Pro-Israeli WINEP exposed as 'dark money' op. fueling US wars
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WINEP has been exposed as a “dark money” organization, raising critical concerns about its lack of transparency regarding donor sources.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at the 2018 American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) policy conference at Washington Convention Center, on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, in Washington. (AP)
In a recent article published by MintPress News, Robert Inlakesh, a seasoned political analyst, journalist, and documentary filmmaker, sheds light on the hidden aspects of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy (WINEP), an influential think tank closely aligned with AIPAC.
Inlakesh revealed that WINEP has been exposed as a "dark money" organization, raising critical concerns about its lack of transparency regarding donor sources.
This disclosure not only casts a shadow over WINEP's operations but also underscores the broader influence of opaque, well-funded think tanks in shaping US foreign policy to benefit "Israel", often behind closed doors.
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In Inlakesh's view, WINEP continues to push the US into wars beneficial to "Israel", further complicating the dynamics of the "Israel" Lobby.
WINEP has long played a role in shaping US foreign policy, particularly in advocating for regime change in Iraq. It was deeply involved in promoting military intervention, including the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and had called for the ousting of Saddam Hussein as early as 1998.
The Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft’s Think Tank Funding Tracker recently revealed that WINEP, along with 16 other think tanks, received a zero transparency rating due to its reliance on "dark money" funding.
Although it claims that its donors are exclusively US citizens, WINEP’s lack of donor disclosure has raised concerns about its transparency. In 2006, researchers Stephen Walt and John Mearsheimer exposed WINEP as an extension of AIPAC, noting that the think tank serves the Israeli agenda under the guise of independent research.
"The Lobby created its own think tank in 1985," they wrote, "when Martin Indyk helped found WINEP. Although WINEP plays down its links to Israel, it is funded and run by individuals committed to advancing Israel’s agenda."
This claim was corroborated by former AIPAC official MJ Rosenberg, who wrote in HuffPost, "How do I know? I was in the room when AIPAC decided to establish WINEP." Martin Indyk, a co-founder of WINEP, also led the Saban Center for Middle East Studies, funded by Israeli-American billionaire Haim Saban.
WINEP’s influence, as per the piece, is evident in current US foreign policy decisions, particularly the Biden administration’s support for "Israel" during the war on Gaza. This support includes a $14 billion emergency military aid package, aligning with WINEP’s efforts to ensure that US military aid to "Israel" remains unchallenged. WINEP’s Executive Director, Robert Satloff, praised Biden’s stance on the ceasefire, calling it "correct and courageous."
WINEP's growing influence on US policy toward Iran, Syria
The think tank’s influence extends to policy on Iran and Syria, as seen in recent congressional hearings, as per the writer. Lawmakers attacking the Biden administration’s Iran policy echoed WINEP’s views, especially its opposition to sanctions relief. Additionally, WINEP has pushed for a continued US military presence in Syria, advocating for the targeting of Iranian assets with airstrikes.
WINEP’s revolving-door relationship with US government officials underscores its influence. Former national Security Advisor Jake Sullivan praised Satloff’s work at the 2023 Soref Symposium, reaffirming WINEP’s informal but significant role in shaping US policy. Former WINEP fellows, such as Dan Shapiro, have gone on to hold influential government positions, furthering the think tank’s long-standing priorities, including Arab normalization with "Israel".
Beyond WINEP, there is growing scrutiny of think tank influence on US foreign policy. In 2023, the Think Tank Transparency Act was introduced, requiring policy organizations to disclose foreign government funding.
Though WINEP does not directly receive funds from "Israel", it is supported by wealthy American donors with close ties to AIPAC. This enables WINEP to operate without falling under foreign lobbying laws, despite its substantial influence on US policy regarding Iran, Syria, and the Israeli-Palestine struggle.
Currently, WINEP focuses on leveraging US influence in post-Assad Syria and pushing for regime change in Iran, as per the report.
Its hardline Syria strategy was adopted by the US in its efforts to reshape the region, with a former WINEP researcher appointed as a senior official in the previous administration. The Quincy Institute’s report highlights the importance of transparency in understanding the true influence of think tanks like WINEP, raising critical questions about who ultimately shapes US foreign policy and whose interests are served.
