Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs
Encyclopedia
The Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs (JCPA) is a public policy think tank devoted to research and analysis of critical issues facing the Middle East
. The center is located in Jerusalem, Israel
. Research focuses on international law, paradigms for regional diplomacy, and the connections between local and global terrorism.
The JCPA served as an adviser for Project Renewal, a major urban revitalization program. In 1986, it organized an international conference in Jerusalem on urban revitalization attended by over 500 participants from 30 countries.
The JCPA cofounded NGO Monitor
with B'nai B'rith
following the 2001 Durban Conference. According to Dore Gold
, the project was created "to promote analysis, transparency and accountability regarding the NGO-led campaign to label Israel as an 'apartheid state.
's rights under international law
in the context of the Arab-Israeli conflict. The current president of the JCPA is former Israeli ambassador Dore Gold
who has represented Israel in several diplomatic posts and served as adviser to prime ministers Ariel Sharon
and Benjamin Netanyahu
.
The Iran and the new threats to the West program involves the preparation of a legal document to initiate legal proceedings against Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the President
of the Islamic Republic of Iran
for "incitement to commit genocide and participate in genocide".
The Global Law Forum program supports academic writings, position papers, workshops, conferences and symposia and public briefings that explain the legal dimensions of current regional controversies of concern to Israel and the Middle East.
The Defensible Borders Initiative was created to outline a "set of basic principles for a defense policy focused on Israel maintaining defensible borders". The program was carried out by a group of senior Israeli generals and included a conference, an informational video, a website and a book distributed to politicians, academics and journalists.
Daily Alert is a newsletter and website produced for the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. The newsletter contains excepts of Israel-related news and has been provided by JCPA since 2002.
The Institute for Global Jewish Affairs was established in 2008 and consists of several long-running programs that deal with Jewish issues. The Post-Holocaust and Anti-Semitism Project (PHAS) addresses "restitution, the academic boycott, Holocaust denial, and anti-Semitism in the Arab world, European countries, and post-Soviet states." The Changing Jewish Communities program investigates recent developments in Jewish communities. The Institute also produces the journal Jewish Political Studies Review which examines Jewish political institutions and behavior.
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. The center is located in Jerusalem, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. Research focuses on international law, paradigms for regional diplomacy, and the connections between local and global terrorism.
History
The JCPA was established in 1978 by Daniel Elazar as an umbrella organization encompassing the Center for Jewish Community Studies and the Jerusalem Institute for Federal Studies. As a policy research and education organization, the center attracted leading scholars from a variety of geographical, disciplinary, and political backgrounds. Elazar personally raised most of the funds for the operation of the organization and the restoration of an imposing building on Tel Hai Street in Jerusalem, named in honor of the Milken family.The JCPA served as an adviser for Project Renewal, a major urban revitalization program. In 1986, it organized an international conference in Jerusalem on urban revitalization attended by over 500 participants from 30 countries.
The JCPA cofounded NGO Monitor
NGO Monitor
NGO Monitor is a non-governmental organization based in Jerusalem, Israel whose stated aim is to generate and distribute critical analysis and reports on the output of the international NGO community for the benefit of government policy makers, journalists, philanthropic organizations and the...
with B'nai B'rith
B'nai B'rith
B'nai B'rith International |Covenant]]" is the oldest continually operating Jewish service organization in the world. It was initially founded as the Independent Order of B'nai B'rith in New York City, on , 1843, by Henry Jones and 11 others....
following the 2001 Durban Conference. According to Dore Gold
Dore Gold
Dore Gold is an Israeli statesman who has served in various diplomatic positions under several Israeli governments. He is the current President of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs...
, the project was created "to promote analysis, transparency and accountability regarding the NGO-led campaign to label Israel as an 'apartheid state.
Organizational goals
JCPA research focuses on Israeli foreign policy and IsraelIsrael
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
's rights under international law
International law
Public international law concerns the structure and conduct of sovereign states; analogous entities, such as the Holy See; and intergovernmental organizations. To a lesser degree, international law also may affect multinational corporations and individuals, an impact increasingly evolving beyond...
in the context of the Arab-Israeli conflict. The current president of the JCPA is former Israeli ambassador Dore Gold
Dore Gold
Dore Gold is an Israeli statesman who has served in various diplomatic positions under several Israeli governments. He is the current President of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs...
who has represented Israel in several diplomatic posts and served as adviser to prime ministers Ariel Sharon
Ariel Sharon
Ariel Sharon is an Israeli statesman and retired general, who served as Israel’s 11th Prime Minister. He has been in a permanent vegetative state since suffering a stroke on 4 January 2006....
and Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu is the current Prime Minister of Israel. He serves also as the Chairman of the Likud Party, as a Knesset member, as the Health Minister of Israel, as the Pensioner Affairs Minister of Israel and as the Economic Strategy Minister of Israel.Netanyahu is the first and, to...
.
Programs
The Institute for Contemporary Affairs (ICA) was founded in 2001 with the Wechsler Family Foundation. The stated aim of the ICA is to provide "a forum for discussion of Israel’s strategic, defense and national security challenges". The Institute hosts events and provides analyses and information on issues in Israel and the Middle East for diplomats and foreign media representatives based in Israel and visiting foreign government officials.The Iran and the new threats to the West program involves the preparation of a legal document to initiate legal proceedings against Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the President
President of Iran
The President of Iran is the highest popularly elected official in, and the head of government of the Islamic Republic of Iran; although subordinate to the Supreme Leader of Iran, who functions as the country's head of state...
of the Islamic Republic of Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
for "incitement to commit genocide and participate in genocide".
The Global Law Forum program supports academic writings, position papers, workshops, conferences and symposia and public briefings that explain the legal dimensions of current regional controversies of concern to Israel and the Middle East.
The Defensible Borders Initiative was created to outline a "set of basic principles for a defense policy focused on Israel maintaining defensible borders". The program was carried out by a group of senior Israeli generals and included a conference, an informational video, a website and a book distributed to politicians, academics and journalists.
Daily Alert is a newsletter and website produced for the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. The newsletter contains excepts of Israel-related news and has been provided by JCPA since 2002.
The Institute for Global Jewish Affairs was established in 2008 and consists of several long-running programs that deal with Jewish issues. The Post-Holocaust and Anti-Semitism Project (PHAS) addresses "restitution, the academic boycott, Holocaust denial, and anti-Semitism in the Arab world, European countries, and post-Soviet states." The Changing Jewish Communities program investigates recent developments in Jewish communities. The Institute also produces the journal Jewish Political Studies Review which examines Jewish political institutions and behavior.
Landmark building
The JCPA is located in a landmark building dating from 1932. From 1957 to 1980, it served as the Embassy of Uruguay. In 1989, the 1,200-ton building was moved 16 meters to new foundations on the southern side of the lot. A crew of experts was brought in from Poland for this purpose. The building was raised by hydraulic jacks and pushed along rails to reach its new location.Notable researchers
Researchers and public figures who have contributed to publications of the JCPA and participated in briefings are:- Uzi AradUzi AradUzi Arad is an Israeli Strategist and a well-known figure in foreign policy, security and strategic circles in Israel and abroad. He is a Professor at The Lauder School of Government, Diplomacy and Strategy at The Interdisciplinary Center, Herzliya. In July 2011 Arad re-joined the faculty of the...
- Shlomo AvineriShlomo AvineriShlomo Avineri is an Israeli political scientist. He is Professor of Political Science at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem....
- Freddy EytanFreddy EytanFreddy Eytan, is an Israeli diplomat, former Ambassador, writer and journalist.-Family:Freddy Eytan's family originated in Livorno, Italy, from the early 19th century. His father, Ouzy, was an active Zionist. In November 1942, at the beginning of the invasion of Tunisia by the German army, Ouzy...
- Benny Gantz
- Pinhas InbariPinhas InbariPinhas Inbari is an Israeli correspondent who has reported on Palestinian affairs for Israel Radio and the newspaper Al Hamishmar, and currently for the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs and several foreign media outlets. He has written several books on the Palestinians, e.g. The Palestinians:...
- Bernard LewisBernard LewisBernard Lewis, FBA is a British-American historian, scholar in Oriental studies, and political commentator. He is the Cleveland E. Dodge Professor Emeritus of Near Eastern Studies at Princeton University...
- Zvi MazelZvi MazelZvi Mazel is an Israeli diplomat. He was the Israeli ambassador to Sweden from 2002 to 2004, after serving as ambassador in Egypt from 1996 to 2001 and, later, Romania...
- Yair NavehYair NavehYair Naveh is a Major General in the Israel Defense Forces and is the current Deputy Chief of the General Staff. In 1975, he was drafted into the IDF where he served in all positions in the Golani Infantry Brigade from Company Commander to Brigade Commander...
- Gerald M. SteinbergGerald M. SteinbergGerald M. Steinberg is an Israeli academic and political scientist.-Biography:Gerald M. Steinberg obtained his doctorate in government from Cornell University, in 1981. M.A. Government Department, Cornell University, 1978. M.Sc. Physics Department, University of California, San Diego, 1975. B.A...
- Khaled Abu ToamehKhaled Abu ToamehKhaled Abu Toameh is a Israeli Arab journalist and documentary filmmaker. Abu Toameh is the West Bank and Gaza correspondent for the Jerusalem Post and U.S. News and World Report, and has been the Palestinian affairs producer for NBC News since 1988...
- Moshe Ya'alonMoshe Ya'alonMoshe "Bogie" Ya'alon is an Israeli politician and former Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces. He currently serves as a member of the Knesset for Likud, as well as the country's Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Strategic Affairs.-Early life:...
- Aharon Ze'evi-FarkashAharon Ze'evi-FarkashMajor General Aharon Ze'evi-Farkash was the head of the Israeli Military Intelligence Directorate from 2002 to 2006. He previously served in a variety of roles both in the field and on the general staff, commanding such units as the Technological and Logistics Branch, and the Planning Branch...