Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs
Founded1976[1]
FounderDaniel J. Elazar[1]
TypePublic Policy Think Tank
Location
Method"a multidisciplinary, independent non-profit think tank for Israel policy research and education, bringing together the best minds in the political, strategic, diplomatic and legal arenas, in Israel and abroad."[3]
Key people
Dore Gold (President)[3]
Websitewww.jcpa.org
File:JCPAlogo.JPG
Entrance to JCPA office in Jerusalem
This file may be deleted at any time.

The Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs (JCPA) is a public policy think tank devoted to research and analysis of critical issues facing the Middle East. The center is located in Jerusalem, Israel.[4] Research focuses on international law, paradigms for regional diplomacy, and the connections between local and global terrorism.[4]

History

The JCPA was established in 1978 by Daniel Elazar as an umbrella organization encompassing the Center for Jewish Community Studies and the Jerusalem Institute for Federal Studies. As a policy research and education organization, the center attracted leading scholars from a variety of geographical, disciplinary, and political backgrounds. Elazar personally raised most of the funds for the operation of the organization and the construction of an imposing building on Tel Hai Street in Jerusalem, named in honor of the Milken family.[5]

The JCPA served as an adviser for Project Renewal, a major urban revitalization program. In 1986, it organized an international conference in Jerusalem on urban revitalization attended by over 500 participants from 30 countries.[5]

The JCPA cofounded NGO Monitor with B'nai B'rith following the 2001 Durban Conference. According to Dore Gold, the project was created "to promote analysis, transparency and accountability regarding the NGO-led campaign to label Israel as an 'apartheid state'".[6][7]

Organizational goals

JCPA research focuses on Israeli foreign policy and Israel's rights under international law in the context of the Arab-Israeli conflict. [8]The current president of the JCPA is former Israeli ambassador Dore Gold who has represented Israel in several diplomatic posts and served as adviser to prime ministers Ariel Sharon and Benjamin Netanyahu.[9]

Programs

The JCPA operates a number of programs.[3]

The Institute for Contemporary Affairs (ICA) was founded in 2001 with the Wechsler Family Foundation. The stated aim of the ICA is to provide "a forum for discussion of Israel’s strategic, defense and national security challenges". The Institute hosts events and provides analyses and information on issues in Israel and the Middle East for diplomats and foreign media representatives based in Israel and visiting foreign government officials.[10][11]

The Iran and the new threats to the West program involves the preparation of a legal document to initiate legal proceedings against Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran for "incitement to commit genocide and participate in genocide".[11]

The Global Law Forum program supports academic writings, position papers, workshops, conferences and symposia and public briefings that explain the legal dimensions of current regional controversies of concern to Israel and the Middle East.[12][11]

The Defensible Borders Initiative was created to outline a "set of basic principals for a defense policy focused on Israel maintaining defensible borders". The program was carried out by a group of senior Israeli generals and included a conference, an informational video, a website and a book distributed to politicians, academics and journalists.[11][13]

Daily Alert is a newsletter and website produced for the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. The newsletter contains excepts of Israel related news and has been provided by JCPA since 2002.[11][14]

The Institute for Global Jewish Affairs was established in 2008 and consists of several long-running programs that deal with Jewish issues. The Post-Holocaust and Anti-Semitism Project (PHAS) addresses "resitution, the academic boycott, Holocaust denial, and anti-Semitism in the Arab world, European countries, and post-Soviet states." The Changing Jewish Communities program investigates recent developments in Jewish communities. The Institute also produces the journal Jewish Political Studies Review which examines Jewish political institutions and behavior.[11][15]

Landmark building

The JCPA is located in a landmark building dating from 1932. From 1957 to 1980, it served as the Embassy of Uruguay. In 1989, the 1,200-ton building was moved 16 meters to new foundations on the southern side of the lot. A crew of experts was brought in from Poland for this purpose. The building was raised by hydraulic jacks and pushed along rails to reach its new location.[16]

Notable researchers

Researchers and public figures who have contributed to publications of the JCPA and participated in briefings are:[17]

References

  1. ^ a b Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs: About Daniel J. Elazar
  2. ^ "Contact Us". JCPA. 2010. Retrieved 13 October 2010.
  3. ^ a b c "About the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs". JCPA. 2010. Retrieved 13 October 2010.
  4. ^ a b ETH Zürich
  5. ^ a b The Intellectual World of Daniel Elazar
  6. ^ Exchange of Correspondence between NIF and JCPA
  7. ^ "About the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs". JCPA. 2004. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
  8. ^ ETH Zürich
  9. ^ Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs: Dore Gold
  10. ^ "Welcome to the Institute for Contemporary Affairs". JCPA. 2010. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
  11. ^ a b c d e f "About The Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs (slideshow)". Retrieved 15 October 2010.
  12. ^ "Global Law Forum: About Us". JCPA. 2008. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
  13. ^ "About the Defensible Borders Initiative". JCPA. 2008. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
  14. ^ "DAILY ALERT". JCPA. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
  15. ^ "Institute for Global Jewish Affairs: About us". JCPA. 2010. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
  16. ^ Our building: A Jerusalem Protected Landmark
  17. ^ Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs: Researchers
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