Americans for Middle East Understanding (AMEU) is a non-profit non-governmental organization
that promotes the appreciation of the culture, history and current events in the Middle East among Americans. According to Elizabeth Boosahda, the AMEU "fosters increased understanding in America of the history, goals and values of all the peoples in the Middle-East and broader understanding of their religious beliefs, economic conditions and social customs."
AMEU was established in 1967 by a number of American professionals who had experience of the Middle East, and who believe that Americans were receiving biased information about the region.
AMEU publishes a 16-page magazine called ''
The Link'' on a bi-monthly basis,
which is now in its 33rd year of publication. It also publishes leaflets about the Middle East,
supports educational programs,
sells books, donates to libraries, provides a
speakers' bureau
A speakers bureau is a collection of speakers who talk about a particular subject, or a company, which operates to facilitate speakers for clients requiring motivational speakers, celebrity appearances, conference facilitators, or keynote speakers. ...
, subsidizes travel to the Middle East and provides teachers with educational material.
Board of directors
The board of directors includes scholars, academics, diplomats, authors, editors, religious representatives and business people including many with direct experience in the Middle East.
Talcot Seelye, former American ambassador to
Syria
Syria ( ar, سُورِيَا or سُورِيَة, translit=Sūriyā), officially the Syrian Arab Republic ( ar, الجمهورية العربية السورية, al-Jumhūrīyah al-ʻArabīyah as-Sūrīyah), is a Western Asian country loc ...
and
Tunisia
)
, image_map = Tunisia location (orthographic projection).svg
, map_caption = Location of Tunisia in northern Africa
, image_map2 =
, capital = Tunis
, largest_city = capital
, ...
, served on the board of directors.
AMEU's current board of directors includes former American ambassador to Greece, Zimbabwe, and Mauritius,
Robert V. Keeley and former
representative
Representative may refer to:
Politics
*Representative democracy, type of democracy in which elected officials represent a group of people
*House of Representatives, legislative body in various countries or sub-national entities
*Legislator, someon ...
Paul Findley
Paul Augustus Findley (June 23, 1921 – August 9, 2019) was an American writer and politician. He served as United States Representative from Illinois, representing its 20th District. A Republican, he was first elected in 1960. A moderate Repu ...
.
Palestinian advocacy
A 2004 article by Chana Shavelson on the pro-Israeli media watchdog,
Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America
The Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America (CAMERA) is an American non-profit pro-Israel media-monitoring, research and membership organization. According to its website, CAMERA is "devoted to promoting accurate and balanced ...
(CAMERA), AMEU is referred to as a "pro-
Palestinian
Palestinians ( ar, الفلسطينيون, ; he, פָלַסְטִינִים, ) or Palestinian people ( ar, الشعب الفلسطيني, label=none, ), also referred to as Palestinian Arabs ( ar, الفلسطينيين العرب, label=non ...
group." Neoconservative
Laurent Murawiec, in his book, ''Prince of darkness: the Saudi assault on the West'' says: "Americans for Middle East Understanding, established in 1969, evolved into a major organization within the
Arab lobby."
''Prince of darkness: the Saudi assault on the West''
Laurent Murawiec page 123.
References
External links
Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Americans For Middle East Understanding
Organizations established in 1967
Foreign policy political advocacy groups in the United States
Non-governmental organizations involved in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict
Middle Eastern American culture