The Washington Institute for Near East Policy

Washington Institute for Near East Policy (WINEP) was founded in 1985 by Martin Indyk, previously research director of the leading pro-Israel lobby, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac). WINEP quickly became one of the most influential think tank concerning US Middle East policy. While it was at first most supportive of Israel's Labour party, it became closer to the right-wing Likud party led by Ariel Sharon.

According to its mission statement, it was "established to advance a balanced and realistic understanding of American interests in the Middle East. Under the guidance of a distinguished and bipartisan Board of Advisors, the Institute seeks to bring scholarship to bear on the making of U.S. policy in this vital region of the world. Drawing on the research of its scholars and the experience of policy practitioners, the Institute promotes an American engagement in the Middle East committed to strengthening alliances, nurturing friendships, and promoting security, peace, prosperity, and democracy for the people of the region."

As of 2006, it is led by Executive Director Robert Satloff. Several members of WINEP have entered the administration of Bush Sr, others the Clinton administration and many the Bush administration. According to Joel Beinin, professor of history at Stanford University, "until the current Bush administration and the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, Winep tended to embrace positions identified with Israel’s Labour party and the "moderate" retired Israeli generals of the Jaffee centre for strategic studies at Tel Aviv University. Crude right-wingers like Martin Kramer and Daniel Pipes (see Watch and tell ) were rarely featured. But Bush Jr brought to Washington a clique of Middle East policy makers linked to Israel’s Likud party and to neo-conservative, hawkish thinktanks like the American Enterprise Institute, the Project for a New American Century, the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs (Jinsa), and the Centre for Security Policy (CSP)." ^[1]

Notes

• ^ "US: the pro-Sharon thinktank". July 2003. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |org= ignored (help)

External links

• [http://www.irmep.org/Policy_Briefs/winep.htm Washington Institute's Year 2000 Trustees
• Washington Institute Website
• The myth of the "Jewish lobby" in the Frontline (India's National Magazine) Volume 20 - Issue 20, September 27 - October 10, 2003.