I thank those who have donated to the Middle East Forum in 2018. I invite those who have not yet done so to send a tax-deductible contribution, most easily by clicking here.
Our writings promoting American interests – 288 articles so far this year by 30 Forumexperts published in 65 media outlets – enrich our readers and inform policy-influencers on the Middle East’s most pressing issues.
Many of them fit into the context of our original ideas which inspire much of MEF’s work. These ideas include
First Israel victory, then peace
Apply U.S. law and policy to the definition of “Palestine refugee”
Radical Islam is the problem, moderate Islam is the solution
Islamism has been in decline since 2012
Immigrants should stay in their own cultural zones
Resistance parties are key to Europe’s future
Europe suffers from partial no-go zones
Exclude Islamists, not Muslims, from the United States
We then work to apply these ideas.
Policy-makers seek our counsel – White House officials, congressional offices and committee staff, and foreign officials, as do journalists and other leaders.
Here are two examples of our impact in the United States:
Re-defining a “Palestinian refugee” – We seek to end UNRWA policies that lead to an infinite proliferation of “Palestine refugees,” nourishing Palestinian irredentism. On June 20, the House Appropriations Committee approved our language in the FY 2019 State and Foreign Operations Bill prohibiting U.S. funding of UNRWA until the Secretary of State issues a report on: (i) whether UNRWA’s current definition of “Palestine refugee,” which differs from the U.S. definition of refugee, “furthers the prospects for lasting peace in the region”; and (ii) “alternatives for assisting Palestinians in need outside the UNRWA framework.”
Excluding Islamist groups – On May 9, we urged a White House official not to treat non-violent Islamist groups (especially CAIR, ISNA, ICNA and Islamic Relief) as representative of ordinary U.S. Muslims. Results were quick. On June 7, President Trump excluded these groups from the White House’s annual Iftar dinner. CAIR furiously attacked the administration’s supposed “Islamophobic and white supremacist positions and policies.”
We also get things done on campus, in the corporate boardroom, in courts of law and public opinion, and beyond. For example:
Protecting the public discussion of Islam – We are supporting imprisoned counter-Islamist activist Tommy Robinson, a long-time target of the UK authorities. Mr. Robinson, a journalist and book author, was covering a gang rape trial involving Muslim defendants in Leeds, England on May 25 when he was arrested, tried, convicted, sentenced to 13 months prison, and jailed – all in the course of a few hours. On June 9, we funded, organized and staffed the 25,000-person “Free Tommy” London rally. Last year, we helped secure his release in a similar matter.
Counter-Islamism Grid – We are taking the fight against Islamism to the local level by launching the Counter-Islamism Grid. It will coordinate research, writing and activism by a network of researcher-activist associates across North America, to oppose Islamist ideas, individuals and organizations.
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The board and staff of the Middle East Forum are grateful for your financial support.
I look forward to keeping you informed as we continue to promote American interests and protect Western values.
