Middle East Forum

|350px|thumb|right|Middle East Forum logo, Screengrab from [http://www.meforum.org/ Middle East Forum] 
The Middle East Forum (MEF) is a right-wing Zionist think-tank based in Philadelphia, USA. It was founded by Daniel Pipes in 1990.
==Politics and ideology==
MEF reflects the extreme politics of its founder and has an explicitly right-wing and Zionist agenda. Its homepage states:
The Middle East Forum, a think tank, seeks to define and promote American interests in the Middle East. It defines U.S. interests to include fighting radical Islam, whether terroristic or lawful; working for Palestinian acceptance of Israel; improving the management of U.S. democracy efforts; reducing energy dependence on the Middle East; more robustly asserting U.S. interests vis-à-vis Saudi Arabia; and countering the Iranian threat. The Forum also works to improve Middle East studies in North America.Homepage of the Middle East Forum website, (accessed 30 May 2008)
MEF’s declared Mission restates the above and adds that:
MEF sees the region, with its profusion of dictatorships, radical ideologies, existential conflicts, border disagreements, political violence, and weapons of mass destruction as a major source of problems for the United States. Accordingly, it urges active measures to protect Americans and their allies.Middle East Forum website, About the Middle East Forum: Mission (accessed 30 May 2008)
In 2014 MEF revised its mission statement to remove mention of 'robustly asserting US interests vis-à-vis Saudi Arabia'. Analysis by Rightweb surmises that the reason for this change 'could be that Israel and Saudi Arabia are strategically moving closer together, united by a common desire to maintain status quo in the region and counter a rising Iran'. Yoel Guzansky and Sigurd Neubauer, Israel and Saudi Arabia: A Changing Region, a Possible Partnership?, The National Interest, July 24, 2014 
==Activities==
On its website MEF declares it seeks to 'help shape the intellectual climate in which U.S. foreign policy is made'.Middle East Forum website, About the Middle East Forum: Mission (accessed 30 May 2008)This is achieved through “public outreach” to US and foreign media, and through programmes seeking to intimidate opponents of its ideology. 
===Public outreach===
MEF’s public outreach is directed primarily at US intellectual elites through articles in influential newspapers such as the Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post; and through lectures and speaking tours in Philadelphia, New York City, Seattle, and Boston. MEF scholars produce a weekly newspaper column which runs in the New York Post and the Jerusalem Post, and they appear regularly on US and foreign television and radio.Middle East Forum website, About the Middle East Forum: Mission (accessed 30 May 2008)MEF also publishes the Middle East Quarterly which it declares to be “the only journal on the Middle East consistent with mainstream American opinion.”Middle East Forum website, About the Middle East Forum: Activities (accessed 30 May 2008)
===Intimidation of opponents===
MEF founder Daniel Pipes is notorious for smearing and bullying his opponents. The pro-war journalist Christopher Hitchens writes that Pipes “confuses scholarship with propaganda” and “pursues petty vendettas with scant regard for objectivity.”Christopher Hitchens, ‘Pipes the Propagandist’, Slate.com, 11 August 2003Two MEF projects pursue Pipe’s “propaganda” and “petty vendettas”; Campus Watch focuses on US academia whilst Islamist Watch “combats the ideas and institutions of lawful Islamism”.Islamist Watch Homepage (accessed 30 May 2008)
===Legal Project===
The Middle East Forum's Legal Project was reportedly established to 'protect the right in the West to freely discuss Islam, radical Islam, terrorism, and terrorist funding'.Oliver Lane, COURT OF APPEAL OVERTURNS CONVICTION OF WOMAN PROSECUTED FOR INSULTING ISLAM, Breitbart News, 22 December 2014, accessed 3 February 2015 It has provided financial support to 'critics' of Islam and Counterjihad activists facing prosecution and those convicted to facilitate appeals. Dutch Party for Freedom leader Geert Wilders and French anti-Muslim activist Christine Tasin are among those who have received funds, according to right-wing news site Breitbart.
Daniel Pipes however reportedly told Dutch daily newspaper NRC in 2015 that he was withdrawing financial backing of the Dutch populist politician following Wilders’ ‘fewer Moroccans’ chant and court case, DutchNews.nl, [ http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2016/12/us-anti-islam-campaigner-donated-e150000-to-the-pvv-in-three-years/ US anti-Islam campaigner donated €150,000 to the PVV in three years], 28 December 2016 which he has since been found guilty of (although is appealing). Dutch records to Wilders' PVV political party show only one donor for the past three years, the David Horowitz Freedom Center.
====Conferences====
In May 2009 the Legal Project presented a Washington DC conference on 'Islamist lawfare', in collaboration with the Federalist Society Center for National Security Law, and the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression. Conference on Islamist Lawfare - May 19, Washington DC, The Legal Project, 8 May 2009, accessed October 2015 
The director of the Legal Project during this period was Brooke Goldstein.
==Funding and finances==
Middle East Forum's IRS approval was granted in January 1995. According to its latest available tax filings ( reviewed in 2016) it had an income of $4,126,021 and assets of $3,723,479 in 2014.
This was a decrease on the previous year's income, which showed an income of $5,907,628 in year ending 2013/12, and assets of $3,237,739.
MEF's business is described as: 'International, Foreign Affairs and National Security : Promotion of International Understanding'and Other Instructions and Training Activities: Publishing activities' Citizen Audit:Middle East Forum, accessed 9 October 2015 
===Funders===
====Increasing use of secretive donor slush funds====
Much of the think tank's income in recent years has been channelled through the opaque conservative vehicle Donors Capital Fund. In 2014 this totalled USD $1.95million. A smaller amount of $30,000 for the same year came via the affiliated Donors Trust. Our analysis of past donations to MEF indicates that recent big funders such as Sears Roebuck heiress Nina Rosenwald's Abstraction Fund, among others, is possibly now using the DCF as a conduit. Rosenwald sits on MEF's executive committee.
In total, MEF has received USD $10,365,000 of unspecified grants via the Donors Capital Fund according to a search on the Conservative Transparency Database. Conservative Transparency Database, latest search for MEF grants as of 12 October 2016 
====Known funders over time====
*Bradley Foundation aka The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation Inc
*Chisholm Foundation
*Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston
*Dextra Baldwin McGonagle Foundation
*Edgerly Foundation: gave $255,000 from 2000-2015.
*Federation Foundation of Greater Philadelphia
*Fairbrook Foundation
*GBRG Inc
*Klarman Family Foundation: $25,000 in 2012 Klarman Family Foundation, 990 Form, 2012. , $50,000 in 2011 Klarman Family Foundation, 990 Form, 2011. , $125,000 between 2000 and 2009.MEF Funding, rightweb.irc, accessed 29 January 2016
*Koret Foundation
*Metropolitan Philanthropic Fund
* The Milstein Family Foundation: $10,000 in 2012 Milstein Family Foundation, Form 990, 2012 
* The Shillman Foundation
* The Snider Foundation
*Svetlana and Herbert M Wachtell Foundation
*Vanguard Charitable Endowment Fund
*William H. Donner Foundation
*Abstraction Fund: $331,000 in 2014 Abstraction Fund, 990 Form, 2014 | $1,042,000 in 2013 Abstraction Fund, 990 Form, 2013 | 1,209,000 in 2012 Abstraction Fund grants, Conservative Transparency, accessed 12 October 2016. | $94,500 between 2000 and 2009 Abstraction Fund, 990 Forms, 2000-2009 
*The Newton and Rochelle Becker Charitable Trust Newton and Rochelle Becker Charitable Trust Donations, Conservative Transparency, accessed 20 October 2016. 
*Education Foundation for Old Safed: gave $5,000 in 2009 and $1,500 in 2011. Education Foundation for Old Safed, 990 Form, 2011. Education Foundation for Old Safed, 990 Form, 2009. 
*Jewish Communal Fund gave $24,250 in 2014, $31,150 in 2013, $17,880 in 2012 Jewish Communal Fund, 990 Form, 2014. accessed 26 October 2016.
*Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego: $5,000 in 2013 Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego, 990 Form, 2013 
*Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation: $50,000 in 2011 [Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, Form 990, 2011. , $25,000 in 2012 [Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, Form 990, 2012. , $35,000 in 2013 [Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, Form 990, 2013. , $40,000 in 2014. [Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, Form 990, 2014. 
====2013 filings====
Funders: Newton and Rochelle Becker Foundation, Mz Foundation, Jewish Federation Of Greater Philadelphia, Jewish Community Foundation Of The Jewish Fed Council Of Greater L A, Jewish Communal Fund, Fairbrook Foundation, Edgerly Foundation Edgerly Foundation, Form 990, 2013. 
====2012====
Abstraction Fund, Edgerly Foundation Edgerly Foundation, Form 990, 2012. 
===Organisations that MEF funds===
====2014====
*Americans for Peace and Tolerance: $10,000
*CAMERA: $50,000
*Center for Islamic Pluralism: $20,000
*Center for Security Policy: $125,000
*Citizens for National Security: $15,000
*Center Democracy and Human Rights in Saudi Arabia: $20,000
*DAFKA: $22,500
*David Horowitz Freedom Center: $10,000
*El Medio: $10,000
*Endowment for Middle East Truth: $15,000
*Friends of Israel Initiative: $254,015
*Gatestone Institute: $13,500
*Honest Reporting: $10,000
*In Search of Truth; $10,000
*Investigative Project on Terrorism: $30,000
*Jewish News Service: $30,000
*Lela Gilbert Writing Service: $10,000
*University of Maryland: $12,500 Middle East Forum, 990 form, 2014, accessed 02 November 2016. 
====2013====
*American Friends of IDC: $6,000
*Citizens for National Security: $10,000
*DAFKA: $10,000
*Endowment for Middle East Truth: $10,000
*Friends of Elnet: $10,000
*Friends of Israel Initiative: $62,500
*Gatestone Institute: $1,383,471 
*In Search of Truth; $10,000
*Jewish News Service: $30,000
*MEMRI: $7,500
*Phyllis Chesler Organisation: $23,750
*Report Inc: $10,000
*Sidley Austin LLP: $25,000
*Louis Brandeis Center: $51,000 Middle East Forum, 990 form, 2013, accessed 02 November 2016. 
====2012====
*Louis D Brandeis Center: $23,750
*Phyllis Chesler Organisation: $16,000
*Myths and Facts Inc: $10,000
*MEMRI: $50,000
*Jewish News Service: $157,000
*Investigative Project on Terrorism: $167,085
*Gatestone Institute: $1,098,878
*Friends of Israel Initiative: $31,250
*DAFKA: $7,000
*Center Democracy and Human Rights in Saudi Arabia: $10,000
*Center for Security Policy: $200,000
*CAMERA: $10,000
*Americans for Peace and Tolerance: $15,000 Middle East Forum, 990 form, 2012, accessed 02 November 2016. 
====2011====
*Phyllis Chesler Organisation: $38,000
*Myths and Facts Inc: $20,000
*Middle East Freedom Forum: $10,000
*MEMRI: $150,000
*Jewish News Service: $289,500
*Investigative Project on Terrorism: $512,500
*Center Democracy and Human Rights in Saudi Arabia: $10,000
*Christians for Fair Witness on the Middle East: $10,000
*CAMERA: $20,000
*Americans for Peace and Tolerance: $10,000
*American Friends of IDC: $18,000
*American Friends of NGO Monitor: $10,000 Middle East Forum, 990 form, 2011. 
====2010====
*Phyllis Chesler Organisation: $24,000
*Myths and Facts Inc: $20,000
*MEMRI: $100,000
*Investigative Project on Terrorism: $480,000
*Gelbard Associates: $14,121
*Forcefield 521: $31,000
*Endowment for Middle East Truth: $75,000
*Dean Draznin: $10,000
*Center Democracy and Human Rights in Saudi Arabia: $10,000
*Christians for Fair Witness on the Middle East: $10,000
*American Jewish Congress: $50,000
*American Jewish Committee: $136,169
*American Islamic Forum for Democracy: $10,000
*American Friends of NGO Monitor: $100,000 Middle East Forum, 990 form, 2010. 
Through its Middle East Forum Education Fund (MEFEF) it states that it 'distributes about $2 million annually in separately earmarked funds to some 75 individuals and groups, all of them working to promote the Forum's goals of forwarding American interests and preserving Western civilization'. As of 2015 
Although 'a number of MEFEF recipients work quietly behind the scenes', MEF's website cites recent funding 'public accomplishments' as:
:*Americans for Peace and Tolerance – 'Released a video exposing an anti-Israel workshop used in 28 US high schools. In response, the school featured in the video said 'there are no plans for this program to return'.
:*Louis Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law – Met with a senior aide to U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan to show that the law requiring 'diverse perspectives' in taxpayer-funded university Middle East Studies public outreach programs is not being followed. The following month, Harvard's Center for Middle Eastern Studies announced the end of its K-12 outreach program.'
:*NGO Monitor – 'Exposed the Swiss government's multi-million dollar funding of non-governmental organizations that demonise Israel and support boycott, divestment, and sanctions against Israel. As a result, 10 Swiss MPs condemned an anti-Israel event in Zurich sponsored by the Swiss Foreign Ministry'.
:*Shurat HaDin – Won a $655.5 million judgment in a US court against the Palestinian Authority, for its role in six terrorist attacks resulting in the deaths of American citizens.
Other 'select recipients' are:
Adi Schwartz |
AMCHA Initiative |
Algemeiner |
Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC, Australia) |
Banafsheh Zand |
Berlin International Center for the Study of Antisemitism (BICSA, Germany) |
B'nai B'rith Moshe Dayan (France)|
Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America (CAMERA) |
Center for Democracy and Human Rights in Saudi Arabia (CDHR) |
Center for Security Policy (CSP) |
Citizens For National Security |
David Horowitz Freedom Center (DHFC) |
Defending America For Knowledge and Action (DAFKA) |
Danish Free Press Society (Denmark) |
Discourse Institute (Great Britain) |
Dispatch International (Denmark) |
Emerson Vermaat (Netherlands) |
Endowment for Middle East Truth (EMET) |
European Coalition for Israel (ECI, Belgium) |
Ezra Levant (Canada) |
Friends of Israel Initiative (FOII, Spain) |
Fuel for Truth (FFT) |
Helle Merete Brix (Denmark) |
Human Rights Voices |
I Like Israel (ILI, Germany) |
Im Tirtzu (Israel) |
Independent Secular Movement (MIS/SIM) |
Iranian-American Forum |
Israel Institute for Strategic Studies |
Israeli Christians Recruitment Forum (ICRF, Israel) |
Jewish News Service Inc. |
Joe Kaufman |
Joshua Charles |
JSS News (France) |
Michael Mandelbaum |
Morning Star News |
Nima Gholam Ali Pour |
NoBadDeal.com – Shraga Simmons |
Patrick Poole |
Philippe Karsenty (France) |
Phyllis Chesler |
Project Oasis |
Raymond Stock |
Richard Benkin |
Research Institute for European and American Studies (RIEAS, Greece) |
Shireen Qudosi |
Stop Iran Rally |
Tariq Ismail |
Véronique Chemla (France) |
William Mayer |
Wolfgang G. Schwanitz |
===Overseas donations declared===
====2012====
According to IRS filings from 2012, the Middle East Forum spent a total of $807,616 funding projects in the Middle East. 
Although grantees receiving this funding are not declared, in that year the forum gave a total of $787,616 to overseas causes outside the Middle East as well. Form 990 2012, Foundation Center, accessed 1 February 2016 DOUBLECHECK 
===2013===
Filings from 2013 show that the MEF spent a total of $1,134,898 in the Middle East for the purpose of research. Form 990 2013, Foundation Center, accessed 1 February 2016- DOUBLECHECK 
====2014====
Filings from MEF's 2014 Form 990 declare that it spent $783,500 on 'program services' (research) for 20 organisations in the Middle East region and $454, 595 on research grants for 22 individuals. [Form 990 2014], Foundation Center, accessed 28 Sept 2016 
====Recent tax filings grant amounts known/declared for US-based organisations ====
=====2014=====
Paid out $192,634 in research grants to 'domestic' individuals in the US. These include:
*Americans for Peace and Tolerance - $10,000 (cited purpose: research) 
*Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America (CAMERA) - $50,000 (cited purpose: research)
*Center for Islamic Pluralism - $20,000 (cited purpose: research) 
*Center for Security Policy - $125,000 (cited purpose: research)
*Citizens for NATL Security - $15,000 (cited purpose: research)
*Center Democracy and Human Rights in Saudi Arabia - $20,000 (cited purpose: research)
*Defending America for Knowledge and Action (DAFKA) - $22,500 (cited purpose: research)
*David Horowitz Freedom Center - $10,000 (cited purpose: research)
*El Medio - $10,000 (cited purpose: research)
*Endowment for Middle East Truth - $15,000 (cited purpose: research)
*Friends of Israel Initiative - $254,014 (cited purpose: research). NB this was paid to a Miami-registered office, not directly to the Spanish organisation. 
*Gatestone Institute - $13,500 (cited purpose: research)
*HonestReporting - $10,000 (cited purpose: research)
*In Search of Truth - $10,000 (cited purpose: research)
*Investigative Project on Terrorism - $30,000 (cited purpose: research)
*Jewish News Service - $30,000 (cited purpose: research)
*Lela Gilbert Writing Services - $10,000 (cited purpose: research)
*University of Maryland - $12,500 (cited purpose: research)
=====2013=====
*American Friends of IDC - $6,000 in 2013
*Citizens For National Security - $10,000 in 2013
*Defending America for Knowledge and Action (DAFKA)- $10,000 in 2013
*Endowment for Middle East Truth - $10,000 in 2013 and 2012
*Friends Of Elnet - $10,000	in 2012
*Friends of Israel Initiative - $62,500 in 2013
*In Search of Truth - $10,000 in 2013
*Jewish News Service - $30,000 in 2013	
*Middle East Media Research Institute - $7,500 in 2013
*Stresemann Stiftung - overseas organisation not specified on IRS 990s but cited by the foundation.
*The Phyllis Chesler Organization - $23,750 in 2013	
*REPORT Inc - $10,000 in 2013
*The Louis D. Brandeis Center - $51,000 in 2013 for 'research'
*Sidney Austin LLP - $25,000 for 'research'
 Conservative Transparency database, Middle East Forum, accessed 27 May 2015 
Various other payees: Taube Foundation For Jewish Life And Culture, Shalem Foundation Research - Eval - Promoting Org Respon & Transparency-Report-Inc | Investigative Project on Terrorism Foundation
===Circa 2011===
*Citizen Times -MEF funds this online German political magazine, which publishes articles and interviews in German and English by counterjihad figures like Raymond Ibrahim, Ingrid Carlqvist and Soeren Kern and cross-posts from or publicises the websites of the Gatestone Institute, Dispatch International and Middle East Forum.The Counterjihad Movement: the global trend feeding anti-Muslim hate, Hope Not Hate, 2011, p61.
===Summary from the Economic Research Institute===
:Revenue: $2,267,173 
:Assets: $1,029,240Economic Research Institute, Middle East Forum Nonprofit Organization Information (accessed 30 May 2008)
===Tax returns===
: | | | | | | | 
===Donations received 2001-09===
*The Russell Berrie Foundation gave $273,016.22 from 2001- 2009 Source: CAP research based on the seven foundations’ Form 990s files with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service from 2001 to 2009, Center for American Progress, Donors to the Islamophobia network, Fear, Inc, p.14 
===Conferences===
MEF co-sponsored the 2008 Rome conference 'Identity Crisis: Can European civilization survive?, held under the auspices of the European Freedom Alliance in conjunction with the European University of Rome and the Lepanto Foundation. Panelists included counterjihad activists Robert Spencer and Bat Ye'or.
== Personnel and Board Members ==
===Middle East Quarterly===
*Efraim Karsh - editor (as of 1 July 2010)
*Martin Kramer - former editor
*Michael Rubin - senior editor
*Denis MacEoin - senior editor
=== List of Experts ===
*Ziad Abdelnour
*Mitchell G. Bard
*Ilan Berman
*Patrick Clawson
*Gil Elan
*Khalid Durán
*John Eibner 
*Joseph Farah
*Gary Gambill	
*Martin Kramer
*William Kristol
*Habib Malik, Professor of history, Lebanese American University; Bio.
*Laurent Murawiec, Analyst, Hudson Institute
*Daniel Pipes, Director, Middle East Forum; Bio.
*Robert Satloff
*Jonathan Schanzer, Soref Fellow, Washington Institute for Near East Policy; Bio.
*Tashbih Sayyed, Editor and Publisher, Pakistan Today; Bio.
*Meyrav Wurmser, Director, Center for Middle East Policy, Hudson Institute; Bio.
=== Board Members ===
Source: Juan Cole, Informed Comment, Dec. 8, 2004. (Comments below by Cole)
*Daniel Pipes, President
*David P Steinmann, chairman, Steinmann is also president of the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs (JINSA), a pro-Likud warmongering organization that seeks "total" war against Syria, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the Palestinians, and which helped drag the United States into its current Iraq quagmire. The Pentagon's Douglas Feith is a long-time JINSA activist.
*Jack Bershad, (here identified as legal adviser to Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
*Irwin Hochberg, (Irwin Hochberg, national campaign chair of Israel Bonds, chairman of the International Commission of the Anti-Defamation League, and former chairman of the Jewish Federation of New York; Board Member of the Zionist Organization of America, which has steadfastly supported Israeli colonization of the West Bank and the dispossession of its Palestinians. Of the recent proposed peace plan worked out by Israeli and Palestinian doves at Geneva, Morton A. Klein, the president of ZOA said: "It is outrageous for individuals acting in opposition to the democratically-elected government of Israel to negotiate an 'accord' that undermines Israel's security by putting pressure on Israel to retreat to indefensible borders and divide its own capital, Jerusalem.")
*Albert Wood, (Prominent philanthropist connected to the Zionist Organization of America)
*Steven Levy
*Scott Rosenblum, (Member, Golden Circle of far rightwing U.S. Committee for a Free Lebanon that unites Likud supporters and Phalangist brownshirts)
*Lawrence Gould 
*Lawrence Grodman
*Jerry Sorkin
*Steven J. Rosen - director of the Forum's Washington Project (who is 'monitoring the personnel and policy development of the Obama Administration in the Middle East.')
*Supna Zaidi - former staff
===2013-14===
Executive committee includes:
*Nina Rosenwald
==Affiliations==
*Robert Spencer Robert Spencer,Resisting Stealth Jihad, Middle East Forum, January 2009
*Haras Rafiq Haras Rafiq, [Detoxifying Islamists], Middle East Forum, 27 January 2010, now managing director of the Quilliam Foundation
== Contact ==
1500 Walnut Street
Suite 1050
Philadelphia, PA 19102
TEL: (215) 546-5406
FAX: (215) 546-5409
E-Mail: info@meforum.org
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==Notes==
Category:Middle East Watch Category:Israel Lobby Category:Terrorism Industry
Category:Neocons
Category:Counterjihad
Category:Counterjihad Funders