Israel-Diaspora Trust
The Israel Diaspora Trust was created in 1984 by the late Rabbi Sidney Brichto.
The charity's objects are 'to advance education in matters relating to the history, government, law, administration, politics, economics, religion, sociology, literature, language and culture of the Jewish people situated both in Israel and throughout the Diaspora'.
Over the years it has invited to speak at its meetings many leading Zionist thinkers and it has extensive ties with the neo-conservative think tank Henry Jackson Society. It is partially funded by foundations, such as the Charles Wolfson Charitable Trust and the Lewis Family Trust, that are linked to Zionist and conservative thinks tanks.
Activities
The trust usually hosts and organises discussion on subjects relevant to Israel under Chatham House Rule. It is not clear how and to whom the Trust publicises these events as it does not have a website.
In 2012, it chaired a talk on the Arab Spring by Dan Schueftan, Director of the National Security Studies Center, University of Haifa.[1] Schueftan has served as an advisor to Israel's National Security Council, and to former Prime Ministers Yitzhak Rabin and Ariel Sharon.[2] Schueftan is credited with having advanced the concept of ‘unilateral disengagement’.[3]
Gerald Steinberg, Professor of Political Science at Bar Ilan University and President of NGO Monitor gave a talk for the trust in 2012. [4] Brooke Goldstein, director of the Lawfare Project, has also presented to the Trust. According to the Jewish Chronicle, Goldstein ‘specialises in fighting Western lawsuits by Islamic extremists'. In March 2012 the Leeds University Jewish Society withdrew an invitation to Goldstein over fears that she was 'too controversial'.[5] In 2012, as part of a UK tour organised by UK Lawyers for Israel. Goldstein also gave talks to students at King's College London, University College London and Manchester University, as well as speaking at a Commons reception hosted by the Henry Jackson Society.
In 2011 the Trust 'welcomed to its meetings' various leading Zionist thinkers. These included Mortimer Zuckerman, a Canadian-born American real estate tycoon and media proprietor and Gidi Grinstein. In their 2006 paper ‘The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy’, John Mearsheimer, and Stephen Walt, named Zuckerman a member of the media wing of the "Israeli lobby" in the United States. Zuckerman replied: 'I would just say this: The allegations of this disproportionate influence of the Jewish community remind me of the 92-year-old man sued in a paternity suit. He said he was so proud; he pleaded guilty.'[6] Grinstein is the founder and current president of the Reut Institute, an Israeli think tank known for arguing that 'delegitimization' is a key political threat to the country that needs to be vigorously countered.[7]
The trust has also extensive ties with the Henry Jackson Society. In 2011 it hosted a panel session on the Arab Spring with Robin Shepherd, director of the HJS and in 2009 it co-hosted with the society an event at the House of Commons with former Israeli Ambassador to the UN, Dore Gold.[8]
People
Trustees
- Circa 2013: Alan Mendoza | Michael Heller | Geoffrey Goldkorn | George Pinto | Frederic Haller | Jonathan Goldberg | George Weidenfeld[9]
- 1 Jan 2008-31 Dec 2008: Frederic Haller (Hon Chairman) | George Pinto (Hon . Treasurer) | Martin Paisner (Hon . Secretary) | Mr Jonathan Goldberg QC | Geoffrey Goldkorn | Michael Heller | Clinton V Silver CBE | Sir Sigmund Sternberg | The Lord Stone | The Lord Weidenfeld[10]
- 1 Jan 2007 - 31 Dec 2007: Frederic Haller (Hon Chairman) | George Pinto (Hon . Treasurer) | Martin Paisner (Hon . Secretary) | Mr Jonathan Goldberg QC | Geoffrey Goldkorn | Michael Heller | Clive Marks | Clinton V Silver CBE | Sir Sigmund Sternberg | The Lord Stone | The Lord Weidenfeld[11]
- 1 Jan 2006 - 31 Dec 2006: Frederic Haller (Chairman) | George Pinto (Hon . Treasurer) | Martin Paisner (Hon . Secretary) | William Frankel CBE | Mr Jonathan Goldberg QC | Geoffrey Goldkorn | Michael Heller | Clive Marks | Clinton V Silver CBE | Sir Sigmund Sternberg | The Lord Stone | The Lord Weidenfeld[12]
- 1 Jan 2005 - 31 Dec 2005: Frederic Haller (Chairman) | George Pinto (Hon . Treasurer) | Martin Paisner (Hon . Secretary) | William Frankel CBE | Mr Jonathan Goldberg QC | Geoffrey Goldkorn | The Lord Haskel | Michael Heller | Ms Wendy Leighton | Clive Marks | Clinton V Silver CBE | Sir Sigmund Sternberg | The Lord Stone | The Lord Weidenfeld[13]
Advisory board
The Trust appointed an advisory board in 2008: Professor Vernon Bogdanor | Mr Richard Bolchover | Ms Dana Brass | Mr Gary Grant | Mr Alan Melkman | Mr Geoffrey Paul OBE | Mr Stephen Pollard | Mr John Porter[14]
Notes
- ↑ ISRAEL DIASPORA TRUST TRUSTEES' REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2012.
- ↑ Dan Schueftan accessed 28 February 2014.
- ↑ Disengagement: Israel and the Palestinian Authority Reviewed by Meyrav Wurmser, Hudson Institute, Middle East Quarterly Fall 2002.
- ↑ ISRAEL DIASPORA TRUST TRUSTEES' REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2012
- ↑ ‘Jewish students cancel controversial invite to lawyer’ http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/65165/jewish-students-cancel-controversial-lawyers-invite Jewish students cancel 'controversial' lawyer's invite, accessed 3 March 2014.
- ↑ Clyne, Meghan, ‘Kalb Upbraids Harvard Dean Over Israel’, New York Sun, March 21, 2006. Accessed 3 March 2014.
- ↑ http://reut-institute.org/Publication.aspx?PublicationId=3769
- ↑ ISRAEL DIASPORA TRUST TRUSTEES' REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2009.
- ↑ Data from the Charity Commission website: http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/find-charities/
- ↑ ISRAEL DIASPORA TRUST TRUSTEES' REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2008
- ↑ ISRAEL DIASPORA TRUST TRUSTEES' REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2007
- ↑ ISRAEL DIASPORA TRUST TRUSTEES' REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2006
- ↑ ISRAEL DIASPORA TRUST TRUSTEES' REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2005
- ↑ ISRAEL DIASPORA TRUST TRUSTEES' REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2008
