Jerusalem Foundation
The Jerusalem Foundation was founded in 1966 by the former Israeli mayor of the city Teddy Kollek. It claims to work toward 'creating an open, equitable and modern society by responding to the needs of residents and improving their quality of life' and has carried out thousands of projects - such as building community centers, sports complexes, parks, children’s playgrounds, libraries, theaters and museums - across the city including in East Jerusalem.
It works closely with the Jerusalem Municipality and regards the city as having been 'unified', stressing that Arab citizens of Jerusalem can also benefit from its projects but ignores the fact that under international law East Jerusalem is considered illegally occupied territory. The JF refers to Jerusalem as 'Israel's capital city'[1] - a status not recognized by the international community which regards East Jerusalem as the future capital of a Palestinian state.
History
In 1965 Teddy Kollek was appointed Mayor of West Jerusalem and he established the Jerusalem Foundation the following year with the aim of 'raising funds in Israel and around the world to promote the social and physical development'[2] of Jerusalem. In 1967 Israel captured and occupied East Jerusalem and extended the city's municipal boundaries so that Kollek became de facto mayor of all Jerusalem.
Ruth Cheshin, co-founder and current President Emeritus of the JF, served as President for 45 years from its inception. The JF claims that over $1.5 billion was raised during this time. In October 2011 Mark Sofer was appointed as the new president. He was formerly Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Israel's Ambassador to Ireland and then to India.[3]
Since being founded in Jerusalem, the foundation established international boards in the USA, UK, Austria, Canada, France (and French speaking countries), Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Spain and Brazil.
Mitt Romney speech 2012
On July 29 2012 the Republican American Presidential candidate Mitt Romney addressed the Jerusalem Foundation during his visit to Israel. His speech praised Israel's achievements as a 'wonder of the modern world' and pointedly called Jerusalem 'the capital of Israel', in defiance of international law and numerous UN resolutions. He did not mention Palestinians or the occupation once.[4]
Activities
The Jerusalem Foundation claims it has worked on over 4000 projects and states that its work 'touches every population – Jewish, Muslim and Christian – of every social group of every age, in every neighborhood of the city'. It boasts that the 'landscape of Jerusalem has been immeasurably enriched' by its work and declares that it 'has an unmatched track record in creating and nurturing philanthropy projects in Israel'.[5]
In 1978, JF founder Teddy Kollek initiated the establishment of the Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies (JIIS) which conducts research on three core topics: Jerusalem, conflict resolution and environmental policy.[6][7]
Public Relations
According to the client list of Finn Partners Israel, formerly called Ruder Finn Israel, the company has worked for Jerusalem Foundation as well as a series of government agencies and Israeli lobby groups and NGOs.[8]
Projects in Occupied East Jerusalem
Under international law Israeli construction beyond the Green Line and continued settlement of Israeli citizens is illegal. The Jerusalem Foundation has been deeply complicit in Israel's annexation of East Jerusalem from the start since it has carried out numerous projects in this part of the city including in settlements such as Gilo, Neve Ya'akov, Pisgat Ze'ev, Ramot Eshkel, East Talpiot and French Hill.
It has also built in Palestinian neighbourhoods in East Jerusalem including Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan, which have both been targeted by settlers and are seen by some as areas that the Israeli authorities are assisting settlers to slowly ethnically cleanse of Palestinians[9] . The JF built a medical centre and sports field in the former and a school and kindergarten in the latter, projects it presumably would defend as being philanthropic and for the benefit of 'Israeli Aarbs'. In Silwan, the JF has also 'pioneered much of the archaeological discovery and preservation projects including the City of David excavations'[10], a notorious dig interpreted by many commentators as a means to strengthen Israel's control of East Jerusalem.[11]
Affiliations
- Adam Institute for Democracy and Peace
- Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies
- Jerusalem Municipality
- Joint Distribution Committee
- Hebrew University of Jerusalem
People
Israel
International
USA
The Jerusalem Foundation, Inc., 420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 1645, New York, NY 10170. In 2010 the organisation reported a revenue of $11,445,904.[14]
Leadership
Moshe Fogel - Executive Director | Alan G. Hassenfeld - Chairman | Kenneth J. Bialkin - Vice Chairman | Mark Sofer - International President | Stephen R. Reiner - Secretary/Treasurer | Nahum Bernstein (deceased) - Founding Chairman | Alvin Einbender - Honorary Chairman | Ambassador Max M. Kampelman - Honorary Chairman | Sallai Meridor - International Chairman | Harvey Rothenberg - Founding Secretary/Treasurer | Steven Scheinfeld - General Counsel |
Directors
Isaac Appelbaum | David N. Bottoms, Jr. | Daniel Crown | Lester Crown | Neal Goldman | Linda Jesselson | Jordan Kassalow | Robert Kraft | Nathan Leight | Isidore Mayrock | Theodore Mirvis | Allen Model | Ambassador Lyndon Olson, Jr. | Bernard M. Plum | Bernard Rapoport | David Recanati | Craig Reicher | John Shapiro | Herbert Wander | Leonard A. Wilf | Honorable John C. Whitehead - Director Emeritus |[15]
UK
The Jerusalem Foundation in the UK (registered charity number: 258306) is administered by Prism the Gift Fund ((Number: 1099682), registered to 20 Gloucester Place,London, W1U 8HA. In 2010 the JF's UK arm reported an income of £1,196,030.[16][17].
Leadership
Peter Halban, CBE - Chairman of Board of Directors | Leslie Paisner- Founder (deceased) | Lois Sieff, OBE - Chairman Emeritus | Peter Sheldon OBE - Treasurer | Howard Leigh - Executive | Guy Naggar Executive |
Trustees
Janet Wolfson de Botton | Dame Vivien Clore Duffield, CBE | Jack Livingstone,OBE | Lord Moser | Martin Paisner CBE | Ninette Perahia | Lady Jane Rayne | The Hon. Robert Rayne | Anthony Rosenfelder | Mak Sofer | Lord Weidenfeld | Lord Woolf | Michael Ziff
Former
Lord Bernstein - former President of the UK Board | Nurit Gordon - former UK Desk Head in Jerusalem | Michael Phillips - former Excutive | Fred Worms, OBE - former Executive | Anthony Bloom - former Executive | Jane Biran- former trustee | Ruth Cheshin - former trustee | Sir Harry Djanogly, CBE- former trustee | David Pannick, QC - former trustee | Lord Stone of Blackheath - former trustee | Sheila Ford - former Administrator| [18]
Other overseas branches
The Jerusalem Foundation also has boards internationally in the following countries:
Contact
- Address: 11 Rivka Street, P.O.B. 10185 Jerusalem, 91101 Israel
- Tel: 972 - 2 - 675 1711
- Fax: 972 -2 - 673 4462
- Email: info@jfjlm.org
- Website: www.jerusalemfoundation.org
Notes
- ↑ JERUSALEM FOUNDATION APPOINTS NEW PRESIDENT, MARK SOFER, Jerusalem Foundation, accessed 10 Sept 2012
- ↑ JERUSALEM FOUNDATION APPOINTS NEW PRESIDENT, MARK SOFER, Jerusalem Foundation, accessed 10 Sept 2012
- ↑ JERUSALEM FOUNDATION APPOINTS NEW PRESIDENT, MARK SOFER, Jerusalem Foundation, accessed 10 Sept 2012
- ↑ Mitt Romney's Remarks to the Jerusalem Foundation, Council on Foreign Relations, accessed 10 Sept 2012
- ↑ About the Jerusalem Foundation, Jerusalem Foundation, accessed 10 Sept 2012
- ↑ Our History, Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies, 10 Sept 2012
- ↑ Our Mission, Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies, 10 Sept 2012
- ↑ Past Clients - NGO/NPO, Finn Partners Israel, accessed 10 Sept 2012
- ↑ The front line of ethnic cleansing, Al Jazeera English, 10 Sept 2012
- ↑ Annual Report 2009, p.7 Jerusalem Foundation, accessed 10 Sept 2012
- ↑ Scott Wilson, A Dig Into Jerusalem's Past Fuels Present-Day Debates, Washington Post, accessed June 6
- ↑ Israel Board of Directors, Jerusalem Foundation, accessed 10 Sept 2012
- ↑ Staff, Jerusalem Foundation, accessed 10 Sept 2012
- ↑ The Jerusalem Foundation, Charity Navigator, accessed 10 Sept 2012
- ↑ The Jerusalem Foundation, Inc. (USA), Jerusalem Foundation, accessed 10 Sept 2012
- ↑ The Jerusalem Foundation, Charity Commission, accessed 10 Sept 2012
- ↑ Prism the Gift Fund,Charity Commission, accessed 10 Sept 2012
- ↑ UK Board of Directors, accessed 10 Sept 2012
- ↑ Israel and International Boards, Jerusalem Foundation, accessed 10 Sept 2012
