In January 2017, Middle East Forum president Daniel Pipes introduced the Israel Victory Project (IVP) in a Commentary magazine article, explaining how Israel, with U.S. support, should compel the Palestinians to give up their irredentist fantasies and bring a permanent end to the conflict.
Later that year, with MEF help, the Congressional Israel Victory Caucus (CIVC) and Knesset Israel Victory Caucus (KIVC) came into existence and quickly gained support: CIVC has a bi-partisan membership of 33; KIVC has 26 Members of Knesset from 7 different parties. MEF experts briefed top U.S. and Israeli officials, including: Benjamin Netanyahu (twice), Ron Dermer, David Friedman, Jason Greenblatt, and Victoria Coates – among others.
Analysts have noticed.
Former UN Special Rapporteur Richard Falk writes, “Consider the steps taken by the U.S. government [and] a pattern emerges that seems to be only compressible as seeking the implementation of the Victory Caucus.”
Robert Malley (former senior White House official for Clinton and Obama) and Aaron David Miller (long-time Israeli-Palestinian peace process negotiator) write in The Atlantic, “Boiled down to its essence, the administration’s message to the Palestinians seems to be: You’ve lost, get over it.”
Let’s look at that pattern. IVP called on the U.S. government to:
Recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel: President Trump has recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and moved the US Embassy there.
End benefits to the Palestinians unless they work toward full and permanent acceptance of Israel: The State Department has closed the PLO office in Washington.
Not recognize a Palestinian state: President Trump has repeatedly refused to do so.
Endfinancial aid to the Palestinian Authority: The Trump administration has cut aid to multiple Palestinian entities, including $200 million for the Palestinian Authority, $25 million to the East Jerusalem Hospital Network, and it signed the Taylor Force Act.
President Donald Trump has adopted the Israel Victory approach.
We need your help to continue our efforts to end Palestinian rejectionism. Click here to support the Israel Victory Project.
We began the Israel Victory Project over a year ago, and since then more and more are joining from all walks of life and across the political spectrum. The victory paradigm is spreading.
As we approach the midterm elections, the Forum’s ability to influence MidEast policy in Washington will likely become more difficult – and more important. Please consider donating to MEF to help with our Israel Victory Project.
If you haven’t yet made a tax-deductible contribution this year, please consider donating at an increase.
If you have already made your annual gift, please consider additional support for IVP.
Both of these steps can be done most easily by clicking here. For more ways to support the Israel Victory Project and the Middle East Forum, see below.
Any questions? Please contact MEF’s development director Matthew Bennett at 215-546-5460 #114 or Bennett@MEForum.org.
Sincerely,
Gregg Roman Director Middle East Forum The Middle East Forum is a publicly supported, 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Contributions are tax deductible.
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