palestinian president to push for peace in UN speech". Haaretz. September 25, 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  3. ↑ "Israel Policy Forum". Retrieved 2007-09-30.
  4. ↑ Schemo, Diana J. "Barak, Addressing American Jews, Stresses Israel's Yearning for Peace". The New York Times. Accessed September 20, 2008.
  5. ↑ http://www.israelpolicyforum.org/who-we-are
  6. ↑ "Israel Policy Forum - About". June 6, 2016.
  7. ↑ Israel Policy Forum to merge with progressive group? 10/13/2009, James Besser
  8. ↑ http://www.arts.mcgill.ca/mepp/new_prrn/research/papers/clinton.htm
  9. ↑ "Gore critical of failures to implement Wye accords". jewishsf.com.
  10. ↑ http://biden.senate.gov/press/speeches/speech/?id=65643d52-a898-4f64-b320-f7370b5f7bab
  11. ↑ "Barak, Addressing American Jews, Stresses Israel's Yearning for Peace". The New York Times. November 21, 1999. Retrieved May 5, 2010.
  12. ↑ http://www.israelpolicyforum.org/display.cfm?id=10&Sub=58&Dis=27
  13. ↑ http://www.israelpolicyforum.org/display.cfm?id=10&Sub=12&Dis=38
  14. ↑ "Pro-Israel heavyweights press hard for 2 states". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 2016-05-24. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  15. ↑ http://www.jirs.org/jirs/jirs0020co.html
  16. ↑ https://israelpolicyforum.org/atid/
  17. ↑ "Commanders for Israel's Security". Commanders for Israel's Security. 2015-01-13. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  18. ↑ "Former Israeli and US officials unveil security-based proposals for two-state solution". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 2016-06-06.
  19. ↑ "Security Now - Two-State Security". Two-State Security. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
  20. ↑ "Security Long Term - Two-State Security". Two-State Security. Retrieved 2016-06-15.
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