Endowment for Middle East Truth
Encyclopedia
Endowment for Middle East Truth (EMET) is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization. According to the group's website, it is "...the first unabashedly pro-Israel and pro-American think tank and policy shop on Capitol Hill..." and describes itself as focusing on, "...Israel’s unique role as being the eastern outpost of Western democratic values, holding down the fort against a rising tide of radical Islam, and the enormous strategic benefit it brings to the United States, contributing substantial intelligence and hard-earned tactical advice in the war on terrorism.
and the Arab-Israeli Conflict In 2008, these seminars were sponsored by the Adelson Family Foundation (see Sheldon Adelson
) under the title "Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson Policy Seminar Series".
The organization holds an annual fund-raising event named the "Rays of Light in the Darkness Dinner," where the organization awards "Speaker of the Truth Awards" to U.S Representatives and Senators, Middle East policy experts and "...those from the Arab and Muslim world who speak out against radical Islam."
Previous Honorees of the event have included:
a former Israeli spy and author of Son of Hamas from being deported from the United States. Mosab publicly thanked the organization following his immigration hearing saying,"I am especially grateful to Sarah Stern, president of the Endowment for Middle Eastern Truth. Today’s blessings would not have happened without her and this amazing organization." In response to the decision, the organization released a statement, saying that it was,"enormously grateful to all those who played a part in standing with Mosab during this time, and helping the Department of Homeland Security come to understand what a grave error deporting Mosab would have been."
began a campaign to distribute the DVD "Obsession: Radical Islam's War against the West." The Endowment for Middle East Truth
and Aish HaTorah
were both alleged to have participated in funding the distribution of the DVD to swing voters in advance of the November 2008 election. Both EMET and Aish Hatorah
disputed claims to their involvement in the project. According to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, EMET had originally agreed to participate in the campaign by writing a policy paper, and to conduct "educational outreach subsequent to the distribution" but was not involved with funding for the distribution of the DVD, and eventually withdrew completely from the project. EMET President Sarah Stern said she had, "made a mistake" in involving EMET in the project, but that the organization still backed the message of the film. EMET was responsible for organizing a showing of the video in the U.S Capitol in March 2008.
Seminars
The organization holds seminars on topics related to the Middle EastMiddle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
and the Arab-Israeli Conflict In 2008, these seminars were sponsored by the Adelson Family Foundation (see Sheldon Adelson
Sheldon Adelson
Sheldon Gary Adelson is an American casino magnate. Adelson is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Las Vegas Sands Corp., the parent company of Venetian Macao Limited which operates The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino and the Sands Expo and Convention Center...
) under the title "Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson Policy Seminar Series".
The organization holds an annual fund-raising event named the "Rays of Light in the Darkness Dinner," where the organization awards "Speaker of the Truth Awards" to U.S Representatives and Senators, Middle East policy experts and "...those from the Arab and Muslim world who speak out against radical Islam."
Previous Honorees of the event have included:
- Sen.Sam BrownbackSam BrownbackSamuel Dale "Sam" Brownback is the 46th and current Governor of Kansas. A member of the Republican Party, he served as a U.S. Senator from Kansas from 1996 to 2011, and as a U.S. Representative for Kansas's 2nd congressional district from 1995 to 1996...
- Rep. Doug LambornDoug LambornDoug Lamborn is the U.S. Representative for , in office since 2007. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district is based in Colorado Springs.-Early life, education, and early career:Lamborn was born in Leavenworth, Kansas...
- Rep. Brad ShermanBrad ShermanBradley J. "Brad" Sherman is an American politician. He has been a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives since 1997, representing ....
- Mosab Hassan YousefMosab Hassan YousefMosab Hassan Yousef is a Palestinian and son of a Hamas founder and leader Sheikh Hassan Yousef. From 1997 to 2007, he worked undercover for Israel's internal security service Shin Bet, which considered him its most valuable source within the Hamas leadership....
- Amil Imani
- Sen. Joseph Lieberman
- Sen. Jon KylJon KylJon Llewellyn Kyl is the junior U.S. Senator from Arizona and the Senate Minority Whip, the second-highest position in the Republican Senate leadership. In 2010 he was recognized by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world for his persuasive role in the Senate.The son...
- Dr. Walid PharesWalid PharesWalid Phares an American scholar of Lebanese origins, he is a professor and commentator on global terrorism and Middle Eastern affairs.Phares has testified before committees of the U.S. State, Justice, Defense and Homeland Security Departments, the United States Congress, the European Parliament,...
- Dr. Tawfik HamidTawfik HamidTawfik Hamid is an author from Egypt who opposes Islamic fundamentalism.A self-described former member of the militant al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya Tawfik Hamid advocates a peaceful understanding of Islam that is compatible with universal human rights and intellectual freedom...
- James Woolsey
- Wafa SultanWafa SultanWafa Sultan is a medical doctor who trained as a psychiatrist in Syria, and an American author and critic of Muslim society and Islam.-Life and career:Sultan was born into a large traditional Alawite Muslim family in Baniyas, Syria....
- Farid GhadryFarid GhadryFarid al-Ghadry is the Syrian-born co-founder and current president of the United States-based Reform Party of Syria, a party lobbying for regime change in Syria. Many of al-Ghadry's critics have compared him to Ahmad Chalabi, the Iraqi exile who lobbied the US government to invade his home country...
- Zeyno BaranZeyno BaranZeyno Baran is a Turkish American scholar on issues ranging from US-Turkey relations to Islamist ideology to energy security in Europe and Asia. She is the Director of the Center for Eurasian Policy and a Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute, a think tank located in Washington D.C....
- Cal ThomasCal ThomasJohn Calvin "Cal" Thomas is an American conservative syndicated columnist, pundit, author and radio commentator.-Life and career:...
Involvement with the Mosab Hassan Yousef Deportation Hearing
EMET "waged a short campaign" to prevent Mosab Hassan YousefMosab Hassan Yousef
Mosab Hassan Yousef is a Palestinian and son of a Hamas founder and leader Sheikh Hassan Yousef. From 1997 to 2007, he worked undercover for Israel's internal security service Shin Bet, which considered him its most valuable source within the Hamas leadership....
a former Israeli spy and author of Son of Hamas from being deported from the United States. Mosab publicly thanked the organization following his immigration hearing saying,"I am especially grateful to Sarah Stern, president of the Endowment for Middle Eastern Truth. Today’s blessings would not have happened without her and this amazing organization." In response to the decision, the organization released a statement, saying that it was,"enormously grateful to all those who played a part in standing with Mosab during this time, and helping the Department of Homeland Security come to understand what a grave error deporting Mosab would have been."
EMET's Role in the Distribution of the video Obsession prior to the 2008 Presidential Election
In 2008, the Clarion FundClarion Fund
Clarion Fund is a New York City-based nonprofit organizationfounded in 2006 whose stated mission is "to educate Americans about issues of national security," with its main focus on what it calls "the most urgent threat of radical Islam."...
began a campaign to distribute the DVD "Obsession: Radical Islam's War against the West." The Endowment for Middle East Truth
Endowment for Middle East Truth
Endowment for Middle East Truth is a registered 5013 non-profit organization. According to the group's website, it is "...the first unabashedly pro-Israel and pro-American think tank and policy shop on Capitol Hill..." and describes itself as focusing on, "...Israel’s unique role as being the...
and Aish HaTorah
Aish HaTorah
Aish HaTorah is a Jewish Orthodox organization and yeshiva. Aish HaTorah is actively pro-Israel and encourages Jewish people to visit Israel and connect to the land and its history. Some consider the organisation to reflect a more Religious Zionist philosophy in its attachment to Israel, promoting...
were both alleged to have participated in funding the distribution of the DVD to swing voters in advance of the November 2008 election. Both EMET and Aish Hatorah
Aish HaTorah
Aish HaTorah is a Jewish Orthodox organization and yeshiva. Aish HaTorah is actively pro-Israel and encourages Jewish people to visit Israel and connect to the land and its history. Some consider the organisation to reflect a more Religious Zionist philosophy in its attachment to Israel, promoting...
disputed claims to their involvement in the project. According to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, EMET had originally agreed to participate in the campaign by writing a policy paper, and to conduct "educational outreach subsequent to the distribution" but was not involved with funding for the distribution of the DVD, and eventually withdrew completely from the project. EMET President Sarah Stern said she had, "made a mistake" in involving EMET in the project, but that the organization still backed the message of the film. EMET was responsible for organizing a showing of the video in the U.S Capitol in March 2008.
Board
EMET's Advisory Board includes or has in the past included :- Sarah Stern
- Jeane Kilpatrick
- Yoram Ettinger
- Lenny Ben-David
- Daniel PipesDaniel PipesDaniel Pipes is an American historian, writer, and political commentator. He is the founder and director of the Middle East Forum and its Campus Watch project, and editor of its Middle East Quarterly journal...
- Meyrav WurmserMeyrav WurmserMeyrav Wurmser is an Israeli-born, American scholar of the Arab world. She is married to Swiss-American David Wurmser, former Middle East Adviser to US Vice President Dick Cheney. She is also a Senior Fellow at the US think tank, the Hudson Institute....
- David WurmserDavid WurmserDavid Wurmser is a Swiss-born American foreign policy specialist. He served as Middle East Adviser to former US Vice President Dick Cheney, as special assistant to John R. Bolton at the State Department and as a research fellow on the Middle East at the American Enterprise Institute . He served in...
- Frank GaffneyFrank GaffneyFrank J. Gaffney, Jr. is the founder and president of the American Center for Security Policy, columnist at the Washington Times, blogger at Big Peace and radio host on Secure Freedom Radio....
- James Woolsey
- Caroline GlickCaroline GlickCaroline Glick is an American-Israeli journalist for Makor Rishon and is the deputy managing editor of The Jerusalem Post. She is also the Senior Fellow for Middle East Affairs of the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Security Policy.-Life:...