Eliana Benador
Encyclopedia
Eliana Benador is a Swiss-American public relations consultant, global strategist, and a publicist for American and Middle-eastern neo-conservatives. Through the development of Benador Associates, Benador was promoted national security policies advocated by the Bush administration concerning Iraqi regime change, the Iraq War, and hard-line attitudes toward Iran. As of 2007, Benador had closed Benador Associates and opened a new firm, Benador Public Relations.
and the Université Catholique de Lille
. Following university, she worked as an editor for the Peruvian Times and as a translator at the United Nations in Vienna. In 2000, Benador joined the Middle East Forum
, an American conservative think tank
, to work as the associate director of, and in charge of the expansion of, the Middle East Forum in New York, and she also was the media liaison of its founder Daniel Pipes
. Benador left the MEF after eighteen months because of conflicts with Pipes. According to Pipes, they came to a mutual and amicable "understanding that she would do better on her own."
In October 2001, Benador began her own public relations firm, Benador & Associates. After signing former C.I.A. director James Woolsey and Daily News columnist A.M. Rosenthal, Benador's firm built a clientele of American neo-conservatives. Her clients included Richard Perle
, Frank Gaffney
, Alexander Haig
, and members of the American Enterprise Institute
and the Washington Institute for Near East Policy
. Benador also represented Middle Eastern scholars such as Tashbih Sayyed
, Amir Taheri
, and Kanan Makiya
, who were outspoken critics of Islamism
and advocates for the 2003 Iraq War. Through the development of her agency's speakers bureau and placement of editorials, Benador was successful in promoting her clients hard-line policies concerning an Iraqi regime change and the war in Iraq.
Benador was criticized for "acting as a kind of public-relations firm for the war." Responding to the criticism, Benador said that "media demand for prominent neo-conservatives was spurred 'not because of Eleana Benador, but because of the long overdue need to address the threat of terrorism.'"
In May 2006, a story by Benador's client Amir Taheri
appeared in the National Post
claiming that Iran's government had passed a law requiring Jewish residents to wear a yellow insignia. The story proved false and the National Post issued a retraction. Benador, whose PR firm placed the item, signaled that "newspapers are, ultimately, solely responsible for the accuracy of what they print." In regards to the incident, Benador was attributed as saying "Terming accuracy with regard to Iran 'a luxury'...My major concern is the large picture. Is Taheri writing one or two details that are not accurate? This is a guy who is putting his life at stake...The Iranian government has killed its opponents. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says he wants to destroy Israel...As much as being accurate is important, in the end it's important to side with what's right. What's wrong is siding with the terrorists."
In December 2007, Benador stated that she was scaling back her involvement with Benador Associates and that the firm would become a politically independent forum. The firm subsequently closed. In 2007, Benador opened a new firm, Benador Public Relations, which focuses on clients in international finance and real estate, mostly working with countries of the Persian Gulf region. Benador also contributes editorial commentary to the Gulf News
, the daily English newspaper of the United Arab Emirates
.
In January 2011, Benador was appointed Goodwill Ambassador of the Shomron (Samaria) Liaison Office in the U.S. and Europe. In that capacity, she addressed the Rally in Support of Israel across the Israel Consulate in New York City. Benador noted that during the period of 2000-2010 there had been 1,200 Israeli victims of terrorism and said "it would be the equivalent of 50,297 American victims of terrorism!" Bendador pointed out that during this period 8,342 Israelis had been wounded in terror attacks. She said the equivalent would be 350,000 Americans wounded.
Career
Benador studied linguistics, psychology and political science at the SorbonneSorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
and the Université Catholique de Lille
Université Catholique de Lille
Lille Catholic University is a private Catholic university located in Lille, France.-Institutional history:The university was founded in 1875...
. Following university, she worked as an editor for the Peruvian Times and as a translator at the United Nations in Vienna. In 2000, Benador joined the Middle East Forum
Middle East Forum
The Middle East Forum is an American conservative think tank founded in 1990 by Daniel Pipes, who also serves as its director. MEF became a 5013 non-profit organization in 1994...
, an American conservative think tank
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
, to work as the associate director of, and in charge of the expansion of, the Middle East Forum in New York, and she also was the media liaison of its founder Daniel Pipes
Daniel Pipes
Daniel Pipes is an American historian, writer, and political commentator. He is the founder and director of the Middle East Forum and its Campus Watch project, and editor of its Middle East Quarterly journal...
. Benador left the MEF after eighteen months because of conflicts with Pipes. According to Pipes, they came to a mutual and amicable "understanding that she would do better on her own."
In October 2001, Benador began her own public relations firm, Benador & Associates. After signing former C.I.A. director James Woolsey and Daily News columnist A.M. Rosenthal, Benador's firm built a clientele of American neo-conservatives. Her clients included Richard Perle
Richard Perle
Richard Norman Perle is an American political advisor, consultant, and lobbyist who began his career in government, a senior staff member to Senator Henry “Scoop” Jackson on the Senate Armed Services Committee in the 1970’s...
, Frank Gaffney
Frank Gaffney
Frank J. Gaffney, Jr. is the founder and president of the American Center for Security Policy, columnist at the Washington Times, blogger at Big Peace and radio host on Secure Freedom Radio....
, Alexander Haig
Alexander Haig
Alexander Meigs Haig, Jr. was a United States Army general who served as the United States Secretary of State under President Ronald Reagan and White House Chief of Staff under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford...
, and members of the American Enterprise Institute
American Enterprise Institute
The American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research is a conservative think tank founded in 1943. Its stated mission is "to defend the principles and improve the institutions of American freedom and democratic capitalism—limited government, private enterprise, individual liberty and...
and the Washington Institute for Near East Policy
Washington Institute for Near East Policy
The Washington Institute for Near East Policy is a think tank based in Washington, D.C. focused on United States foreign policy in the Middle East. It was established by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee in 1985...
. Benador also represented Middle Eastern scholars such as Tashbih Sayyed
Tashbih Sayyed
Tashbih Sayyed was a Shia Pakistani-American scholar, journalist, and author and was the Editor in Chief of Our Times, Pakistan Today, and In Review. Tashbih Sayyed worked from 1967-1980 for the Pakistan Television Corporation. In 1981, he emigrated to the United States...
, Amir Taheri
Amir Taheri
Amir Taheri is an Iranian-born conservative author based in Europe. His writings focus on the Middle East affairs and topics related to Islamist terrorism. He gained international fame as the man behind the 2006 Iranian sumptuary law controversy.-Career:Taheri's biography at Benador Associates...
, and Kanan Makiya
Kanan Makiya
Kanan Makiya is an Iraqi academic, who gained British nationality in 1982. He is the Sylvia K. Hassenfeld Professor of Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies at Brandeis University...
, who were outspoken critics of Islamism
Islamism
Islamism also , lit., "Political Islam" is set of ideologies holding that Islam is not only a religion but also a political system. Islamism is a controversial term, and definitions of it sometimes vary...
and advocates for the 2003 Iraq War. Through the development of her agency's speakers bureau and placement of editorials, Benador was successful in promoting her clients hard-line policies concerning an Iraqi regime change and the war in Iraq.
Benador was criticized for "acting as a kind of public-relations firm for the war." Responding to the criticism, Benador said that "media demand for prominent neo-conservatives was spurred 'not because of Eleana Benador, but because of the long overdue need to address the threat of terrorism.'"
In May 2006, a story by Benador's client Amir Taheri
Amir Taheri
Amir Taheri is an Iranian-born conservative author based in Europe. His writings focus on the Middle East affairs and topics related to Islamist terrorism. He gained international fame as the man behind the 2006 Iranian sumptuary law controversy.-Career:Taheri's biography at Benador Associates...
appeared in the National Post
National Post
The National Post is a Canadian English-language national newspaper based in Don Mills, a district of Toronto. The paper is owned by Postmedia Network Inc. and is published Mondays through Saturdays...
claiming that Iran's government had passed a law requiring Jewish residents to wear a yellow insignia. The story proved false and the National Post issued a retraction. Benador, whose PR firm placed the item, signaled that "newspapers are, ultimately, solely responsible for the accuracy of what they print." In regards to the incident, Benador was attributed as saying "Terming accuracy with regard to Iran 'a luxury'...My major concern is the large picture. Is Taheri writing one or two details that are not accurate? This is a guy who is putting his life at stake...The Iranian government has killed its opponents. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says he wants to destroy Israel...As much as being accurate is important, in the end it's important to side with what's right. What's wrong is siding with the terrorists."
In December 2007, Benador stated that she was scaling back her involvement with Benador Associates and that the firm would become a politically independent forum. The firm subsequently closed. In 2007, Benador opened a new firm, Benador Public Relations, which focuses on clients in international finance and real estate, mostly working with countries of the Persian Gulf region. Benador also contributes editorial commentary to the Gulf News
Gulf News
Gulf News is a daily English language newspaper published from Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates with a December 2009 BPA audited circulation of over 117,036 qualified copies...
, the daily English newspaper of the United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
.
In January 2011, Benador was appointed Goodwill Ambassador of the Shomron (Samaria) Liaison Office in the U.S. and Europe. In that capacity, she addressed the Rally in Support of Israel across the Israel Consulate in New York City. Benador noted that during the period of 2000-2010 there had been 1,200 Israeli victims of terrorism and said "it would be the equivalent of 50,297 American victims of terrorism!" Bendador pointed out that during this period 8,342 Israelis had been wounded in terror attacks. She said the equivalent would be 350,000 Americans wounded.
Selected articles
- Surveillance law takes its toll in Sweden, The Gulf News, July 25, 2008
- Can Palin make a difference?, The Gulf News, September 1, 2008
- For America, it is the time for change, The Gulf News, October 3, 2008