| Founder(s) | Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi |
|---|---|
| Type | 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-government organization |
| Founded | 2002 |
| Location | Jerusalem and Washington, DC |
| Focus | Press |
| Mission | The Israel Project (TIP) is a non-profit educational organization that gets facts about Israel and the Middle East to press, public officials and the public |
| Method | Education |
| Website | www.theisraelproject.org |
The Israel Project (TIP) is a US-based 501(c)(3) non-profit, educational organization that gets facts about Israel and the Middle East to press, public officials and the public.” The Israel Project is not affiliated with any government. TIP has offices in the USA and Israel, and "works tirelessly to help protect Israel by improving Israel's image".[1] In their online mission statement they describe themselves as saying "Our team of trusted Middle East multi-lingual experts and former reporters provides journalists and leaders with fact sheets, backgrounders and sources. TIP regularly hosts press briefings featuring leading Israeli spokespeople and analysts that give journalists an opportunity to get information and answers to their questions face-to-face.” "[2]
Criticism of TIP includes describing it as "a right-wing media advocacy group" using "pro-settlement fear-mongering talking points" which are "incendiary, dangerous, and counterproductive",[3] and argue that its rhetoric and alliance with figures "far outside the mainstream of American politics" only serves to simultaneously undermine the image of the State of Israel and TIP's stated purpose.[4]However, it has an active peace program[5] that reaches out to Arabs in Arabic. TIP's website states “The Israel Project’s (TIP) Arabic Media Program works to open hearts and minds in the Arab world toward peace with Israel -- and a better future for both sides. The program provides journalists in the Arab world with the facts and sources they need to enable hundreds of millions of their readers and viewers to hear and see the real Israel – a democracy defending itself from terror, but working for peace. “
TIP was also the first Jewish or pro-Israel group to host Palestinian President Fayyad in the United States. Their team regularly meets with Arab leaders and activists to try to encourage negotiations for peace and a better future for both sides.
Contents |
The Israel Project was founded in 2002 by Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, who currently serves as its president, with two other women.[6] Initially started to change US and European perceptions of Israel, it now works in English, French, German, Spanish, Russian Arabic, and Chinese to reach a global audience.[1] In 2007 its board of advisors included thirty-two Democratic and Republican members of the US House and US Senate, plus former Ambassadors from Israel.[7] TIP operates offices in Washington DC and Jerusalem.[1]
TIP conducts polling and public opinion research[8] with US focus groups and advises Israeli experts and political leaders on the most effective factual ways to present their views to US audiences: "We share [our] information with all the political leaders across the political spectrum because they're the ones being interviewed on television"[9] TIP also provides information to journalists by offering background material, press conferences,[2] and one-on-one interviews with these experts and political figures, such as Shimon Peres.[9][10] TIP has supplied information for thousands of news stories around the world, as part of their "pro-Israel media advocacy" efforts.[11] TIP also buys commercial time to air pro-Israeli advertising on CNN, MSNBC, Fox News and other cable networks.[1]
Part of TIP’s efforts in Jerusalem include providing helicopter flights for foreign journalists and leaders visiting the country, called 'Intellicopter' tours. Members of the media and leaders are given an opportunity to witness firsthand the strategic difficulties facing Israel as a result of its small size. The two-and–a-half hour tour is led by TIP’s guides who offer an analysis of Israel’s history and current security challenges. Journalists from over 300 media outlets have taken TIP’s intellicopter tour, and a large portion of news footage about the country is taken from this aerial view.[2]
Every year The Israel Project offers the opportunity for college and graduate school students to participate in an internship focused on media. The fellows undergo intensive training, working with leading journalists and communications professionals to gain the out-of-classroom experience necessary to secure post-graduate career opportunities. Throughout the nine week program, fellows participate in all aspects of The Israel Project, from writing articles for publication to conducting interviews and organizing press events.
A participant in a 2007 focus group commissioned by TIP reported that she had been "called in for what seemed an unusual assignment: to help test-market language that could be used to sell military action against Iran to the American public".[7] The final question in the study was reportedly "How would you feel if George Bush ... Hillary Clinton ... or Israel bombed Iran".[7] TIP founder Mizrahi said that her group had commissioned the focus group and had "shared information" produced by the focus group with Freedom's Watch. She claimed that the focus group was designed to help TIP promote "our belief in pushing sanctions" against Iran.[7] TIP repeatedly went on the record repeatedly in support of sanctions and they were passed by the United Nations Security Council.
The Israel Project commissioned a study by Frank Luntz who ran polls and focus groups to determine the best language to use to promote Israeli settlements to the American public.[12] The study was marked, “Not for distribution or publication” and was leaked to Newsweek online. It recommends being positive, framing the issue as being about peace not settlements and to claim that the rejection of Jewish settlements is anti-Semitic and "ethnic cleansing". The document also lists arguments that don't work, in particular noting that religious, ownership and "scapegoat" arguments failed to sway listeners, that Arab housing is being demolished in East Jerusalem because it fails to meet the building code, the worst claim by this group in the guide is "Israel is so rich and so strong that they fail to see why it is necessary for armored tanks to shoot at unarmed kids" para (3) page 90. This study states that "public opinion is hostile to the settlements - even among supporters of Israel" so instead of dwelling on settlements one should always talk positively and focus on past peace achievement. [12] [13]
Critics such as J Street describe the advice as "If you get a question about settlements, change the subject. If pressed, say stopping settlements is "a kind of ethnic cleansing". J Street sent a mailing to their organization asking their members to send letters to TIP asking them to "remove pro-settlement fear-mongering talking points from The Israel Project's materials".[3]