Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs

Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs
Name	Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs
Formation	1976
Type	Think tank
Headquarters	Jerusalem
Leader title	President
Leader name	Dore Gold

Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs is an Israeli think tank based in Jerusalem focusing on foreign policy, international relations, and public diplomacy. It engages with diplomats, scholars, and policymakers through research, conferences, and publications on topics such as Middle East peace processes, security challenges, and international law. The organization often interacts with figures and institutions across Washington, Brussels, Moscow, and regional capitals.

History

Founded in 1976 by an array of Israeli diplomats and public figures, the institute developed amid debates following the Yom Kippur War and the Camp David Accords. During the 1980s and 1990s it expanded ties with think tanks in Washington, D.C., London, and Paris, and engaged with policymakers connected to the Oslo Accords and the Madrid Conference of 1991. The center's work intersected with developments involving the Palestine Liberation Organization, the Arab League, and bilateral dialogues with Egypt and Jordan. In the 2000s and 2010s its activities intersected with events such as the Second Intifada, the Hamas–Fatah split, the Arab Spring, and diplomatic initiatives involving United Nations agencies and the European Union.

Mission and Activities

The institute positions itself at the nexus of Israeli foreign policy debates, engaging with counterparts from United States Department of State circles, Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials, and international legal scholars associated with the International Court of Justice. Its activities include convening dialogues with representatives from the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, briefing delegations from the Knesset, and consulting researchers linked to universities such as Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv University, and Bar-Ilan University. The organization produces analyses concerning actors like Iran, Syria, Hezbollah, and Hamas, while addressing issues involving treaties like the Oslo Accords and frameworks such as the Quartet on the Middle East.

Research and Publications

The center issues policy papers, monographs, and edited volumes aimed at influencing debates in capitals including Berlin, Rome, Tokyo, and Ottawa. Its publications have examined subjects connected to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, the Iran nuclear deal framework, and sanctions regimes discussed in United Nations Security Council resolutions. Contributors have included scholars associated with institutions such as Harvard University, Georgetown University, Columbia University, and think tanks like the Brookings Institution, the Heritage Foundation, and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Topics covered range from analyses of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank to comparative work on negotiations like the Camp David Accords and the Oslo Accords.

Projects and Programs

Programs have targeted audiences including diplomats from the United States Congress, European Parliamentarians, and officials from the African Union and ASEAN. Project work has addressed legal arguments related to contested sites involving Temple Mount-related disputes and heritage issues involving the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. The center has hosted conferences engaging participants connected to the International Criminal Court, representatives from the Palestinian Authority, and delegations from countries such as India, China, Russia, and Brazil. Training programs have linked to seminars featuring speakers from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the Council on Foreign Relations, and the Chatham House network.

Leadership and Organization

Leadership has included former diplomats with postings to missions in Washington, D.C. and roles in negotiations tied to the Camp David Accords and bilateral talks with Egypt and Jordan. The president has engaged with foreign ministers, ambassadors accredited to Israel, and parliamentary delegations from Germany and France. The organizational structure comprises research fellows, visiting scholars from universities such as Oxford University and Princeton University, and administrative staff who coordinate events with embassies and nongovernmental organizations including Human Rights Watch and regional NGOs.

Funding and Criticism

Funding sources have included private donors, foundations, and grants from entities active in transatlantic policy networks and philanthropic families with ties to United States and European circles. The institute has received scrutiny and criticism from advocacy groups, academic critics, and media outlets over the tone and content of particular reports relating to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, the status of Jerusalem, and positions on negotiations with actors like Hamas and Hezbollah. Debates around its analysis have involved commentators from outlets such as The New York Times, The Guardian, and policy critics associated with think tanks like Center for American Progress and Institute for Policy Studies.

Category:Think tanks based in Israel