Difference between revisions of "Seth A. Klarman"
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| + | ==Overview== | ||
| + | Seth Klarman is a "Boston-based pro-Israel billionaire."<ref name="blumenthal">Max Blumenthal, "[http://electronicintifada.net/content/weddadys-free-arabs-american-islamic-congress-and-pro-israel-funders-who-helped-them-rise Weddady’s Free Arabs, American Islamic Congress and the pro-Israel funders who helped them rise]," ''Electronic Intifada'', 7 May 2013</ref> The journalist Max Blumenthal describes Klarman as "one of the pro-Israel community’s most prolific financial angels and also one of its most ideologically hardline."<ref name="atfp">Max Blumenthal, "[http://mondoweiss.net/2013/11/palestinian-billionaire-repressive.html American Task Force on Palestine finds funding from anti-Palestinian billionaire and a repressive monarchy]," Mondoweiss, 27 Nov 2013</ref> He reports: | ||
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| + | <blockquote>"Klarman became one of the world’s richest people through the [[Baupost Group]], a Boston-based hedge fund he founded that is now worth upwards of $20 billion. With his philanthropic foundation, Klarman emerged in the past five years as one of the pro-Israel lobby’s most aggressive funders."</blockquote> | ||
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| + | ==Views== | ||
| + | Politically, Klarman is reportedly on the hawkish right of the pro-Israel spectrum.<ref name="atfp" /> In an op-ed co-authored with [[Charles Jacob]] of [[The David Project]], Klarman argued that "there is a new assault on the world's Jews," based on "hatred for Israel" and its supporters. It is promoted, he wrote, by "Islamic anti-Semitism" on the one hand, and Western "Palestinianism" -- sympathy for the Palestinians' plight by "Western radicals" -- on the other. In the West today, "hostility to Jews" manifests primarily as criticism of Israel.<ref>Charles Jacobs and Seth A. Klarman, "[http://www.hasbara.com/v2pages/jacobs.html Jews Are Under Siege: A Call For Action]," accessed on 28 Nov 2013</ref> | ||
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| + | ==Activities== | ||
| + | Klarman funds many pro-Israel lobby groups, including [[The David Project]] (of which he is also co-Chair); [[The Israel Project]]; [[Scholars for Peace in the Middle East]]; [[Birthright Israel]], [[Washington Institute for Near East Policy]], [[Foundation for the Defense of Democracies]], [[Ir David]], [[Middle East Media Research Institute]] and the [[American Jewish Committee]].<ref name="atfp" /><ref name="blumenthal" /> | ||
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| + | ===The 'Wedge' strategy=== | ||
| + | Unusually, Klarman also funds American Islamic and Palestinian organisations, with the aim, Max Blumenthal argues, of driving "a wedge through mainstream Muslim-American organizing".<ref name="atfp" /> | ||
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| + | The [[American Islamic Congress]] was heavily funded by Klarman; it refused to engage with mainstream Muslim civil rights groups and forbade "members of its student arm, Project Nur, from discussing Palestine-related issues on campus."<ref name="atfp" /> | ||
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| + | Klarman also funded the [[American Islamic Forum]]. It is led by [[Zuhdi Jasser]], "an Arizona-based physician and practicing Muslim who served as the key protagonist of the anti-Muslim propaganda film, ''[[The Third Jihad]]''."<ref name="atfp" /> | ||
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| + | Another recipient of Klarman donations is the Saudi-backed [[American Task Force for Palestine]], a group that has been widely criticised for lending support to US and Israeli measures that in fact work against Palestinians interests.<ref name="atfp" /> | ||
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==Affiliations== | ==Affiliations== | ||
| − | *[[The Israel Project]] | + | * [[The David Project]] (funder; co-Chair) |
| + | * [[The Israel Project]] (main funder) | ||
| + | * [[American Task Force for Palestine]] (funder) | ||
| + | * [[American Islamic Congress]] (funder) | ||
| + | * [[American Islamic Forum]] (funder) | ||
| + | * [[Scholars for Peace in the Middle East]] (funder) | ||
| + | * [[Birthright Israel]] (funder) | ||
| + | * [[Washington Institute for Near East Policy]] (funder) | ||
| + | * [[Foundation for the Defense of Democracies]] (funder) | ||
| + | * [[Ir David]] (funder) | ||
| + | * [[Middle East Media Research Institute]] (funder) | ||
| + | * [[American Jewish Committee]] (funder) | ||
| + | * [[Baupost Group]] (founder) | ||
| + | * [[Klarman Family Foundation]] (funding vehicle) | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Notes== | ||
| + | <references/> | ||
| + | [[category:Israel Lobby]] | ||
Revision as of 00:16, 28 November 2013
Overview
Seth Klarman is a "Boston-based pro-Israel billionaire."[1] The journalist Max Blumenthal describes Klarman as "one of the pro-Israel community’s most prolific financial angels and also one of its most ideologically hardline."[2] He reports:
"Klarman became one of the world’s richest people through the Baupost Group, a Boston-based hedge fund he founded that is now worth upwards of $20 billion. With his philanthropic foundation, Klarman emerged in the past five years as one of the pro-Israel lobby’s most aggressive funders."
Views
Politically, Klarman is reportedly on the hawkish right of the pro-Israel spectrum.[2] In an op-ed co-authored with Charles Jacob of The David Project, Klarman argued that "there is a new assault on the world's Jews," based on "hatred for Israel" and its supporters. It is promoted, he wrote, by "Islamic anti-Semitism" on the one hand, and Western "Palestinianism" -- sympathy for the Palestinians' plight by "Western radicals" -- on the other. In the West today, "hostility to Jews" manifests primarily as criticism of Israel.[3]
Activities
Klarman funds many pro-Israel lobby groups, including The David Project (of which he is also co-Chair); The Israel Project; Scholars for Peace in the Middle East; Birthright Israel, Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, Ir David, Middle East Media Research Institute and the American Jewish Committee.[2][1]
The 'Wedge' strategy
Unusually, Klarman also funds American Islamic and Palestinian organisations, with the aim, Max Blumenthal argues, of driving "a wedge through mainstream Muslim-American organizing".[2]
The American Islamic Congress was heavily funded by Klarman; it refused to engage with mainstream Muslim civil rights groups and forbade "members of its student arm, Project Nur, from discussing Palestine-related issues on campus."[2]
Klarman also funded the American Islamic Forum. It is led by Zuhdi Jasser, "an Arizona-based physician and practicing Muslim who served as the key protagonist of the anti-Muslim propaganda film, The Third Jihad."[2]
Another recipient of Klarman donations is the Saudi-backed American Task Force for Palestine, a group that has been widely criticised for lending support to US and Israeli measures that in fact work against Palestinians interests.[2]
Affiliations
- The David Project (funder; co-Chair)
- The Israel Project (main funder)
- American Task Force for Palestine (funder)
- American Islamic Congress (funder)
- American Islamic Forum (funder)
- Scholars for Peace in the Middle East (funder)
- Birthright Israel (funder)
- Washington Institute for Near East Policy (funder)
- Foundation for the Defense of Democracies (funder)
- Ir David (funder)
- Middle East Media Research Institute (funder)
- American Jewish Committee (funder)
- Baupost Group (founder)
- Klarman Family Foundation (funding vehicle)
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Max Blumenthal, "Weddady’s Free Arabs, American Islamic Congress and the pro-Israel funders who helped them rise," Electronic Intifada, 7 May 2013
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Max Blumenthal, "American Task Force on Palestine finds funding from anti-Palestinian billionaire and a repressive monarchy," Mondoweiss, 27 Nov 2013
- ↑ Charles Jacobs and Seth A. Klarman, "Jews Are Under Siege: A Call For Action," accessed on 28 Nov 2013
