Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies
Encyclopedia
The Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies (JIIS) is an independent policy institute and highly regarded think tank located in the Kiryat Shmuel neighborhood of Jerusalem, Israel
. The Institute conducts policy studies on Jerusalem, environmental policy
and the management of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
. It is also actively involved in the formulation and distribution of policy documents in those arenas, and recommendations from the JIIS are often implemented by the Israeli government.
, in collaboration with the Jerusalem Foundation
and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
. The first directors of the institute were David Amiran and Ora Ahimeir. Founding members included Avraham Harman
, Haim Kobersky, Joshua Prawer
and Baruch Yekutieli.
Since 1981, the Charles H. Revson Foundation
of New York has been a major supporter of the institute. It also enjoys the support of many public and private organizations in Israel and abroad.
The current president is Yaacov Bar-Siman-Tov
. Meir Kraus is the institutes general director.
The “Peace Process in Jerusalem” (JIIS, 2000) served as a working paper at the 2000 Camp David Summit in July 2000 for the Israeli delegation.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. The Institute conducts policy studies on Jerusalem, environmental policy
Environmental policy
Environmental policy is any [course of] action deliberately taken [or not taken] to manage human activities with a view to prevent, reduce, or mitigate harmful effects on nature and natural resources, and ensuring that man-made changes to the environment do not have harmful effects on...
and the management of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
The Israeli–Palestinian conflict is the ongoing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. The conflict is wide-ranging, and the term is also used in reference to the earlier phases of the same conflict, between Jewish and Zionist yishuv and the Arab population living in Palestine under Ottoman or...
. It is also actively involved in the formulation and distribution of policy documents in those arenas, and recommendations from the JIIS are often implemented by the Israeli government.
History
The Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies was founded in 1978 by Mayor of Jerusalem Teddy KollekTeddy Kollek
Theodor "Teddy" Kollek was mayor of Jerusalem from 1965 to 1993, and founder of the Jerusalem Foundation. Kollek was re-elected five times, in 1969, 1973, 1978, 1983 and 1989...
, in collaboration with the Jerusalem Foundation
Jerusalem Foundation
The Jerusalem Foundation is an international non-profit organization whose goal is the improvement of the quality of life for all citizens of Jerusalem. It was founded in 1966 by the mayor of Jerusalem, Teddy Kollek. The foundation is politically not affiliated...
and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem ; ; abbreviated HUJI) is Israel's second-oldest university, after the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. The Hebrew University has three campuses in Jerusalem and one in Rehovot. The world's largest Jewish studies library is located on its Edmond J...
. The first directors of the institute were David Amiran and Ora Ahimeir. Founding members included Avraham Harman
Avraham Harman
Avraham Harman was an Israeli diplomat and academic administrator.-Biography:Born in London in the United Kingdom, he received a law degree from Wadham College, Oxford in 1935. In 1938, he immigrated to Mandate Palestine....
, Haim Kobersky, Joshua Prawer
Joshua Prawer
Joshua Prawer was a notable Israeli historian and a scholar of the Crusades and Kingdom of Jerusalem.His work often attempted to portray Crusader society as a forerunner to later European colonialist expansion...
and Baruch Yekutieli.
Since 1981, the Charles H. Revson Foundation
Charles H. Revson Foundation
The Charles H. Revson Foundation was founded in 1956 by Charles H. Revson, the founding President of Revlon Cosmetics as a vehicle for his charitable giving. Mr. Revson willed half his estate to the Foundation upon his death. -Background:...
of New York has been a major supporter of the institute. It also enjoys the support of many public and private organizations in Israel and abroad.
The current president is Yaacov Bar-Siman-Tov
Yaacov Bar-Siman-Tov
Yaacov Bar-Siman-Tov is a prominent international relations and conflict resolution scholar. He is the Giancarlo Elia Valori Professor of International Relations at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where he holds the "Chair for the Study of Peace and Regional Cooperation"...
. Meir Kraus is the institutes general director.
Activities
The JIIS is an independent, apolitical research institute. It publishes some 20 books and reports annually, including the Annual Statistical Yearbook on Jerusalem edited by Maya Choshen. The institute holds conferences and public events, most of them open to the public. The institute hosts visitors and delegations and guides field tours.The “Peace Process in Jerusalem” (JIIS, 2000) served as a working paper at the 2000 Camp David Summit in July 2000 for the Israeli delegation.