2025-10-26 11:52:AM <br/> Tags: #AmericanJewry #organization #Lobby ![[image-157.png|468x225]] # American Friends of Likud (AFL) - The American Friends of Likud (AFL) is the [[Likud]] Party conduit-organization based in the United States. - The AFL arranges speaking events for Likud party officials, facilitates Likud-American relations, and propagandizes on behalf of the Israeli Likud. - The AFL is closely associated with right wing American politics and the Republican party. - In 2015, a Likud advisor stated, "There is a well-established network in the US through the group American Friends of the Likud, which is connected to people who care about Israel and its future." - To this effect the AFL facilitates American Jewish support for Likud, including campaign contributions (90%+ of Netanyahu's election donations in 2015 were from Americans). - The AFL is a New York based 501(c)(3) nonprofit. ---- - American Friends of Likud was founded in 1992 by [[J. Philip Rosen]] at the direct behest of [[Benjamin Netanyahu]]. - In 1992, Netanyahu was a Deputy Minister in Prime Minister [[Yitzhak Shamir]]'s office. - Phil Rosen is an American born Israeli operative. Rosen's father was a close friend of Israeli Prime Minister [[Menachem Begin]], the founder of [[Likud]]. - Rosen described the purpose of founding the AFL as "help the Likud ministers, when they came to the United States, with speaking engagements. Really just spread the word. No money, absolutely no financial fund-raising, zero. Just spread the message." ![[image-158.png|463x385]] *Phil Rosen and Benjamin Netanyahu ~1990s* - From 2003-2006 the AFL was led by [[Ari Harow]]. - Harrow is an American born Israeli, and was a close ally of Netanyahu. Harrow eventually became Netanyahu's Chief of Staff in 2014. - The AFL is a member of the [[Conference of Presidents]], the umbrella organization for the ~50 largest American Jewish organizations. - In May of 2023 the AFL joined a [[World Jewish Congress]] initiative calling for the UN to accept the [[International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA)]] definition of antisemitism. - The AFL is represented by its current President Gerald Platt at the [[World Jewish Congress]]. - The AFL is partnered with the [[Jewish National Fund]] and [[Media Watch International]] on a program called "Caravan for Democracy High School Edition." - The Caravan for Democracy instills Israeli propaganda in high school students so they can defend Israel on college campuses. - [[Media Watch International]] is an organization founded by current AFL director [[Sharon Tzur]]. - The AFL is a member of the [[Zionist Organization of America (ZOA)]]'s coalition in the [[World Zionist Organization]]'s World Zionist Congress. - The AFL is fully opposed to any future Palestinian state. - The AFL is very hawkish, supporting intervention against Israel's enemies. #### Notable Figures - [[J. Philip Rosen]] - Founder and longtime former Chairman - [[Ari Harow]] - Executive director - 2003-2006 - [[Sharon Tzur]] - Current director - Gerry Platt - Current president - [[Kenneth Abramowitz]] - Current chairman - Abramowitz runs a pro Israel propaganda website called *SaveTheWest* #### References - Donn, Yochonon. _“Interview with Phil Rosen.”_ Ha-Modia, July 8, 2015. PDF. [https://action.rjchq.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/HaModiaPhilRosen_July2015.pdf](https://action.rjchq.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/HaModiaPhilRosen_July2015.pdf). - World Jewish Congress. _“Candidates for Election at the 16th WJC Plenary Assembly: Gerald Platt.”_ [https://www.worldjewishcongress.org/en/candidates-for-election-at-the-16th-wjc-plenary-assembly?nominee=gerald-platt&pid=KxXMLHfxqjcLRCP7VXCJH](https://www.worldjewishcongress.org/en/candidates-for-election-at-the-16th-wjc-plenary-assembly?nominee=gerald-platt&pid=KxXMLHfxqjcLRCP7VXCJH). - “Ari Harow.” _Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia._ [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ari_Harow](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ari_Harow). - “Media Watch International.” _Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia._ [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_Watch_International](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_Watch_International). - Wagenheim, Mike. “Who are the 22 groups runniong for influence in World Zionist Congress elections?” _St. Louis Jewish Light_, April 15, 2025. [https://stljewishlight.org/top-story/world-zionist-congress-elections-22-groups/](https://stljewishlight.org/top-story/world-zionist-congress-elections-22-groups/). - Jewish Tele­graphic Agency. “Over 90 Percent of Benjamin Netanyahu’s Re-election Funds from U.S. Donors.” _The Times of Israel_, January 6, 2015. [https://www.timesofisrael.com/over-90-of-netanyahu-reelection-funds-from-us-donors/](https://www.timesofisrael.com/over-90-of-netanyahu-reelection-funds-from-us-donors/). - ProPublica. _“American Friends of Likud Inc.”_ Nonprofit Explorer. [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133935945](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133935945).