About the Middle East Forum

The Middle East Forum, a think tank founded in 1994 by Daniel Pipes, promotes American interests in the Middle East and protects Western values from Middle Eastern threats. In the Middle East, we focus on ways to defeat radical Islam; work for Palestinian acceptance of Israel; develop strategies to contain Iran; and deal with advancing anarchy. Domestically, the Forum emphasizes the danger of lawful Islamism; protects the freedoms of anti-Islamist authors, and activists; and works to improve Middle East studies.

Mission

MEF promotes American interests in the Middle East and protects Western values from Middle Eastern threats.

The Forum sees the region — with its profusion of dictatorships, radical ideologies, existential conflicts, border disagreements, corruption, political violence, and weapons of mass destruction — as a major source of problems for the United States. Accordingly, we urge bold measures to protect Americans and their allies.

In the Middle East, we focus on ways to defeat radical Islam; work for Palestinian acceptance of Israel; develop strategies to contain Iran; and deal with the great advances of anarchy.

At home, the Forum emphasizes the danger of lawful Islamism; protects the freedoms of anti-Islamist authors, activists, and publishers; and works to improve Middle East studies.

Methods

The Middle East Forum realizes its goals through three main mechanisms:

Operationally, exerting direct influence through its projects (detailed below), each addressing a specific problem.

Intellectually, providing context, information, insights, and policy recommendations through the Middle East Quarterly, conference calls, staff and fellows writings, lectures, and media appearances — clearing a path to victory over opponents.

Philanthropically, distributing about $2 million annually in separately earmarked funds through our Education Fund, to about 75 groups and individuals working to promote the Forum's goals.

Projects and Activities

Campus Watch demands academic integrity in North American Middle East studies programs. It reviews and critiques the intellectual roots of bias with the aim of improving education about the Middle East.

Islamist Watch unveils and combats nonviolent Islamism in the West on the premise that while violent jihad gets headlines, nonviolent jihad — in the media, courts, prisons, and ballot box — gets results. It counters corporate and governmental support of Islamists, tracks tainted campaign contributions, and enhances the presence and influence of anti-Islamist Muslims.

The Legal Project protects the public discussion of Islam and related topics. It helps the growing number of individuals, whose livelihood and freedom are threatened by predatory lawsuits and malign government policies.

The Washington Project monitors and influences U.S. policy in the Middle East with a special interest in Iran and Israel. Currently, the Washington Project's main focus is the reform of UNRWA and exposing U.S. government funding of Islamist organizations.

The Israel Victory Project is a Forum initiative to steer U.S. policy toward backing an Israel victory over the Palestinians to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict and seeks to convince Palestinians that the Jewish state will endure.

The Counter Islamist Grid utilizes a network of associates, each dedicated to a specific metropolitan area across the United States, to expose the impact of lawful Islamist networks operating within local communities.

Activities

Speakers Bureau provides knowledgeable speakers capable of relating accurate and balanced information regarding the Middle East and Islam.

Conference Calls offer leading analysts discussing topical Middle Eastern and Islamic issues every month. Participation is limited to MEF donors but summaries and audio recordings are posted at MEForum.org.

The Middle East Forum does not issue ritualistic denunciations or praise of events; it only expresses itself when it has something original and important to say. Further, MEF does not take positions itself but leaves this to its staff and fellows.

The Middle East Forum federal tax ID is 23-774-9796.

Please send all inquiries to info@meforum.org