The Think Tanks
How a network of pro-Israel policy organizations funded by billionaire donors produces the “expert” consensus that legitimizes unconditional military aid. The scholars write the papers. Congress cites the papers. The policies pass. The scholars go into government to implement them.
Sources: IRS 990 filings, Brookings donor records, Congressional Record, State Department
How Think Tanks Manufacture Consensus
The think tank apparatus works because it creates the appearanceof independent, expert-driven consensus. When a member of Congress wants to justify a vote for unconditional military aid, they don't cite AIPAC — they cite a “Brookings Institution study.”
Step 1: Fund the institution. Haim Saban gives $13M to Brookings. Bernard Marcus gives $30M to FDD.
Step 2: Produce the research. The scholars write policy papers. A “Brookings paper” sounds very different from an “AIPAC paper.”
Step 3: Testify and advise. FDD alone has delivered 100+ Congressional testimonies. WINEP papers are cited in committee reports.
Step 4: Enter government. The most influential scholars rotate into senior positions where they implement the policies they advocated.
The Key Organizations
Saban Center for Middle East Policy at Brookings Institution
“I'm a one-issue guy, and my issue is Israel.”
— Haim Saban, The New Yorker (2010)
Creates the 'expert' layer that legitimizes pro-Israel policy positions in mainstream DC discourse. Brookings is consistently ranked as the most influential think tank in the world — Saban's funding buys credibility that pure advocacy organizations cannot.
- Saban donated $13M+ to Brookings, the largest individual donation in the institution's history at the time
- Houses scholars who shape the mainstream foreign policy consensus on the Middle East
- Saban Center fellows frequently appear on CNN, MSNBC, PBS as 'independent' Middle East experts
- Research output consistently aligns with Israeli government positions on settlements, Iran, and military aid
- Saban also donated $7M+ to the Clinton Foundation and was the largest individual donor to the Democratic Party
Sources: Brookings Institution donor records, The New Yorker, The Intercept, IRS 990 filings
Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD)
Pushes hawkish Israel policy, Iran sanctions, and anti-BDS legislation. Described as a 'think tank' but functions as an advocacy organization with a research veneer. Staff regularly testify before Congress and appear on cable news as 'defense experts.'
- Bernard Marcus (Home Depot co-founder) has given $30M+ — FDD's single largest donor
- Staff have delivered 100+ testimonies before Congressional committees
- Led the campaign for maximum pressure Iran sanctions and JCPOA withdrawal
- Drafted model anti-BDS legislation adopted by 35+ state legislatures
- Mark Dubowitz (CEO) was described by the New York Times as one of the architects of Trump's Iran strategy
- FDD's annual budget exceeds $12M — almost entirely from pro-Israel mega-donors
Sources: IRS 990 filings, The Nation, The Intercept, OpenSecrets, New York Times
Washington Institute for Near East Policy (WINEP)
Produces policy papers that Congress cites as 'independent research.' Staff rotate between WINEP and senior government positions (the revolving door). Founded directly out of AIPAC's research department — the institutional lineage is a direct pipeline.
- Founded by Martin Indyk, who served as AIPAC's deputy director of research before creating WINEP
- Indyk later served as US Ambassador to Israel (twice) and Special Envoy for Israeli-Palestinian Negotiations
- Dennis Ross served as WINEP counselor while also advising four US administrations on Middle East policy
- David Makovsky (senior fellow) co-authored policy plans with Dennis Ross that shaped US negotiation positions
- WINEP policy papers are cited in Congressional committee reports as 'independent' expert analysis
- Board of advisors includes multiple former ambassadors, CIA directors, and senior Pentagon officials
Sources: State Department records, WINEP staff pages, Congressional Record, The Intercept
American Enterprise Institute (AEI)
Major pro-Israel policy shop that provides the intellectual infrastructure for neoconservative foreign policy. AEI scholars were architects of the Iraq War and consistently advocate for aggressive US military posture in the Middle East aligned with Israeli strategic interests.
- Staff include former Bush and Trump administration officials who shaped Middle East policy
- Danielle Pletka (former SVP) was a leading advocate for the Iraq War and Iran confrontation
- Michael Rubin, resident scholar, advocates hawkish positions on Iran and unconditional Israel support
- Hosts regular events with Israeli officials, IDF generals, and Knesset members
- AEI scholars drafted policy frameworks used by Republican administrations for Israel-related decisions
- Annual budget exceeds $80M — defense industry and pro-Israel donors are significant contributors
Sources: AEI annual reports, IRS 990 filings, OpenSecrets, The Nation
The Revolving Door
Think tank scholar → government official → back to think tank. The same people cycle between institutions that are supposed to provide independent analysis and the government positions where they implement policy.
Martin Indyk
Dennis Ross
Michael Doran
Elliott Abrams
Sources: State Department records, WINEP staff pages, Brookings Institution, CFR, Congressional Record
Frequently Asked Questions
What are pro-Israel think tanks?
Pro-Israel think tanks are Washington-based policy organizations that receive significant funding from pro-Israel donors and produce research, policy papers, Congressional testimony, and media commentary that consistently align with Israeli government positions. Key organizations include the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at Brookings Institution ($13M+ from Haim Saban), Foundation for Defense of Democracies ($30M+ from Bernard Marcus), Washington Institute for Near East Policy (founded by former AIPAC research director Martin Indyk), and American Enterprise Institute. Sources: Brookings Institution donor records, IRS 990 filings, The New Yorker, The Nation.
What is the revolving door between think tanks and government?
The 'revolving door' refers to the pattern where individuals rotate between positions at pro-Israel think tanks and senior government roles, carrying their policy perspectives with them. For example, Martin Indyk went from AIPAC research director to founding WINEP, then served as US Ambassador to Israel and Special Envoy for Israeli-Palestinian Negotiations. Dennis Ross held positions at WINEP and served in four administrations as a Middle East envoy. This rotation creates a self-reinforcing policy consensus. Sources: State Department records, WINEP staff pages, Brookings Institution.
How much money flows to pro-Israel think tanks?
Documented major donations include: Haim Saban gave $13M+ to Brookings Institution for the Saban Center; Bernard Marcus (Home Depot co-founder) gave $30M+ to Foundation for Defense of Democracies; Paul Singer and the Sheldon Adelson estate are major FDD funders; additional funding comes from the Koret Foundation, the Marcus Foundation, and other pro-Israel family foundations. Total identifiable pro-Israel think tank funding exceeds $100M across these organizations. Sources: IRS 990 filings, Brookings donor records, The Nation, The Intercept.
How do think tanks influence Congressional votes on Israel?
Think tanks influence Congress through multiple channels: (1) Staff testify as 'independent experts' before Congressional committees — FDD staff have delivered 100+ Congressional testimonies; (2) Policy papers are cited as 'objective research' in floor debates and committee reports; (3) Think tank events provide networking between Israeli officials and members of Congress; (4) Former think tank scholars serve on Congressional staff and in executive branch positions, implementing the policies they previously advocated. Sources: Congressional Record, C-SPAN testimony archives, FDD annual reports.
What is FDD and who funds it?
The Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) was founded in 2001 and is one of Washington's most influential pro-Israel policy organizations. Its largest known donor is Bernard Marcus, co-founder of Home Depot, who has given $30M+ to FDD. Other major funders include hedge fund billionaire Paul Singer and the estate of casino magnate Sheldon Adelson. Despite calling itself a 'think tank,' FDD functions primarily as an advocacy organization pushing hawkish Israel policy, Iran sanctions, and anti-BDS legislation. Sources: IRS 990 filings, The Nation, The Intercept, OpenSecrets.
Sources
Brookings Institution: Donor records and Saban Center funding history — brookings.edu
IRS 990 Filings: FDD, AEI, WINEP annual financial disclosures — guidestar.org
The New Yorker: Haim Saban profile — newyorker.com
The Nation: FDD funding investigation — thenation.com
The Intercept: Think tank funding and AIPAC network reporting — theintercept.com
Congressional Record: Testimony logs and committee citation data — congress.gov
State Department: Ambassador and Special Envoy appointment records — state.gov
OpenSecrets: Think tank and lobbying financial data — opensecrets.org