Saban Center for Middle East Policy
Encyclopedia
The Saban Center for Middle East Policy is a center within the Brookings Institution
focused on the United States
' involvement in the Middle East
. It was founded in May 2002 and according to its website, “The Saban Center conducts original research and develops innovative programs to promote a better understanding of the policy choices facing American decision makers in the Middle East.”
, an American-Israel
i media proprietor
. Saban, according to the center and its parent organization, "made a generous initial grant and pledged additional funds to endow the Center." According to a press release from Saban's charitable foundation, Saban "donated $13 million for the establishment of the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution."
Saban, according to the center, ascribed his involvement to his "abiding interest in promoting Arab-Israeli peace and preserving American interests in the Middle East" that lead him to fund the center. Saban, in an interview with the New York Times 2004 interview, said he was motivated to create the center because he had
Saban has stated of himself, “I’m a one issue guy, and my issue is Israel”, and was described by the New York Times as a “tireless cheerleader for Israel.”.
Saban, according to reports, personally recruited Martin Indyk
, a former Clinton administration official and AIPAC's former deputy director of research, as the center's Director.
to a select audience of policymakers in Washington, D.C."
Prominent Fellows
and Stephen Walt
, in their 2006 article of the Israel lobby in the United States
, highlighted the creation of the Saban Center for Middle East Policy and its Director Martin Indyk.
They write that the Israel lobby "dominates the think tanks which play an important role in shaping public debate as well as actual policy. The Lobby created its own think tank in 1985, when Martin Indyk helped to found WINEP
. Although WINEP plays down its links to Israel, claiming instead to provide a 'balanced and realistic' perspective on Middle East issues, it is funded and run by individuals deeply committed to advancing Israel’s agenda." "The Lobby’s influence extends well beyond WINEP, however," according to Mearsheimer and Walt. "Over the past 25 years, pro-Israel forces have established a commanding presence" at the leading Washington, D.C.
foreign policy think tanks. The result was that "[these] think tanks employ few, if any, critics of US support for Israel."
Mearsheimer and Walt then mention the Saban Center and the Brooking Institution as an example :
Mearsheimer and Walt discussing the Center's political slant state:
and Keith Weissman during the AIPAC espionage scandal
.
Brookings Institution
The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, D.C., in the United States. One of Washington's oldest think tanks, Brookings conducts research and education in the social sciences, primarily in economics, metropolitan policy, governance, foreign policy, and...
focused on the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
' involvement in the Middle East
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...
. It was founded in May 2002 and according to its website, “The Saban Center conducts original research and develops innovative programs to promote a better understanding of the policy choices facing American decision makers in the Middle East.”
Funding
The center is named after Haim SabanHaim Saban
Haim Saban is an Egyptian born Israeli-American television and media proprietor. With an estimated net worth of $3.5 billion, he is ranked by Forbes as the 104th richest person in America.-Biography:...
, an American-Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i media proprietor
Media proprietor
A media proprietor is a person who controls, either through personal ownership or a dominant position in any media enterprise. Those with significant control of a public company in the mass media may also be called "media moguls", "tycoons", "barons", or "bosses".The figure of the media proprietor...
. Saban, according to the center and its parent organization, "made a generous initial grant and pledged additional funds to endow the Center." According to a press release from Saban's charitable foundation, Saban "donated $13 million for the establishment of the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution."
Saban, according to the center, ascribed his involvement to his "abiding interest in promoting Arab-Israeli peace and preserving American interests in the Middle East" that lead him to fund the center. Saban, in an interview with the New York Times 2004 interview, said he was motivated to create the center because he had
- "heard from leaders on both sides of the aisle in the United States and leaders in Europe about what [Ariel] SharonAriel SharonAriel 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....
shouldn't do. I've haven't heard one educated suggestion about what he should do."
Saban has stated of himself, “I’m a one issue guy, and my issue is Israel”, and was described by the New York Times as a “tireless cheerleader for Israel.”.
Saban, according to reports, personally recruited Martin Indyk
Martin Indyk
Martin Sean Indyk is Vice President and Director for Foreign Policy at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. Indyk served as United States ambassador to Israel and Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs during the Clinton Administration. He is known as the framer of the U.S...
, a former Clinton administration official and AIPAC's former deputy director of research, as the center's Director.
Launch
The center was launched in May 2002 "with a special address by His Majesty King Abdullah II bin al-Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of JordanJordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
to a select audience of policymakers in Washington, D.C."
People
Leadership- Kenneth M. Pollack, Director
- Daniel L. Byman, Director of Research
Prominent Fellows
- Michael DoranMichael Doran.Michael Doran , Minnesota politician and businessman, was born in County Meath, Ireland. He emigrated to New York in 1850, then moved to Norwalk, Ohio the following year. In 1855, he married Helen Brady of Norwalk. He took out a land claim in Kilkenny, Minnesota in 1856, and established a farm...
, Senior Fellow - Stephen Grand, Fellow
- Shadi Hamid, Senior Fellow
- Suzanne Maloney, Senior Fellow
- Bruce RiedelBruce RiedelBruce Riedel is a Senior Fellow in foreign policy at the Saban Center for Middle East Policy of the Brookings Institution, a Senior Advisor at Albright Stonebridge Group, a former CIA Analyst, a counter-terrorism expert, and an author. He retired in 2006 after 29 years with the Central...
, Senior Fellow - Salman Shaikh, Senior Fellow
- Ibrahim Sharqieh, Senior Fellow
Criticism
John MearsheimerJohn Mearsheimer
John J. Mearsheimer is an American professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago. He is an international relations theorist. Known for his book on offensive realism, The Tragedy of Great Power Politics, more recently Mearsheimer has attracted attention for co-authoring and publishing...
and Stephen Walt
Stephen Walt
Stephen Martin Walt is a professor of international affairs at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. Among his most prominent works are and . He coauthored The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy with John Mearsheimer.-Education and career:In 1983, he received a Ph.D. in...
, in their 2006 article of the Israel lobby in the United States
Israel lobby in the United States
The Israel lobby is a term used to describe the diverse coalition of those who, as individuals and as groups, seek and have sought to influence the foreign policy of the United States in support of Zionism, Israel or the specific policies of its government...
, highlighted the creation of the Saban Center for Middle East Policy and its Director Martin Indyk.
They write that the Israel lobby "dominates the think tanks which play an important role in shaping public debate as well as actual policy. The Lobby created its own think tank in 1985, when Martin Indyk helped to found WINEP
Washington Institute for Near East Policy
The Washington Institute for Near East Policy is a think tank based in Washington, D.C. focused on United States foreign policy in the Middle East. It was established by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee in 1985...
. Although WINEP plays down its links to Israel, claiming instead to provide a 'balanced and realistic' perspective on Middle East issues, it is funded and run by individuals deeply committed to advancing Israel’s agenda." "The Lobby’s influence extends well beyond WINEP, however," according to Mearsheimer and Walt. "Over the past 25 years, pro-Israel forces have established a commanding presence" at the leading Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
foreign policy think tanks. The result was that "[these] think tanks employ few, if any, critics of US support for Israel."
Mearsheimer and Walt then mention the Saban Center and the Brooking Institution as an example :
Mearsheimer and Walt discussing the Center's political slant state:
US government indictment
A U.S. government indictment alleges that the Center's Director of Research, Kenneth Pollack, provided information to former AIPAC employees Steve J. RosenSteve J. Rosen
Steven J. Rosen served for 23 years as one of the top officials of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee . He is regarded as an influential and controversial figure in the "pro-Israel movement", often singled out in writings critical of AIPAC...
and Keith Weissman during the AIPAC espionage scandal
AIPAC espionage scandal
The Lawrence Franklin espionage scandal refers to Lawrence Franklin's scandal of passing classified documents regarding United States policy towards Iran to Israel through American Israel Public Affairs Committee...
.