European Forum of the Knesset

The European Forum of the Knesset (EFK) is an astroturf lobbying coalition launched by the European Friends of Israel in 2009 with Israel lobbyist and Italian legislator Fiamma Nirenstein playing a central role.

History

The EFK was reportedly created by Fiamma Nirenstein to "strengthen ties between Israel and European parliaments." The EFK is reportedly "spearheaded" by the Israeli Kadima MK's Yohanan Plesner "with the blessing of Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin (Likud)."ref name=carrie>Carrie Sheffield, "MKs launch new alliance with European parliaments", Jerusalem Post, 4 August 2009, accessed on 17 October 2010</ref> Other members include Tzipi Livni, Shaul Mofaz and Daniel Ben-Simon. In a 2009 interview with a journalist from Haaretz Nirenstein explained that the main aims of the EFK include combatting what Nirenstein argues as European hostility towards Israel and to "attack ferociously those who call to demonize Israel." A reported main focus of this lobby will be to more effectively target Iran:

With funding from Pro-Zionist European Jews and non-Jews, the new Israeli forum Nirenstein helped create will seek to shift more attention away from the Palestinian issue to the threat posed by Iran.As deputy chairperson of the Italian parliament's foreign affairs commission, Nirenstein has had limited success in prompting Berlusconi's government to intervene to block involvement of Italian firms in Iranian projects.

Funding

Since the EFK does not have a website and is not an official non-profit or charity organization, little is available about it's funding, however, the Israel-based Jerusalem Post reports that it is funded by "wealthy patrons within European Jewish circles" and similarily Haaretz states that it is funded by "Pro-Zionist European Jews and non-Jews."