The results documented in the 2024 Annual Report were not theoretical exercises but direct interventions that changed policy and saved lives. Our investigations revealed that U.S. taxpayer funds were reaching Hamas-linked organizations. We brought these findings to the Senate Finance Committee, leading to tighter controls and revisions to the Department of State appropriations bill. These reforms now prevent U.S. funds from reaching groups that advocate terror. We prodded Texas A&M University to close its Qatar campus, reducing foreign influence in higher education, and we supported Alabama’s designation of Qatar as a foreign adversary in this sector. Each of these victories demonstrates that when we present facts, leaders listen and act.
Our team engages in front-line reporting that brings immediate, tangible results. Jonathan Spyer accompanied the IDF’s 202nd Battalion into Gaza’s Jabalya refugee camp. His efforts helped rescue Fawzia Sido, a Yezidi woman enslaved for a decade—a reminder that informed, courageous journalism can change fate. Our Israel Victory Project hosted two significant Knesset conferences featuring Ambassador David Friedman and diaspora leaders, shifting how Israeli policymakers think about achieving lasting peace. Rather than endless concessions, they now consider decisive action. Iranian opposition leader Vahid Beheshti addressed the Knesset through our Israel Victory Caucus, spotlighting a path toward freedom for the Iranian people. These events and dialogues extended our influence to thousands worldwide, including through webinars with American Jewish University, which attracted a global audience of over 4,000 viewers.
Our research and commentary do not stop at Middle Eastern borders. The MEF Observer, directed by Michael Rubin, provided rapid analysis that earned recognition from RealClearWorld and, tellingly, Iranian regime sanctions against Rubin’s work. Focus on Western Islamism published 79 articles exposing extremist activities in Western democracies. In Europe, we advised Swedish parliamentarians on Iranian technology imports and shaped discussions on EU sanctions, ensuring that our evidence-based approach influenced policy beyond the United States and Israel.
As we look toward 2025, new threats loom. Turkey seeks to replace Iran as the region’s leading Islamist force, shifting from a Shi’ite crescent to a Sunni arc that endangers Kurdish communities in northeast Syria. Eastern Mediterranean security requires urgent reinforcement, as alliances and energy corridors face pressure from aggressive actors. We must press for regime change in Iran, encouraging policies that undermine its theocratic leadership and empower democratic alternatives. We must protect the Red Sea, securing vital shipping lanes from Houthi attacks that disrupt global trade. These challenges form the four pillars of our upcoming regional work, and we have already provided the incoming U.S. administration with strategic recommendations on each front.
Your first gift will strengthen our ability to inform decision-makers, expose extremist networks, and contribute to efforts on the ground. With your support, we can fund more frontline reporting, expand our research capacity, and keep critical publications like Focus on Western Islamism and the MEF Observer active and influential. Our track record shows that when we provide facts, policymakers respond. When we identify wrongdoing, schools and institutions take action. When we spotlight human rights abuses, rescues and reforms follow.
Please review our full Annual Report at https://mef.pub/Report2024 or download it at https://mef.pub/Report2024Download.
These pages show what dedicated research, principled advocacy, and strategic engagement can accomplish in a region where crises unfold with alarming speed. Your support right now, at this critical junction, will help us respond to these challenges with greater strength and agility.
As I sit in this bomb shelter, I feel the urgency of our mission as never before. This situation is not distant or hypothetical; it affects real people, real allies, and the stability of a crucial region. Thank you for considering joining the Middle East Forum’s community of supporters.
Together, we can turn knowledge into results, ensuring that American interests and Western values not only endure but prevail in an unstable world.
Ways to Give:
- Donate online: Visit us here to make a secure contribution.
- Mail a check: Make it payable to “Middle East Forum” and send to:
Middle East Forum
1650 Market Street, Suite 3600
Philadelphia, PA 19103
- Consider a planned gift or stock transfer: Explore additional giving options at the link above.
Sincerely,
Gregg Roman
Director, Middle East Forum
215-546-5406 ext. 104 (w)
roman@meforum.org
