Israel Allies Foundation

The Israel Allies Foundation (IAF), also known as the International Israel Allies Caucus Foundation, is an Israel-focused advocacy organization that works with legislators and parliamentary groups around the world. Its central operating model is to connect politicians who support Israel and to help organize formal or informal caucuses in national legislatures. The foundation presents this activity as a form of faith-based diplomacy rooted in cooperation between Israel and Christian political and civic networks, particularly evangelical constituencies. The organization developed out of the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus, established in 2004 by Israeli politician Yuri Stern and other Knesset members. A United States counterpart, the Congressional Israel Allies Caucus, was created in 2006. The foundation itself was established in 2007 by Orthodox rabbi and Israeli politician Benny Elon, together with his longtime aide Uri Bank. Elon had used his political and ministerial relationships, including contacts developed during his periods as tourism minister, to cultivate support among Christian communities overseas. The IAF subsequently became the institutional platform for expanding this parliamentary-network model beyond Israel and the United States. IAF’s stated political priorities include recognition of Israel’s right to exist in security, support for Jewish immigration to Israel, opposition to Iran’s threats against Israel, support for Israel’s military self-defense, and the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s undivided capital. The foundation also opposes the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement and supports legislative measures intended to discourage public institutions and contractors from participating in boycotts of Israel. It has opposed European labeling policies distinguishing products made in Israeli settlements from other Israeli products. A significant part of the organization’s work is convening and coordinating parliamentary allies. By 2021, it reported support for approximately 50 pro-Israel parliamentary groups internationally. Notable affiliated bodies include the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus in Israel and the Congressional Israel Allies Caucus in the United States House of Representatives, as well as groups in countries across Latin America, Africa, Asia, Europe and the Pacific. These groups typically seek to mobilize legislators around diplomatic, security, religious-freedom and Israel-related policy issues. The foundation also organizes annual gatherings and public events, including Jerusalem Day programs, a chairmen’s conference in Jerusalem for leaders of allied caucuses, and sponsored or paid-for visits to Israel and the West Bank for legislators and other pro-Israel organizational figures. Participants may meet Israeli officials, Palestinian Arabs, Christian Arabs and families affected by Palestinian violence. Supporters describe these trips as educational and relationship-building; critics have characterized them as advocacy-oriented or propagandistic because of the organization’s clearly stated political positions. Benny Elon remained an important figure in the foundation’s early identity until his death from cancer in 2017. Josh Reinstein subsequently became president and continued to emphasize the strategic importance of Christian support in countries where Jewish communities are small or absent. The organization distinguishes its political cooperation with Christian supporters from Christian groups that seek to proselytize among Jews. As a foundation rather than a consumer-facing commercial brand, IAF’s principal outputs are advocacy, coalition-building, events, briefings and political networks rather than physical products. Its exact current leadership, finances and operational footprint should be verified against current organizational filings and official materials.

The Israel Allies Foundation emerged from an effort to formalize international political support for Israel through parliamentary cooperation. Its institutional predecessor, the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus, was founded in January 2004 by Yuri Stern and seven other Israeli politicians. The caucus sought to develop relationships with Christian leaders and legislators who supported Israel and to translate religious and civic solidarity into political advocacy. The model expanded to the United States in 2006 with the establishment of the Congressional Israel Allies Caucus in the House of Representatives. The American caucus was created during the Israel-Lebanon conflict and brought together legislators from both major parties. Its founding members included Dave Weldon, Eliot Engel, Trent Franks and Gene Green, while Mike Pence, Eric Cantor and Engel were identified as founding co-chairs. The American initiative demonstrated that the caucus model could be used outside Israel to organize a cross-party congressional network focused on Israel-related issues. In 2007, Benny Elon and Uri Bank created the Israel Allies Foundation to support and extend these networks internationally. Elon, an Orthodox rabbi and former Israeli minister and parliamentarian, had developed close ties with American evangelical Christians. His political outlook was associated with the Israeli religious-nationalist and settler right, including support for territorial claims and opposition to concessions that he believed endangered Israel’s security. Through IAF, these relationships were connected to legislative groups in additional countries. The foundation’s method combines policy advocacy, political networking and educational travel. It has supported parliamentary groups in countries including Uruguay, the Philippines, South Korea, Brazil, South Africa, Japan, Australia, Finland, Italy, Canada, Costa Rica and Malawi. By 2021, the organization said that its international network included about 50 pro-Israel parliamentary groups. The groups vary by country and institutional form, but their common purpose is to mobilize legislators who support Israel’s security, diplomatic standing and political claims. IAF’s published policy framework has included support for Israel’s right to exist in peace and security, Jewish immigration and naturalization policies, Jerusalem as Israel’s undivided capital, opposition to international pressure for territorial concessions, resistance to Iran’s military and nuclear threats, and Israel’s claimed right of self-defense. It has also supported recognition of compensation claims by Jewish refugees from Arab countries. The organization has opposed BDS campaigns and advocated anti-boycott legislation, including measures requiring some public contractors to certify that they are not boycotting Israel. It has challenged European labeling rules that distinguish settlement-produced goods from products made elsewhere in Israel. The foundation has made Jerusalem a recurring theme through annual Jerusalem Day programs, including events on Capitol Hill, and through conferences in Jerusalem for leaders of allied caucuses. It also arranges or sponsors visits for lawmakers and other political figures. These delegations are intended to provide participants with direct exposure to Israeli officials, security issues, Palestinian and Christian Arab communities and families affected by violence. Critics argue that the itineraries and sponsorship structure make the trips advocacy exercises rather than neutral fact-finding missions. Elon died of cancer in 2017, after which Josh Reinstein assumed the presidency. Reinstein has described the organization’s approach as faith-based diplomacy, arguing that Christian political support is particularly important in countries with small Jewish populations. IAF has simultaneously stated that it does not align itself with Christian groups whose purpose is to convert Jews. The foundation continues to present itself as a bridge between Israel and international parliamentary and Christian networks, while its positions on Jerusalem, settlements, BDS, Iran and Palestinian-related policy place it firmly within pro-Israel advocacy politics.

• 2021

  Network reported at approximately 50 parliamentary groups

  [1]Israel Allies Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  The foundation reported supporting roughly 50 pro-Israel parliamentary groups worldwide.

• 2017

  Josh Reinstein succeeds Benny Elon as president

  [1]Israel Allies Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  Following Elon’s death, Reinstein took over the presidency and continued the organization’s faith-based diplomacy strategy.

• 2008

  Declaration of Purpose and Solidarity adopted

  [1]Israel Allies Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  International caucus leaders ratified a policy statement setting out the foundation’s positions on Israel’s security, Jerusalem, Iran, self-defense, immigration and refugee compensation.

• 2007

  Israel Allies Foundation created

  [1]Israel Allies Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  Benny Elon and Uri Bank founded the organization to coordinate and expand international parliamentary Israel-support networks.

• 2006

  Congressional Israel Allies Caucus established

  [1]Israel Allies Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  A bipartisan Israel-focused caucus was formed in the United States House of Representatives, modeled on the Knesset initiative.

• 2004

  Knesset Christian Allies Caucus founded

  [1]Israel Allies Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  Yuri Stern and other Knesset members established the caucus as an institutional channel for building support for Israel among Christian leaders and politicians.

A pro-Israel international advocacy foundation positioned around parliamentary diplomacy, Christian political solidarity and coordinated legislative support for Israel.

• Advocacy network · 2004

  International Israel Allies parliamentary network

  A network of national parliamentary caucuses and allied legislators that coordinate pro-Israel advocacy, political education and policy messaging. Its members operate in different legislative systems but are linked by support for Israel’s security, diplomatic standing and political claims.

• Policy advocacy · 2008

  Legislative advocacy and policy declarations

  IAF develops and promotes policy positions concerning Jerusalem, Israel’s right to self-defense, Jewish immigration, Iran, BDS and the treatment of Israeli settlement products. Its 2008 declaration provided a formal statement of several of these positions.

• Political education

  Israel political delegations and tours

  The foundation organizes or sponsors visits for politicians and pro-Israel organizational leaders to Israel and the West Bank. Programs may include meetings with Israeli officials, Palestinian and Christian Arab representatives, and families affected by violence.

• Events

  Jerusalem Day and parliamentary conferences

  Recurring events bring legislators and caucus leaders together around Jerusalem-related advocacy and international parliamentary cooperation. Activities include Jerusalem Day observances and a chairmen’s conference held in Jerusalem.

• Questions concerning foreign funding and FARA compliance

  Reporting discussed whether grants connected to IAF funding arrangements, including money originating through an Israeli nonprofit receiving government matching support, could raise issues under the United States Foreign Agents Registration Act. The available reference describes this as a question raised by reporting rather than an established legal finding.

  Source

Read more

• Anti-BDS legislative advocacy

  United States · International

  IAF opposes the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement and supports laws designed to discourage government bodies and contractors from participating in boycotts of Israel. The foundation frames boycotts as discriminatory and seeks legislative resistance to them.

  Source
• Jerusalem advocacy

  United States · International

  Through policy statements, parliamentary relationships and annual Jerusalem Day events, IAF promotes recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s undivided capital and has supported relocating foreign embassies to Jerusalem.

  Source
• International parliamentary alliance-building

  International

  IAF helps establish and maintain pro-Israel parliamentary groups in multiple countries, seeking to turn Christian and political support for Israel into coordinated legislative relationships.

  Source

• 2008

  Formal policy declaration adoptedStrategy

  Background

  The organization and affiliated caucus leaders sought a common statement describing their political commitments on Israel’s security, Jerusalem, Iran, immigration and refugee compensation.

  Action taken

  IAF-backed caucus leaders ratified a Declaration of Purpose and Solidarity with the People and State of Israel.

  Aftermath

  The declaration provided a public framework for subsequent advocacy by the foundation and its parliamentary allies.

  Source

• Expansion of faith-based diplomacyStrategy

  Background

  IAF regards Christian political support as especially valuable in countries with small Jewish populations and seeks to connect religious solidarity with legislative influence.

  Action taken

  The foundation expanded international caucus-building, political events and Israel visits aimed at legislators and Christian political networks.

  Aftermath

  The organization reported a worldwide network of approximately 50 pro-Israel parliamentary groups by 2021.

  Source

1. 1Israel Allies Foundationen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Israel Allies Foundation official websiteisraelallies.org