View source for Britain Israel Communications and Research Centre

The '''Britain Israel Communications and Research Centre''' or BICOM is a lobby and political action group for the benefit of Israel. The lobby group is bankrolled by its Chairman [[Poju Zabludowicz]].<ref>Peter Oborne & James Jones, [http://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom/peter-oborne-james-jones/pro-israel-lobby-in-britain-full-text Inside Britain's Israel Lobby], 13-November-2009, Accessed 03-January-2009</ref> According to the ''Jewish Chronicle'', it was 'reinvigorated' under the leadership of former Labour MP [[Lorna Fitzsimons]].<ref>[http://www.thejc.com/home.aspx?ParentId=m12s29&SecId=29&AId=54741&ATypeId=1 Trading places], Leader, Jewish Chronicle, 17 August 2007</ref> Its primary activity is to provide daily and weekly briefings on media coverage of Israel -- including [[MEMRI]] publications. BICOM plans to concentrate on long-term measures to cultivate relationships and influence decision-makers and media leaders in Europe. BICOM is associated with [[AIPAC]] and former Director [[Daniel Shek]] stated: "AIPAC is assisting BICOM with developing grassroots networks in Britain and with organizing pro-Israel events similar to AIPAC’s conference, but on a much smaller scale."  Furthermore, "There is stronger motivation now than ever for communities to stand up for Israel and stand up for their own,” Shek said. "We want to invest today in things that will matter in five to 10 years."<ref> Denyse Tannenbaum, "[http://www.ejpress.org/printversion.aspx?idd=6686 European media is questioning Israel’s right to exist]", ''European Jewish Press'', 10 March 2006.</ref>

BICOM's chief executive, until July 2006, was [[Danny Shek]], a high-level official of the Israeli foreign ministry on a two year leave of absence.  He was previously the chief spokesman and director of the press division of Israel’s foreign ministry.<ref>''European Jewish Press'', [http://ejpress.org/article/9394 BICOM chief to become next Israeli ambassador in Paris], European Jewish Press, 2-July-2006, Accessed 17-December-2009</ref>  He left to become the Israeli ambassador to France.<ref>Main Headlines, [http://www.eurojewcong.org/ejc/news.php?id_article=513 Israeli Press Review of 30/6/06], European Jewish Congress, 30-June-2006, Accessed 17-December-2009</ref>

==History==
===Foundation - October 2000===
BICOM was founded as "a crisis PR 'nerve centre' in response to the ongoing Middle East crisis" in October 2000<ref name="PRWeek271000>Peter Simpson, UK'S JEWS SET UP CRISIS PR 'NERVE CENTRE', ''PR Week'', 27 October 2000.</ref> The relevant crisis at this period was the outbreak of the Al Aqsa Intifada in the wake of [[Ariel Sharon]]'s September 2000 visit to the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3677206.stm Al-Aqsa Intifada timeline], BBC News, 29 September 2004.</ref>
According to ''PR Week:

::The [[Cross Community Emergency Co-ordination Group]] (ECG) represents a rare unification between the UK's Jewish organisations. It has set up a communications wing, BICOM, the British Israel Communications Office. Undisclosed donations have been made from community benefactors to hire professional public affairs PROs to 'address the media balance', and keep the UK's Jewish community 'informed at this difficult time'.<ref name="PRWeek271000>Peter Simpson, UK'S JEWS SET UP CRISIS PR 'NERVE CENTRE', ''PR Week'', 27 October 2000.</ref>

Key figures in BICOM at the time included:
*[[Ilan Jacobs]] - Responsible for the ECG's political desk, and helping to run BICOM, on two week secondment from [[Consolidated Communications]].
*[[Lee Petar]] - in charge of media relations at BICOM, on secondment from [[Weber Shandwick Worldwide]].
*[[Roy Graham]] - running the rebuttal desk.
*[[Jeremy Newmark]] Chief Rabbi's Head of Communications, appointed the director of ECG, and responsible for overseeing BICOM operations.<ref name="PRWeek271000>Peter Simpson, UK'S JEWS SET UP CRISIS PR 'NERVE CENTRE', ''PR Week'', 27 October 2000.</ref>

====False start====
According to ''PR Week'', the newly formed organisation was 'wound down' in late 2000. It was later relaunched in autumn 2001 after securing more funding.<ref name="PRWeek261001">WSW CONSULTANT TO RUN PR STRATEGY FOR JEWISH GROUP, ''PR Week'', 26 October 2001.</ref> In the intervening period it was incorporated (on April 24 2001)<ref name="LevelBusiness">[http://www.levelbusiness.com/doc/company/uk/04204458 BRITAIN ISRAEL COMMUNICATIONS & RESEARCH CENTRE], Levelbusiness, accessed 12 January 2011.</ref> and was still in contact with the media. In March 2001, ''The Guardian'' reported:

::Unhappiness with press coverage prompted the formation of the Britain Israel Communications and Research Centre, to try to redress the balance.

::Its spokesman, [[Brian Kerner]], a conservative in British politics but liberal left in the Israeli context, said: "My own opinion has changed totally. I have gone from being leftwing to supporting a rightwing government.

::"Barak offered everything and got a kick in the head for doing so. By offering so much, it encouraged violence.
::"The Palestinians respond to strength rather than anything perceived as weakness. The government now is totally united and I think they [the Palestinians] respect it and, frankly, that is very sad.

::"[Sharon] has not put a foot wrong so far. There has been restraint. I find it odd that I am now supporting a man a few months ago I would not have considered."<ref name="Guardian280301">Ewen Macaskill and Brian Whitaker, [http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2001/mar/28/israel4 Barak's failures lead all shades of British Jewry to trust in Sharon], ''The Guardian'', 28 March 2001.</ref>

===Relaunch - Autumn 2001===
BICOM was "revived through extra funds from Jewish community groups, as a rebuttal and research group", in the autumn of 2001, ''PR Week'' reported.

Former BBC editor [[Mark Berg]] was appointed as Director in September 2001. [[Lee Petar]] was appointed Director of Strategic Communications under Berg the following month, with a brief to "co-ordinate BICOM's long-term PR strategy, handle press briefings and oversee media training".<ref name="PRWeek261001">WSW CONSULTANT TO RUN PR STRATEGY FOR JEWISH GROUP, ''PR Week'', 26 October 2001.</ref>

In the ''New Statesman'' in January 2002, Dennis Sewell suggested that the support of [[Shlomo Zabludowicz]], undermined BICOM's credibility.<ref name="NSSewell>*Dennis Sewell, [http://www.newstatesman.com/200201140009 A kosher conspiracy?], ''New Statesman'', 14 January 2002.</ref>

::The truth is that the 'Zionist lobby' does exist, but is a clueless bunch. After all, how media-savvy can such lobbyists really be if they allow their operations to be greased by the profits made from Shlomo Zabludowicz's mortars and bombs? Could any funding arrangement be better contrived to confirm left-liberal prejudices about Israel?<ref name="NSSewell>*Dennis Sewell, [http://www.newstatesman.com/200201140009 A kosher conspiracy?], ''New Statesman'', 14 January 2002.</ref>

Six months after the relaunch, in April 2002, ''PR Week'' reported:
::anyone expecting instant results from BICOM's early work will be disappointed. So reticent is BICOM about its progress on PR goals, that Petar would only say: 'We are here for the long-term, there are no easy fixes.'

::The past six months have been spent building an infrastructure of research and rebuttal, issuing daily round-ups of stories and instigating a visitor programme. Apart from a planned website, the public face of BICOM seems to have been fairly limited.<ref>Adam Hill, ISRAEL/PALESTINE CONFLICT IN COMMS - AS THE VIOLENCE IN THE MIDDLE-EAST CONTINUES TO ESCALATE, PR OPERATIONS ON BOTH SIDES ARE STRIVING TO ARGUE THEIR CASE IN THE MEDIA, SAYS ADAM HILL, ''PR Week'', 19 July 2002.</ref>

In the wake of [[Operation Defensive Shield]], BICOM's director of communications, [[Nick Conway]] said in June 2002: "In general, the British press, never an entirely comfortable read for supporters of Israel, has in the last few months become increasingly hostile".<ref>Hal Weizman, Pressing the emotional button, Jerusalem Report, 3 June 2002.</ref>

[[Mark Berg]] stepped down as executive director in September 2002, and was replaced by [[Lee Petar]] on an interim basis.<ref>HEADHUNTERS APPOINTED FOR JEWISH PR BODY POST, ''PR Week'', 27 September 2002.</ref>

In October 2002, BICOM hired US pollster [[Stanley Greenberg]] in a bid to change British media attitudes to Israel:
::Bicom, the London-based, Zionist communications and PR agency, has hired him to counter the British media's unsympathetic attitude toward Israel. According to a "focus group" meeting held earlier this year by [[Frank Luntz]] (the Republican pollster), British professionals and academics are particularly hostile to Israeli policies. Bicom has called in Greenberg to determine just how serious the anti-Israeli bias is in this country. The poll will be followed up, according to Lee Petar, acting director of Bicom, by a media campaign whose "first targets" will be the British professional classes.<ref>Gabrielle Parussini, [http://www.newstatesman.com/node/144090 Just how bigoted are Britons? Observations on anti-semitism], ''New Statesman'', 28 October 2002.</ref>

In August 2005, Lee Petar stepped down as BICOM's Director of Communications to join lobbying firm [[Good Relations Political]]. He was replaced by [[Ruth Smeeth]], previously of [[Sodexho]], who joined BICOM as Director of Public Affairs and Campaigns, with an added brief "to strengthen the group's relations with the 'Foreign Office, party leaders, think-tanks and academia' according to [[Daniel Shek]]. Former Good Relations Political associate Director [[Ben Novick]] joined BICOM as Director of Media Relations at the same time.<ref name="PRWeek090905">SMEETH EXITS SODEXHO FOR PRO-ISRAEL LOBBY GROUP, ''PR Week'', 9 September 2005.</ref> 

According to the ''Jerusalem Report'', BICOM was one of a number of groups which rejected proposals by a group of young British advertising executives for a high-profile pro-Israel publicity campaign in 2005.<ref name="EnoughWithPolite>Daniella Peled, Enough with Polite, ''Jerusalem Report'', 3 October 2005.</ref> 

::While not disputing the existence of media bias, they argue that [[StandUp4Israel]]'s tactics would both be painfully expensive and actually serve to alienate British public opinion. "Only pariah states advertise their wares," asserts [[Brian Kerner]], president of the [[United Jewish Israel Appeal]] (UJIA), a national pro-Israel charity, and the [[Cross Community Coordination Group]], a body representing over 70 Anglo-Israel organizations that was formed at the start of the intifada. He says StandUp4Israel quoted him a cost-only figure of GBP 750,000 ($ 1.38 million) for the initial campaign, "and I don't know where they thought we would raise those funds."<ref name="EnoughWithPolite>Daniella Peled, Enough with Polite, ''Jerusalem Report'', 3 October 2005.</ref>

During the Mohammed Cartoons controversy of 2006, the ''Daily Mail'' reported:
::A spokesman for the [[Britain-Israel Communication and Research Centre]] said last night: 'We agree with [[Inayat Bunglawala]], of the [[Muslim Council of Britain]], that any kind of cartoon that is derogatory to a race or group in a stereotypical way is unacceptable.
::'I am sure that he is not being exclusive and that he hopes newspapers across the Middle East take heed of his words and stop the publication of anti-Semitic cartoons and articles which are extremely prevalent across the region.'<ref>Nick Craven, The other cartoons; AS MUSLIM FURY CONTINUES OVER 'BLASPHEMOUS' CARICATURES OF MOHAMMED, ''Daily Mail, 4 February 2006.</ref>

===Summer Reception at the House of Lords - 2006===
In June 2006, Bicom held a 'summer reception' for 100 guests at the House of Lords. Chairman and 'main donor' [[Poju Zabludowicz]] was there to welcome the guests. Zabludowicz is reported to be 'Widely regarded as at the head of an emerging new wave of British-Jewish leaders'. With a personal fortune of an estimated £2billion, he is head of the [[Tamares]] investment group ('whose portfolio includes a large slice of downtown Las Vegas'). He also 'recently' donated £15,000 to the [[David Cameron]]-led Conservatives<ref>Rocker, S. (2006) [http://www.thejc.com/home.aspx?AId=44619&ATypeId=1&search=true2&srchstr=isaac%20kaye&srchtxt=1&srchhead=1&srchauthor=1&srchsandp=1&scsrch=0 'Bicom: the rich and powerful']. The <i>Jewish Chronicle</i>. 22nd June 2006</ref>. The <i>Jewish Chronicle</i> reports that one of the invited guests said that the 'Guests on September’s US mission, who hope to meet Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, have been asked to pledge a “five-figure sum”'.

===Strategy to Promote Israel - 2006===

In 2006, Bicom agreed to lead a 3 year multi million pound 'action plan' in collaboration with existing organisations engaged in pro-Israel advocacy which includes the [[Jewish Leadership Council]], the [[Community Security Trust]] and 'all three major political Friends of Israel groups'. Their aim is to promote Israel's image whilst also setting an agenda for the entire pro-Israel community. The strategy includes focusing on 'educating' Britain’s leaders about the importance of the shared values between Israel and Britain (promoting Israel as a 'sister society' to the UK<ref>Frazer, J. (2006) [http://www.thejc.com/home.aspx?ParentId=m10&AId=44615&ATypeId=1 His mission: to sell Israel’s story to the UK] <i>The Jewish Chronicle</i>. 23rd June 2006. Accessed 2nd July 2008</ref>) and to 'change perceptions' about Israel through pomoting a focus on aspects such as environmental issues, hi-tech innovations and medical advances. Also pushing 'soft' stories such as the London woman who “married” a dolphin in Eilat<ref>Frazer, J. (2006) [http://www.thejc.com/home.aspx?ParentId=m10&AId=44615&ATypeId=1 His mission: to sell Israel’s story to the UK] <i>The Jewish Chronicle</i>. 23rd June 2006. Accessed 2nd July 2008</ref>. This project was initially 'conceived with notionally unlimited funding'<ref>Frazer, J., Josephs, B. & Rocker, S. (2006) [http://www.thejc.com/home.aspx?ParentId=m10&AId=44562&ATypeId=1 Revealed: Israel’s new UK lobby] <i>The Jewish Chronicle</i>. 23rd June 2006. Accessed 2nd July 2007</ref>.

The collaborative strategy is described as to combatting a “growing threat” to the Jewish state’s legitimacy<ref>Frazer, J., Josephs, B. & Rocker, S. (2006) [http://www.thejc.com/home.aspx?ParentId=m10&AId=44562&ATypeId=1 Revealed: Israel’s new UK lobby] <i>The Jewish Chronicle</i>. 23rd June 2006. Accessed 2nd July 2007</ref>. However, as Mearsheimer and Walt have argued, critics of Israel's policies stand accused of anti-semitism and of 'holding Israel to an unfair standard or questioning its right to exist'. They describe these as 'bogus charges' as 'Western critics of Israel hardly ever question its right to exist: they question its behaviour towards the Palestinians, as do Israelis themselves. Nor is Israel being judged unfairly. Israeli treatment of the Palestinians elicits criticism because it is contrary to widely accepted notions of human rights, to international law and to the principle of national self-determination'<ref>Mearsheimer, J. & Walt, S. (2006) [http://www.lrb.co.uk/v28/n06/mear01_.html The Israel Lobby] ''London Review of Books''. Accessed 8th July 2008</ref>.

The action plan has received 'strong backing' from Israel’s Foreign Ministry who are also involved in a 'task force' (which includes the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Finance and Israel’s advertising industry) to “rebrand” Israel. Major PR firms have also been 'invited to take part'. To 'ensure the global reach for the project', the task force is setting up steering committees in Europe, America and Canada<ref> [http://www.thejc.com/home.aspx?ParentId=m10&AId=44618&ATypeId=1 Meanwhile, Israel rebrands] The ''Jewish Chronicle''. 23rd June 2006. Accessed 8th July 2008</ref>

===2006 Lebanon War===
Following a series of terrorist arrests in the UK which coincided with the 2006 Lebanon War, BICOM criticised suggestions that terrorism in the UK was linked to the conflict in the Middle East. The ''Jerusalem Post'' reported:
::Ben Novick director of media relations for the Britain-Israel Communications and Research Center said such views "feed into public opinion and violence on the street." He charged that such connections would be wrong because the plot had been being planned for months while Israel had only been fighting in Lebanon for the past few weeks.<ref>Hilary Leila Krieger, British Jews fear backlash, ''Jerusalem Post'', 11 August 2006.</ref>

Following an open letter from British Muslim leaders which charged that the Iraq War and attacks on civilians in the Middle East were strengthening extremists, the ''Jerusalem Post" reported:

::But Ben Novick director of media relations for the Britain- Israel Communications and Research Center called the links made by the letter "dangerous and wrong also pointing to the timing of the rise of extremism and the history of British foreign policy.
::Novick added that while he had been concerned that the connection between foreign policy and terror at home would be made and that it might wash with the media he said he had been relieved by the reaction.
::We're very happy that the response from most of the media and the establishment including the government has been favorable." He described that response as confronting the issue "head-on" and standing "resolute" against the view. <ref>Hilary Leila Kreiger, British Muslims blame extremism on Tony Blair's foreign policy, ''Jerusalem Post'', 15 August 2006.</ref>

During August 2006, a BICOM representative accompanied the newly-appointed Israeli ambassador to Italy, [[Gideon Meir]] to a meeting at a synagogue in Stanmore, London, at which the ambassador described the Palestinian administration, run by Hamas, as terrorists and said: "They use their civilians as human shields. They do not care about human lives, but we do."<ref>Israel misrepresented claims ambassador, ''Harrow Times'', 31 August 2006.</ref>

===Fitzsimons Appointment - October 2006===
In October 2006, BICOM appointed the former Labour MP for Rochdale, [[Lorna Fitzsimons]], as CEO after [[Danny Shek]] left to become Israeli ambassador to France.<ref>UK/Israel group unveils new CEO, 13 October 2006.</ref>

In a ''Guardian'' article marking her appointment, Fitzsimons wrote:
:: Since 2000, nine fatalities have been caused by Qassam missiles.
::Some media have reported the panic these missiles have caused but they downplay the impact because of the small scale of fatalities compared with those on the Palestinian side. My husband, a British soldier, is currently serving a tour of duty in Iraq. His unit has come under mortar fire nearly every night for the past six months. Not many service personnel have been killed by these missiles but every soldier fears that the next one might have his or her name on it. Do you think that a child, a parent or a grandmother in one of the towns bordering Gaza thinks there have been "only" nine fatalities? Can you imagine what that does to a civilian population?<ref>Lorna Fitzsimons, Comment & Debate: Why I'm backing Israel: The left and the Islamists portray me as a Zionist neocon, but it takes two sides to make a peace deal, ''The Guardian'', 24 November 2006.</ref>

===Stop the Boycott - June 2007===
Following the decision in May 2007 by the University and College Union to support an academic boycott of Israel, a coalition of UK Jewish community organizations launched a campaign to overturn the decision, the ''Jerusalem Post'' reported:

::Following the decision last month by Britain's University and College Union to support an academic boycott of Israel, a coalition of UK Jewish community organizations has launched a campaign to overturn the decision.
::Under the umbrella of the [[Britain Israel Communications and Research Center]], and the [[Fair Play Campaign Group]], set up by the Board of Deputies of British Jews last year to combat anti-Israel boycotts, the effort will be coordinated with both Jewish and non-Jewish trade union members and academics, the Israeli Embassy, and Israel advocacy and community organizations.<ref>Jonny Paul, British Jews launch campaign to fight academic boycott, ''Jerusalem Post'', 14 June 2007.</ref>

BICOM chief Executive Lorna Fitzsimons served as co-director of the Stop the Boycott campaign along with [[Jeremy Newmark]] of the [[Fair Play Campaign Group]].<ref name="JP280707>Jonny Paul, UK poll: British elite oppose academic boycott, ''Jerusalem Post'', 28 June 2007.</ref>

BICOM urged staff and students opposed to the boycott to register at a website, www.stoptheboycott.org. It said it was engaging with a number of high-profile academics "who are not only anti-boycott but are also pro-Israel", the ''Times Higher Education Supplement'' reported.<ref>Olga Wojtas and Jon Marcus, Boycott opponents gain momentum, ''The Times Higher Educational Supplement'', 15 June 2007.</ref> A petition against the boycott signed by nearly 300 academics appeared in the ''Times'' and the ''Guardian'' on 13 June 2007.<ref>Jonny Paul, British Jews launch campaign to fight academic boycott, ''Jerusalem Post'', 14 June 2007.</ref>

The campaign also commissioned a [[Populus]] poll which claimed that "Eighty-six percent of key British business cultural and political leaders oppose an academic boycott of Israel".<ref name="JP280707>Jonny Paul, UK poll: British elite oppose academic boycott, ''Jerusalem Post, 28 June 2007.</ref>

By 29 June 2007, 102 MPs had signed up to an early day motion calling the boycott 'repugnant'.<ref>Campaign starts to head off Israeli academic ban, ''PR Week'', 29 June 2007.</ref>

PR firms [[Champollion]] and [[Populus]] were hired to promote the campaign<ref>Campaign, Voluntary Sector Special - Coalition stops boycott of Israeli universities, ''PR Week'', 23-November-2007, Accessed 17-December-2009</ref>.

London-based journalist [[Miriam Shaviv]] claimed that British organisations only mobilised against the boycott after it was attacked by  the [[Anti-Defamation League]] and other US-based organisations.<ref>Miriam Shaviv, Silence Won't End British Boycotts, ''The Forward'', 29 June 2007.</ref>

===Simpson appointment===
In August 2007 the Jewish Chronicle reported:

:[[Paul Simpson]]... has swapped his job as Labour’s head of corporate communications to join the reinvigorated Israel lobbyist Bicom as head of field operations. He will be a pivotal figure in the coming months, for it will fall to him to motivate and mobilise grass-roots support for Israel. His first task will be to take on the threat of an academic boycott posed by the University and College Union. The appointment is quite a coup for Bicom and speaks volumes for the persuasive powers of the organisation’s chief executive, former Labour MP Lorna Fitzsimons, and the largesse of its chairman and main funder, [[Poju Zabludowicz]].<ref>[http://www.thejc.com/home.aspx?ParentId=m12s29&SecId=29&AId=54741&ATypeId=1 Trading places], Leader, Jewish Chronicle, 17 August 2007</ref>

===2008 Herzliya visit===
BICOM hosted a delegation of senior British journalists in Israel in January 2008. Participants included senior editorial staff from the BBC, Sky, ''The Times'', the ''Guardian'', the ''Independent'' and the ''Sun''. The visit encompassed the [[Eighth Herzliya Conference]] and a visit to the southern Israeli town of Sderot, the ''Jerusalem Post'' reported:

::"For the first time ever, we will be taking this group to Sderot to show them just what Israelis have to endure every single day," Fitzsimons said. "Hopefully they will see and really comprehend just how grave the threat coming from Gaza is - a threat that unfortunately often doesn't get taken seriously enough here in the UK."<ref>Jonny Paul, British lobby to bring senior journalists on mission to Israel. BBC, Sky and 'Times' journalists to visit Sderot, ''Jerusalem Post'', 16 January 2008.</ref>

===Israel Office===
By mid-2007 BICOM had established an office in Israel and appointed [[Jonathan Cummings]], a former research fellow at the [[Portland Trust]] as director and [[Richard Pater]], who previously worked in the foreign press department in the Israeli government press office, as public affairs manager/deputy director.<ref>Leslie Bunder, [http://www.somethingjewish.co.uk/articles/2459_new_staff_for_israel.htm New staff for Israel], SomethingJewish.co.uk, accessed 22 August 2012</ref><ref>[http://www.brandrepublic.com/news/734106/ BICOM signs up Prince Charles' media aide], PR Week via Brand Republic, accessed 22 August 2012</ref>

===Gaza crisis===
Seumas Milne criticised Israeli policy towards Gaza in March 2008.<ref>Seamus Milne, [http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/mar/05/israelandthepalestinians.usa To blame the victims for this killing spree defies both morality and sense], ''the Guardian'', 5 March 2008.</ref> Fitzsimons responded in a letter to the paper:

::According to Seumas Milne (To blame the victims for this killing spree defies both morality and sense, March 5) Israel's occupation is the root of all evil. The answer, he suggests, "could not be more obvious". If Israel withdrew from the Palestinian territories and negotiated a just settlement for the Palestinian refugees, rockets would stop falling on Israelis and, presumably, peace would break out.

::It is precisely this obvious route that Israel is pursuing. Israel began to withdraw from the Palestinian territories 15 years ago. Nearly three years ago it left Gaza unilaterally, without precondition. Having evacuated Gaza, Israel's concerns are primarily for the safety of its own citizens. However, it has not interrupted the flow of humanitarian supplies through Israel into Gaza, nor access to Israeli hospitals for Gazans in need of healthcare.<ref>Lorna Fitzismons, [http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/mar/07/israelandthepalestinians Letters], ''The Guardian'', 7 March 2008.</ref>

In response to a ''Guardian'' comment by [[Jimmy Carter]], Fitzsimons wrote in May 2008:
::Jimmy Carter (Comment, May 8) is right to highlight the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. But it is unfair to hold Israel primarily responsible. Israel renounced all claims on Gaza nearly three years ago, when it unilaterally withdrew all its settlements and military forces. The subsequent election of Hamas may have been free and fair, but democracy and terrorism are incompatible. By refusing to renounce violence and recognise Israel, Hamas is forcing the innocent Palestinians to suffer.<ref>Lorna Fitzsimons, Reply Letters and emails: Responsibility for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, ''The Guardian'', 9 May 2008.</ref> 

===2008 polling===
In response to a BBC poll showing that negative views of Israel had declined globally from 57 per cent to 52 per cent, Fitzsimons stated:

::"BICOM's polling in the UK suggests that people often think of Israel in a negative capacity, as it is often referred to among the 'bad boys' in the region, such as Iran, Hizbullah and Hamas. When Israel is referred to next to countries that people 'perceive' to be moderate, such as Jordan and Syria, they think better of Israel.
::"This BBC poll shows that viewers don't really understand the core issues within the Middle East conflict, even after watching BBC coverage. Israel has a big challenge. People have such a limited time to digest news - never mind foreign news - that they build up perceptions based on a snapshot. When Israel is only referred to in terms of conflict, this only exacerbates the problem."<ref>Jonny Paul, Israeli influence on the world is as bad as Iran's, BBC poll finds, ''Jerusalem Post'', 2 April 2008.</ref>

===Leaked Email - 2011===
In September 2011 Bicom's CEO [[Lorna Fitzsimons]] sent an email intended for Bicom's donors to its media lists. The email details Bicom's operations that week in response to anti-Israel protests in Egypt. It boasted that Bicom had 'generated extremely favourable responses' in the UK media, referring to 'contact with a whole host of [[BBC]] and SKY news desks and journalists, ensuring that the most objectively favourable line was taken'.  It also mentioned contact with the ''[[Financial Times]]'' leader writer [[Jonathan Ford]] and 'regular contact with the Editor at Large of [[Prospect (magazine)|Prospect Magazine]], [[David Goodhart]]'. <ref>[http://www.scribd.com/doc/65513272/Leaked-Bicom-Email Email] from [[Lorna Fitzsimons]], 12 September 2011</ref>

==Activities==

===Briefing the BBC===
In 2006, Bicom are reported to have 'been allowed unprecedented access to the [[BBC]] to brief the corporation’s news staff on the Middle East'. <ref>Millis, J. & Gladstone, B. (2006) [http://www.williambowles.info/isrl-pal/2006/0606/israel_uk_lobby.html Lessons from foreign lobbies] williambowles.info. Accessed 8th July 2008</ref> In a September 2011 email, intended for BICOM's donors, but sent in error to its media lists, BICOM CEO [[Lorna Fitzsimons]] stated:

<blockquote style="background-color:ivory;border:1pt solid Darkgoldenrod;padding:1%;font-size:10pt">Throughout the weekend, BICOM staff were in contact with a whole host of BBC and SKY news desks and journalists, ensuring that the most objectively favourable line was taken, and offering talking heads, relevant to the stories unfolding. BICOM's Senior Analyst Dr. [[Noam Leshem]], briefed the [[BBC]] World News Editorial Board on Saturday afternoon regarding the fall-out from the Israel Egyptian Embassy siege.<p>BICOM has one of BBC News' key anchors on a bespoke delegation. When planning her very first trip to the region, Sophie Long got in touch with BICOM to see if we could help her out with meeting in the region. Sophie is now spending three days of her trip with BICOM Israel, taking a tour around the Old City, meeting [[Mark Regev]] and Dr. [[Alex Yacobsen]], as well as visiting Ramallah and Sderot. <ref>[http://www.scribd.com/doc/65513272/Leaked-Bicom-Email Email] from [[Lorna Fitzsimons]], 12 September 2011</ref></p></blockquote>

===Arguing for Israel in the media===

====Independent letters====
On 8 September 2006, the ''Independent'' carried a leading article by Patrick Cockburn on Gaza.<ref>Patrick Cockburn, [http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/leading-articles/leading-article-a-brutal-siege-the-world-must-ignore-no-longer-415068.html ], ''The Independent, 8 September 2006.</ref> BICOM chief executive [[Daniel Shek]] subsequently wrote to the paper stating:
::It is a shame that, at a time when there appears to be a glimmer of hope with a possible meeting between Prime Minister Olmert and President Abbas, The Independent focused on such negativity and in such a one-sided manner ("A people betrayed by the world", 8 September).
::Israel withdrew from the whole of Gaza last summer.
::It was a bold and brave step that aimed to move the peace process forward. Rather than seizing the opportunity to rebuild their economy and society, the Palestinians in return increased missile attacks from Gaza, voted in a terrorist organisation that refuses to accept Israel's right to exist, and crossed the border into sovereign Israeli territory, killed Israeli soldiers and captured Corporal Shalit and took him to Gaza. These are the events that have helped to plunge the territory into despair.<ref>Daniel Shek, Letter: The Palestinian right to exist, ''The Independent'', 13 September 2006.</ref>

On 3 October 2006, the ''Independent'' carried a leader criticising international pressure on the Palestinian Authority following a Hamas election victory the previous January.<ref>[http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/leading-articles/leading-article-a-storm-of-violence-that-we-have-done-little-to-quell-418487.html Leading article: A storm of violence that we have done little to quell], ''Independent'', 3 October 2006.</ref>

In response, BICOM's Ben Novick wrote:
::It would be hypocritical for any democracy or any liberal newspaper to talk about the importance of democracy and then call for concessions towards a terrorist organisation that flouts international law. As with the expectation in Northern Ireland that Sinn Fein would abandon violence before the political process took over, Hamas must play by the same rules. We must not allow Hamas to make a mockery of true democracy.<ref>Ben Novick, Letter: Are Palestinians ready for peace? ''Independent'', 5 October 2006.</ref>

====Guardian letter====
In February 2007, Fitzsimons wrote to the ''Guardian'':
::At the age of 16 I closed my Barclays savings account in opposition to the apartheid regime in South Africa, a regime which appalled me at every level. I could never countenance working to promote a country that I thought was akin to that regime, and find it offensive that the suffering of black South Africans could be equated to the current predicament of the Palestinians (Occupied Gaza like apartheid South Africa, says UN report, February 23). Israel is not an apartheid state.<ref>Lorna Fitzsimmons, Reply: Letters and emails: No apartheid in the Middle East, ''Guardian'', 27 February 2007.</ref>

====Eilat bombing====
Following a suicide bombing in Eilat in January 2007, the ''Independent'' reported:
::Lorna Fitzsimons, the former Labour MP who heads the Britain Israel Communications and Research Centre (Bicom) and is on holiday in Eilat, strongly condemned the bombing at a time when Israel had been "moving in the right direction" by transferring tax revenues to Mr Abbas. She added: "The Palestinians need to cease terror and agree to recognise Israel's right to exist. This is a real setback for those of us who believe in Israel's right to live in peace and security next to a Palestinian state." She said that security in Eilat had been tangibly tightened since the blast.<ref>Donald Macintyre, Hamas fails to condemn Eilat bomb that killed three, ''Independent'', 30 January 2007.</ref>

====Fitzsimons on Iran====
In February 2007, Fitzsimons told Australia's ABC that Iran was on the verge of manufacturing highly enriched uranium:
::That is the key watershed. There is no return from that point. In other words, you can't get the genie back in the bottle.
::I don't think that you can stop it. You might be able to disrupt it, and that's the difference, and it's looking at how far you can go down the line, where you lose the ability to disrupt it.<ref>Stephanie Kennedy, US warned against military action on Iran, ABC Australia, 6 February 2007.</ref>

===Sponsored trips to Israel===
*[[Martin Bright]] &ndash; journalist with the New Statesman; travelled to Israel in May 2008. <ref>Martin Bright, [http://www.newstatesman.com/200805150026 The great betrayal], The New Statesman, 15 May 2008.</ref>

* [[Michael Sherwood]] - co-chief executive officer of [[Goldman Sachs International]] took part in Bicom's 'fundraising mission' to Israel in 2005<ref>Rocker, S. (2006) [http://www.thejc.com/home.aspx?AId=44619&ATypeId=1&search=true2&srchstr=isaac%20kaye&srchtxt=1&srchhead=1&srchauthor=1&srchsandp=1&scsrch=0 'Bicom: the rich and powerful']. The <i>Jewish Chronicle</i>. 22nd June 2006</ref>.

====Wafa Fahoum in Britain====
In early 2008, BICOM hosted a visit to Britain by Wafa Fahoum, an Israeli Arab woman who campaigned about treatment of Arab citizens by security guards and later provided training to security staff.<ref>Kim Sengupta, ''The Independent'', 25 April 2008.</ref>

===We Believe In Israel Conference===
On May 15 2011, BICOM organised the first '[[We Believe In Israel]]' conference, which was 'supported by 26 community organisations and attended by 1500 delegates' and was described as the largest Israel advocacy gathering to take place in the UK.

Plans for a second conference on April 29 2012 were shelved, reportedly for "strategic" reasons rather than to lack of funds. According to the ''Jewish Chronicle'' organizers wanted [[Luke Akehurst]], appointed director of We Believe in Israel in August 2011<ref>[http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/luke-akehurst/4/5b7/408 Luke Akehurst profile,] LinkedIn, accessed June 2 2012</ref>, to focus on "staging smaller events in regional communities" throughout the year.<ref>Marcus Dycsh, [http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/63978/we-believe-shelved-year We Believe Shelved For This Year,] Jewish Chronicle, accessed June 2 2012</ref> 

Another conference is set to take place in 2013.<ref>[http://www.webelieveinisrael.org.uk/conferences/we-believe-conference-2013/ WE BELIEVE CONFERENCE 2013], We Believe In Israel, accessed 21 August 2012</ref>

==PR Firms and Conservative Friends of Israel==
===Champollion Public Relations===

[[Lorna Fitzsimons]] the Chief Executive of BICOM commissioned [[Champollion]] as one of her key campaign strategists and media advisers. Fitzsimons described the service delivered by Champollion:

:“In leading our message development, including through rigorous media training, and in supporting the work of our in-house communications professionals, Champollion has shown a thorough knowledge of the policy area and a commitment that is frankly beyond the call of duty.”<ref>Lorna Fitzsimmons, [http://www.champollion.co.uk/ourclients_bicom.html Our Clients:BICOM], ''Champollion'', Accessed 25-October-2009</ref>.

===Halpern Cowan===
Between summer 2006 and mid-2008 BICOM hired the digital agency [[Halpern Cowan]]. According to a former Senior Account Director's LinkedIn profile, the agency worked on BICOM's website, 'eDM' (electronic direct marketing), and SEO (search engine optimisation).<ref>[http://www.linkedin.com/pub/jon-gordon/7/374/175 Jon Gordon profile], LinkedIn, accessed 22 August 2012</ref> They also hired a freelancer to design the wesbite of the [[Stop the Boycott]] campaign<ref>[http://www.eugenestickney.com/new_content/Halpern%20Cowan/halpern_cowan.html Halpern Cowan], EugeneStickney.com, accessed 22 August 2012</ref> (which BICOM worked on with the [[Fair Play Campaign Group]]). His CV, downloadable on his website, states that the Stop the Boycott campaign website received over 15,000 hits in one week.<ref>[http://www.eugenestickney.com/contact.htm Contact], EugeneStickney.com, accessed 22 August 2012</ref>

===Links to Conservative Friends of Israel===
According to Peter Oborne:

:Despite the [[Conservative Friends of Israel]] (CFI) and BICOM not formally merging there is a huge amount of co-ordination. Many of BICOM’s key figures also play roles in the CFI: [[Trevor Pears]], [[Michael Lewis]] and [[Poju Zabludowicz]] are driving forces behind both lobbies. [[David Cameron]] also accepted £20,000 from [[Trevor Pears]] in his leadership election<ref>Peter Oborne & James Jones, [http://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom/peter-oborne-james-jones/pro-israel-lobby-in-britain-full-text Inside Britain's Israel Lobby], ''Open Democracy'', 13-November-2009, Accessed 03-January-2009</ref>.

==Criticisms==
Paul Usiskin, chairman of Peace Now UK, who organized the participation of the "Zionists for Peace" stated:
:"BICOM is an agency that promotes Israel right or wrong"<ref>Charlotte Halle, "[http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=319376 Peace Now UK is setting up a rival information service to BICOM]", Haaretz, 18 July 2003.</ref>

Tim Llewellyn, a former BBC correspondent and Middle East expert had this to say about BICOM:
:Organizations such as the British Israel Communications and Research Centre (BICOM) have hundreds of thousands of pounds at their disposal, much of it coming directly from the United States, which sends a third of its whole, global foreign aid budget to Israel's six million citizens (the real figure, including loan guarantees, tax breaks for charities and defence deals, could be as high as $10,000m annually, a sum which puts well into perspective last year's USAID contribution of $8,800,000 to India's population of 1,100m. Or, well over $1,500 per capita for Israelis, about $8.00 for an Indian)<ref>Tim Llewellyn, <i>Publish it not&hellip; the Middle East Cover-Up</i>: [http://student.cs.ucc.ie/cs1064/jabowen/IPSC/glosses/PublishItNot Foreword]", February 2006. </ref>

:This great flow of funds bypasses most ordinary Israeli citizens and poor and needy Jews in Israel and elsewhere and goes straight to the projection of Zionist causes and colonialism wherever it might be needed. These funds prop up, here in the United Kingdom, not just BICOM, but organizations such as Labour Friends of Israel, close to the heart of Tony Blair, the Jewish Agency (whose raison de vivre is to get as many Jews as possible to go to Israel), the World Zionist Organisation, Paoli Zion, a Labour Party affiliate, the Council of Christians and Jews, which keeps the Church of England leadership at Lambeth Palace in close self-restraint about Israel's crimes against Christians and Christian institutions.<ref>Tim Llewellyn, <i>Publish it not&hellip; the Middle East Cover-Up</i>: [http://student.cs.ucc.ie/cs1064/jabowen/IPSC/glosses/PublishItNot Foreword]", February 2006. </ref>

==People==

In 2002 BICOM employed five people and by April 2003 its accounts record that there were six employees.<ref>[http://powerbase.info/images/5/5e/Bicom_Accounts_made_up_to_30_April_2003.pdf BICOM accounts 30 April 2003, p.7‎], Companies House, accessed 21 August 2012</ref>. When Lorna Fitzsimons joined as CEO in September 2006 there were 11 members of staff.<ref>Leon Symons, ‘Israel research centre faces staff exodus’, Jewish Chronicle, 20 April 2007, p.8.</ref>

===Company Directors August 2012===
*[[Poju Zabludowicz]] - appointed 24 April 2001.<ref name="LevelBusiness">[http://www.levelbusiness.com/doc/company/uk/04204458 BRITAIN ISRAEL COMMUNICATIONS & RESEARCH CENTRE], Levelbusiness, accessed 12 January 2011.</ref>
*[[David Robert Green]] (Secretary) appointed 24 April 2001.<ref name="LevelBusiness">[http://www.levelbusiness.com/doc/company/uk/04204458 BRITAIN ISRAEL COMMUNICATIONS & RESEARCH CENTRE], Levelbusiness, accessed 12 January 2011.</ref>
*[[Adam Richard Cannon]] - appointed 25 January 2011.<ref name="LevelBusiness">[http://www.levelbusiness.com/doc/company/uk/04204458 BRITAIN ISRAEL COMMUNICATIONS & RESEARCH CENTRE], Levelbusiness, accessed 12 January 2011.</ref>
*[[Edward Misrahi]] - appointed 25 November 2011.<ref>[http://company-director-check.co.uk/director/914176453 Edward Misrahi - Director Summary], DirectorCheck.co.uk, accessed 10 August 2012</ref>

====Former Directors====
*[[Brian Kerner]] (24 April 2001 - 25 November 2011)<ref>[http://powerbase.info/images/3/30/Bicom_Appointments%2C_13_June_2012.pdf BICOM Appointments 13 June 2012], Companies House via Powerbase.</ref>
*[[Jo Wagerman]] (24 April 2001 - 18 May 2003)<ref>[http://powerbase.info/images/3/30/Bicom_Appointments%2C_13_June_2012.pdf BICOM Appointments 13 June 2012], Companies House via Powerbase.</ref>
*[[Philip Rubenstein]] (24 April 2001 - 6 August 2009)<ref>[http://powerbase.info/images/3/30/Bicom_Appointments%2C_13_June_2012.pdf BICOM Appointments 13 June 2012], Companies House via Powerbase.</ref>
*[[Mark Berg]] (20 Sept 2001 - 5 June 2002)<ref>[http://powerbase.info/images/3/30/Bicom_Appointments%2C_13_June_2012.pdf BICOM Appointments 13 June 2012], Companies House via Powerbase.</ref>
*Lord [[Jonathan Kestenbaum]] (19 Sept 2003 - 9 Dec 2010)<ref>[http://powerbase.info/images/3/30/Bicom_Appointments%2C_13_June_2012.pdf BICOM Appointments 13 June 2012], Companies House via Powerbase.</ref>
*[[Michael Lewis]] (6 Sept 2006 - 3 Dec 2007)<ref>[http://powerbase.info/images/3/30/Bicom_Appointments%2C_13_June_2012.pdf BICOM Appointments 13 June 2012], Companies House via Powerbase.</ref>

===Staff in August 2012===
*[[Dermot Kehoe]] - acting CEO (March 2012 - ongoing). Formerly Director of Media and Public Affairs from July/August 2011. Ex PR consultant, journalist, managing director of the [[Social Market Foundation]] and Senior Advisor to the BBC. Also partner of the late chair of [[Labour Friends of Israel]], [[David Cairns]] MP.<ref>[http://www.linkedin.com/pub/dir/Dermot/Kehoe Dermot Kehoe profile], LinkedIn, accessed 20 August 2012</ref>
*[[Noam Leshem]] - Senior Analyst.<ref>[http://www.bicom.org.uk/analysis-article/6340/ Renewal: The Other Israel – The Politics of the Social Protests], BICOM, accessed 22 August 2012</ref><ref>[http://www.scribd.com/doc/65513272/Leaked-Bicom-Email Email] from [[Lorna Fitzsimons]], 12 September 2011</ref> A Visiting Lecturer in Human Geography at Royal Holloway, University of London.<ref>[http://www.opendemocracy.net/noam-lesham/creative-activism-and-remaking-of-palestine Creative activism and the remaking of Palestine], OpenDemocracy, accessed 22 August 2012</ref>
*[[Luke Akehurst]] - Director, '[[We Believe In Israel]]' campaign (August 2011 - ongoing in August 2012)<ref>[http://www.linkedin.com/pub/luke-akehurst/4/5b7/408 Luke Akehurst profile], LinkedIn, accessed 20 August 2012</ref> Previously worked at [[Weber Shandwick Public Affairs]] for ten years representing several clients in the defence sector. His partner [[Linda Smith]], is a former Senior Parliamentary Assistant to the Bicom affiliated Labour MP [[John Spellar]].<ref> Ian Hall, ‘BICOM names Kehoe as director of media and public affairs’, Public Affairs News, 2 August 2011</ref><ref>David Singleton, ‘Public Affairs: WS struck by Akehurst exit’, PR Week UK, 8 July 2011</ref><ref> Hackney Council, The Register of Members' Financial and Other Interests, Linda Smith, 4 July 2012.</ref>
*Brig. Gen. [[Michael Herzog]] (ret.) - Senior Visiting Fellow<ref>[House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, British foreign policy and the ‘Arab Spring’:
the transition to democracy</ref>. Former head of the IDF's strategic planning division, son of former Israeli president [[Chaim Herzog]] and a Fellow at the [[Washington Institute for Near East Policy]], he also leads research on delegitimisation for the Israel based [[Jewish People Policy Institute]].<ref>[http://jppi.org.il/researcher/?u=14 The Team Behind JPPI - Brig. Gen. (Res.) Michael Herzog], JPPI, accessed 21 August 2012</ref><ref>[http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/the-middle-east-security-agenda-an-israeli-assessment The Middle East Security Agenda: An Israeli Assessment], WINEP, accessed 21 August 2012</ref>
*[[Alan Johnson]] - Senior Research Fellow (Aug 2011 - ongoing)<ref>[ Ian Hall, ‘BICOM names Kehoe as director of media and public affairs’, Public Affairs News, 2 August 2011.</ref> Formerly founder and editor of [[Democratiya]].
*Dr. [[Tal Becker]] - Visiting Fellow (since Sept 2010). Former policy advisor to [[Tzipi Livni]]<ref>‘Livni Advisor Heads to Bicom’, Jewish Chronicle, 17 September 2010, p.5</ref>, also a research fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute, and International Associate at the [[Washington Institute for Near East Policy]]<ref>[http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/experts/view/becker-tal Our Experts: Associate Fellows - Tal Becker], WINEP, accessed 21 August 2012</ref>
*[[Jonathan Hodari]] - Junior Press Officer<ref>Asa Winstanley, [http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/asa-winstanley/leaked-email-shows-israel-lobby-group-bicom-plans-propaganda-tour-bloggers Leaked email shows Israel lobby group BICOM plans propaganda tour for bloggers], Electronic Intifada, accessed 22 August 2012</ref><ref>[http://www.bicom.org.uk/contact/media-enquiries/ Media Enquiries], BICOM, acessed 22 August 2012</ref>
*[[Georgina Taylor]] - Chief Operating Officer (Nov 2007 - ongoing in August 2012)<ref>[http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/georgina-taylor/10/733/171 Georgina Taylor profile], LinkedIn, accessed 20 August 2012</ref>
*[[Ruth Fisher]] - Donor Relations and Events Manager (2006 - ?).

===Israel Office staff===
*[[Jonathan Cummings]] - Director of BICOM's Israel office.<ref>[http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?authToken=h5Zq&authType=name&goback=%2Enpv_2692419_*1_*1_name_h5Zq_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1&locale=en_US&id=2692419 Jonathan Cummings profile] LinkedIn, accessed 22 August 2012</ref>
*[[Richard Pater]] - Deputy Director of BICOM's Israel office<ref>[http://il.linkedin.com/pub/richard-pater/51/496/9b Richard Pater profile], LinkedIn, accessed 22 August 2012</ref>
*[[Toby Greene]] - Director of Research (April 2008 - ongoing), based in BICOM's Israel office. Formerly Head of Research and Publications at [[Labour Friends of Israel]].<ref>[http://il.linkedin.com/pub/toby-greene/16/219/339 Toby Greene profile], LinkedIn, accessed 20 August 2012</ref>

====Former Senior Staff====
*[[Lorna Fitzsimons]] - CEO (Sept 2006 - March 2012)<ref>Daniella Peled, ‘Fitzsimons confirmed as Bicom boss’, Jewish Chronicle, 29 September 2006, p.12</ref><ref>Lorna Fitzsimons, ‘Israel advocacy is strong, but we need your help to carry on’, TheJC.com, 1 March 2012</ref>
*[[Lee Petar]] - Director of Strategic Communication (Oct 2001 - Aug 2005) including two years as Acting Director (June 2002 - July 2004). He was formerly a consultant for [[Weber Shandwick Worldwide]]. He joined [[Good Relations]] and later set up his own lobbying firm, [[Tetra Strategy]].<ref>[http://www.brandrepublic.com/news/115952/ WSW consultant to run PR strategy for Jewish group’], PR Week UK, 26 October 2001</ref><ref>[http://www.prweek.com/uk/news/159051/Headhunters-appointed-Jewish-PR-body-post/?DCMP=ILC-SEARCH ‘Headhunters appointed for Jewish PR body post’], PR Week UK, 27 September 2002</ref><ref>Bernard Joseph, ‘Departures at Bicom’, Jewish Chronicle, 7 January 2005, p.6.</ref><ref>[http://www.prweek.com/uk/news/482771/Pro-Israel-group-chief-set-quit/?DCMP=ILC-SEARCH Pro-Israel group chief set to quit], PRWeek, accessed 20 August 2012</ref>
*[[Mark Berg]] - former Executive Director (Sept 2001- June 2002)<ref>Joseph Millis, Bicom man’s measured response to media critics’, Jewish Chronicle, 18 January 2002, p.13.</ref><ref> ‘Bicom head goes’, Jewish Chronicle, 7 June 2002, p.2</ref>
*[[Daniel Shek]] - former chief executive (July/Aug 2004 - July 2006). His father was an Israeli ambassador<ref>Frazer, J. (2006) [http://www.thejc.com/home.aspx?ParentId=m10&AId=44615&ATypeId=1 His mission: to sell Israel’s story to the UK] ''The Jewish Chronicle''. 23rd June 2006. Accessed 2nd July 2008</ref>
*[[Nicki Cohen]] - former Director of Media and Public Affairs (joined Feb 2006 or before as Community Relations Manager<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20060223143051/http://www.bicom.org.uk/community_and_events/ Community & Events], BICOM via Internet Archive, accessed 21 August 2012</ref> - left Jan 2011)<ref>Ian Hall, ‘BICOM names Kehoe as director of media and public affairs’, Public Affairs News, 2 August 2011.</ref>
*[[Ruth Smeeth]] - Director of Public Affairs (joined Aug/Sept 2005). Formerly of [[Sodexho]], Smeeth left BICOM 'months' after Fitzsimons arrival in Sept 2006<ref>Leon Symons, ‘Israel research centre faces staff exodus’, Jewish Chronicle, 20 April 2007, p.8.</ref> and by Nov 2007 she was working at Nestle<ref>[http://www.uttoxeter-news.co.uk/News/Labour-chooses-election-fighter.htm Labour chooses election fighter], Uttoxeter Advertiser, accessed 20 August 2012</ref>. She stood for election unsuccessfully as a Labour candidate in Burton, West Midlands<ref>[http://ruthsmeeth.com/?page_id=2 Ruth Smeeth for Labour NEC], RuthSmeeth.com, accessed 21 August 2012</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/results/constituency/a81.stm Election 2010: Burton constituency], BBC News Online, accessed 21 August 2012</ref> and now works for the anti-fascist group Hope Not Hate.<ref>[http://www.linkedin.com/pub/ruth-smeeth/14/9a0/259 Ruth Smeeth profile], LinkedIn, accessed 21 August 2012</ref>
*[[Paul Simpson]] - Director of Public Affairs (Oct 2007 - Jan 2009)<ref>[http://uk.linkedin.com/in/paulsimpson Paul Simpson profile], LinkedIn, accessed 20 August 2012</ref>. Head of Operations for [[Stop the Boycott]] campaign.<ref>Leslie Bunder, [http://www.somethingjewish.co.uk/articles/2459_new_staff_for_israel.htm New staff for Israel], SomethingJewish.co.uk, accessed 22 August 2012</ref><ref>[http://www.brandrepublic.com/news/734106/ BICOM signs up Prince Charles' media aide], PR Week via Brand Republic, accessed 22 August 2012</ref>
*[[Ben Overlander]] - former Head of Media (Aug 2007 - Dec 2009)<ref>[http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/ben-overlander/a/305/477 Ben Overlander profile], LinkedIn, accessed 20 August 2012</ref>
*[[Gabriel Milland]] - former Head of Media (joined Jan 2010<ref>Alex Mattison, ‘Daily Express’ Gabriel Miland joins Britain Israel Communications & Research Centre’, PR Week, 27 January 2010</ref> - according to blogger Guido Fawkes he left after just six weeks<ref>[http://order-order.com/2011/09/16/bi-comms-disaster/ Bi-Comms Disaster], Guido Fawkes blog, accessed 20 August 2012</ref>) 
*[[Ed Fordham]] - a former Liberal Democrat PPC<ref>[http://ukpolitics.telegraph.co.uk/Hampstead+%26+Kilburn/Ed+Fordham Politics > Ed Fordham], The Daily Telegraph, accessed 21 August 2012</ref> who now works at [[Finsbury]]<ref>[http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/ed-fordham/42/9b2/615 Ed Fordham profile], LinkedIn, accessed 21 August 2012</ref> was employed briefly as BICOM's 'public affairs chief' but 'lasted just a month' according to blogger Guido Fawkes.<ref>[http://order-order.com/2011/09/16/bi-comms-disaster/ Bi-Comms Disaster], Guido Fawkes blog, accessed 20 August 2012</ref>
*[[Helen Wharton]] - former Head of Media (Oct 2009 - May 2011)<ref>[http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/helen-wharton/11/8b8/a44 Helen Wharton profile], LinkedIn, accessed 20 August 2012</ref>
*[[Nick Conway]] - former Director of Media Relations (Dec 2001 - Aug 2005)<ref>[http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/nick-conway/5/322/558 Nick Conway profile], LinkedIn, accessed 20 August 2012</ref><ref>Bernard Joseph, ‘Departures at Bicom’, Jewish Chronicle, 7 January 2005, p.6.</ref>
*[[Ben Novick]] - former Director of Media Relations (Dec 2005 - June 2007). Formerly a government press officer and aide to [[Labour Friends of Israel]] vice-chair, [[Louise Ellman]] MP, left to work for Google.<ref>‘Bicom fills top jobs’, Jewish Chronicle, 9 September 2005, p.6</ref><ref>Leon Symons, ‘Israel research centre faces staff exodus’, Jewish Chronicle, 20 April 2007, p.8.</ref><ref>[http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/ben-novick/16/a16/89b Ben Novick profile], LinkedIn, accessed 20 August 2012</ref>

====Other Former Staff====
*[[Sharonne Durkin]] - former Media Relations Manager.<ref>Movers, ''Third Sector'', 9 May 2007.</ref>
*[[Ilana Conn]] - former Fundraiser (left January 2005).<ref>Bernard Joseph, ‘Departures at Bicom’, Jewish Chronicle, 7 January 2005, p.6.</ref>
*[[Ariella Yaari]] - former Research and Media Relations officer (2001-2003).<ref>[http://il.linkedin.com/pub/ariella-yaari/3/955/a95 Ariella Yaari profile], LinkedIn, accessed 20 August 2012</ref>
*[[Jeremy Lucas]] - Press Officer (August/September 2007 - 2009)<ref>Bernard Josephs, ‘Prince’s PR to lead media lobby team’, Jewish Chronicle, 10 August 2007, p.6.</ref><ref>[http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/jeremy-lucas/26/793/a29 Jeremy Lucas profile], LinkedIn, accessed 20 August 2012</ref>
*[[Alan Sennitt]] - former Public Affairs Officer (2003 - January 2005) Went on to work for veteran Zionist [[Lord Janner]]. Later killed in an armed robbery in the United States.<ref>Bernard Joseph, ‘Departures at Bicom’, Jewish Chronicle, 7 January 2005, p.6.</ref><ref name="WT">Seth Mclaughlin and Jim McElhatton, Georgetown up in arms over stabbing of activist, ''Washington Times'', 11 July 2006.</ref>
*[[John Timothy]] - former Public Affairs Officer (left late 2006 / early 2007)<ref>Leon Symons, ‘Israel research centre faces staff exodus’, Jewish Chronicle, 20 April 2007, p.8.</ref>
*[[Daniel Scott]] - former Analyst (Sept 2007 - Aug 2008)<ref>[http://il.linkedin.com/pub/daniel-scott/36/912/768 Daniel Scott profile], LinkedIn, accessed 20 August 2012</ref>
*[[Stephen Rosenthal]] - former Community Relations Manager<ref>[http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=26679344&authType=NAME_SEARCH&authToken=HFln&locale=en_US&srchid=174227d0-15e9-44a5-bb8d-07064eadd9b8-0&srchindex=4&srchtotal=5&goback=%2Efps_PBCK_*1_Stephen_Rosenthal_*1_*1_*1_*1_*2_*1_Y_*1_*1_*1_false_1_R_*1_*51_*1_*51_true_*1_gb%3A0_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2&pvs=ps&trk=pp_profile_name_link Stephen Rosenthal profile], LinkedIn, accessed 21 August 2012</ref><ref>[http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=7791992&authType=NAME_SEARCH&authToken=_R5V&locale=en_US&srchid=174227d0-15e9-44a5-bb8d-07064eadd9b8-0&srchindex=1&srchtotal=5&goback=%2Efps_PBCK_*1_Stephen_Rosenthal_*1_*1_*1_*1_*2_*1_Y_*1_*1_*1_false_1_R_*1_*51_*1_*51_true_*1_gb%3A0_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2_*2&pvs=ps&trk=pp_profile_name_link Stephen Rosenthal - UK Communications and Public Affairs Manager at Google], LinkedIn profile, accessed 21 August 2012</ref><ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20071111063551/http://www.bicom.org.uk/community_and_events/ Community & Events], BICOM via Internet Archive, accessed 21 August 2012</ref>

===Board - circa 2006===
In 2006, [[Michael Lewis]] is reported to be deputy Chairman. At the time Lewis was also Chairman of [[UJIA]] and is described as 'a South African emigré whose business interests run from retail and restaurants to biotechnology'<ref>Rocker, S. (2006) [http://www.thejc.com/home.aspx?AId=44619&ATypeId=1&search=true2&srchstr=isaac%20kaye&srchtxt=1&srchhead=1&srchauthor=1&srchsandp=1&scsrch=0 'Bicom: the rich and powerful']. The <i>Jewish Chronicle</i>. 22nd June 2006</ref>.

[[Gerald Ronson]] ([[Community Security Trust]] chairman) was also on the Board in 2006, alongside [[Trevor Chinn]] ([[UJIA]] president), [[Lord Janner]], [[Brian Kerner]] (former [[UJIA]] chairman), [[Isaac Kaye]] (who is described as 'a veteran supporter of Israel'), [[Jonathan Kestenbaum]] (former [[UJIA]] chief executive) and [[Henry Grunwald]] ([[Board of Deputies]] president)<ref>Rocker, S. (2006) [http://www.thejc.com/home.aspx?AId=44619&ATypeId=1&search=true2&srchstr=isaac%20kaye&srchtxt=1&srchhead=1&srchauthor=1&srchsandp=1&scsrch=0 'Bicom: the rich and powerful']. The <i>Jewish Chronicle</i>. 22nd June 2006</ref>.

*[[Poju Zabludowicz]] - Zabludowicz is described as 'A “quiet power” in key organisations, particularly [[Bicom]]...'<ref><i>The Jewish Chronicle</i> [http://www.thejc.com/home.aspx?ParentId=m11s18s186&SecId=186&AId=59976&ATypeId=1 JC Power 100: Sacks stays on top, as new names emerge]. 9th May 2008. Accessed 16th August 2008</ref>

Supporters of Bicom in 2006 included, [[Michael Sherwood]] - co-chief executive officer of [[Goldman Sachs International]] (Sherwood took part in Bicom's 
'fundraising mission' to Israel the previous year), [[Ron Beller]] and [[Jennifer Moses]] (husband and wife who also have previous links with Goldman Sachs), [[Richard Harrington]] ([[Conservative Friends of Israel]] chairman), [[Edward Atkin]] and [[Celia Atkin]]<ref>Rocker, S. (2006) [http://www.thejc.com/home.aspx?AId=44619&ATypeId=1&search=true2&srchstr=isaac%20kaye&srchtxt=1&srchhead=1&srchauthor=1&srchsandp=1&scsrch=0 'Bicom: the rich and powerful']. The <i>Jewish Chronicle</i>. 22nd June 2006</ref>. According to the report, 'Another name to watch is the vice-chairman of the [[Parliamentary Committee against Antisemitism]], [[Trevor Pears]], whose family foundation has become a major funder of Jewish causes'.

==Affiliations==

*[[AIPAC]]
*[[Champollion]]
*[[Europe Near East Forum]] (France)
*[[Fair Play Campaign Group]]
*[[Stop the Boycott]]
*[[We Believe In Israel]]

==Contact==
:Website: [http://www.bicom.org.uk/ http://www.bicom.org.uk/]
:Tel: +44 (0)20 7636 5500
:Fax: +44 (0)20 7636 5600
:Email: info@bicom.org.uk
:Address: 32-36 Great Portland Street
:London
:W1W 8QX

(previous registered address: 15 Cavendish Square, London W1G 9DB)

==Publications==
*Brig. Gen. (Retd) Michael Herzog, [http://bicom.org.uk/analysis-article/5351/ Setting Standards: How the West should respond to political Islam], 14 February 2012.

==Resources, articles, notes==
===Resources===
*LevelBusiness [http://www.levelbusiness.com/doc/company/uk/04204458 BRITAIN ISRAEL COMMUNICATIONS & RESEARCH CENTRE]

===Articles===
*Ewen Macaskill and Brian Whitaker, [http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2001/mar/28/israel4 Barak's failures lead all shades of British Jewry to trust in Sharon], ''The Guardian'', 28 March 2001.
*Dennis Sewell, [http://www.newstatesman.com/200201140009 A kosher conspiracy?], ''New Statesman'', 14 January 2002.

===References===
<references/>
[[Category:Israel Lobby]]