2026-04-02 04:46:AM <br/> Tags: #AmericanJewry #organization #Lobby ![[image-261.png]] # Americans For a Safe Israel (AFSI) - Americans For a Safe Israel (AFSI) is a U.S.-based pro-Israel [[Revisionist Zionism|revisionist Zionist]] advocacy organization founded in 1970. - AFSI advocates for [[Greater Israel]], beginning with absolute Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and Golan Heights. - AFSI urges Israel to "declare sovereignty over Judea and Samaria, to make it clear that the Golan will never be relinquished, and to assert that Jerusalem will remain the undivided capital of Israel, with the Temple Mount permanently “in our hands.""[^12] - In almost no way is AFSI American other than its name. - AFSI has mixed Israeli and American leadership. - AFSI often travels to Israel to support settler activity in the occupied territories. - AFSI is very close with Israeli settler activists and radical settler religious Zionism. - AFSI facilitates funding and political support for settler activity. #### Activities and Programs - AFSI was founded in 1970 as an initiative of Shmuel Katz, an Israeli Knesset member. - Katz was a former senior official in the pre-statehood Zionist Jewish paramilitary [[Irgun and Lehi Zionist Paramilitary Organizations|Irgun]].[^8] - The Irgun was led by [[Ze'ev Jabotinsky]], for whom Katz wrote an extensive biography, and to whom AFSI is dedicated to this day. *Jabotinsky is the foundational figure of the Israeli right wing.* - In 1982, AFSI launched a major campaign to counter supposedly biased against Israel reporting by mainstream news outlets during the [[1982 Lebanon War]].[^10] - A signature AFSI program is its missions to Israel called "Chizuk Missions." - AFSI claims that each Chizuk attendee returning from Israel "saw himself as an Ambassador, equipped to describe the REAL ISRAEL."[^14] #RedPill *Self admitted ambassadors for a foreign state face no repercussions because they are Jews.* - After each mission, AFSI publishes lengthy summaries of the trip on their website. - The summaries describe how poorly Israeli settlers are treated by the Israeli government and how the Arabs are causing immense problems for the settlers with the backing of the Israeli government.[^11] *AFSI refrains from using the word "Palestinian," instead opting for just "Arab."* - The summaries [allege](https://afsi.org/the-titanic-a-metaphor-for-israel-today-afsi-chizuk-oct-2013/#:~:text=discrimination%20against%20Jews) systemic and ongoing Israeli government discrimination against Jews. *Just insane.* - During the trips AFSI groups have [taken part](https://afsi.org/the-titanic-a-metaphor-for-israel-today-afsi-chizuk-oct-2013/#:~:text=Kahane%20Memorial%20Program) in memorials to [[Meir Kahane]], an extreme American-Israeli militant Jewish rabbi and politician. - During their 2013 mission, [AFSI met](https://afsi.org/the-titanic-a-metaphor-for-israel-today-afsi-chizuk-oct-2013/#:~:text=ZOA%20representative%20in%20Jerusalem) with [[Zionist Organization of America (ZOA)]]'s representatives in Jerusalem. - During the 2014 mission, AFSI visited the Temple Mount in Jerusalem at the same time as the son of rabbi [[Yehuda Glick]]. - AFSI praises Glick for his Jewish "advocacy." - During the 2025 trip, AFSI joined rabbi Glick at the Temple Mount.[^17] - The 2016 trip took place days after [[Donald Trump]] won the 2016 presidential election. - AFSI reported jubilation from settler activists in the occupied territories who were "amazed and delighted by the Trump win, believing that the restraints placed on Israeli building of Jewish homes in eastern Jerusalem and throughout Israel, would now be lifted."[^13] - During the 2016 trip, as usual, AFSI visited the Temple Mount, crediting improved Jewish access to [[Benjamin Netanyahu]]'s Minister of the Interior, [[Gilad Erdan]]. - During their 2017 trip, AFSI attended "the always exciting [[Irving Moskowitz|Moskowitz]] Awards event."[^12] - The 2017 trip was organized as a "victory lap" to "celebrate the amazing, miraculous victories of the [[1967 Six Day War]]." - The first stop on the 2018 Chizuk Mission was the Israel Intelligence Heritage and Commemoration Center, which "honors those who fell serving the [[Shin Bet]], [[Mossad]], and Shabak."[^15] *The inclusion of both Shin Bet and Shabak seems to be a typo, because these are the same thing. It is likely AFSI mean to write Shin Bet, Mossad, and [[Aman]].* - During the second Chizuk Mission of 2018, AFSI visited the City of David, which is managed by the [[Ir David Foundation (Elad)]].[^16] - During the 2025 trip, AFSI met with Yifa Segal.[^17] - Segal was chief of staff for [[Gilad Erdan]] while he was ambassador to the United States from 2020-2021. - Segal is noted as now working for Hetz. Hetz is an Israeli anti-BDS funding organization which has funneled money to the American [[Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI)]].[^18] - NCRI's founder and executive director Joel Finkelstein is a Hetz board member. ![[image-263.png]] *Photo from AFSI's 2017 Chizuk Mission. Their flag advocates for Israeli annexation of the occupied territories.*[^12] - Each year, AFSI hosts its "[[Ze'ev Jabotinsky]] Memorial and Tribute to the Great Zionist Leader." - AFSI's 2025 Jabotinsky memorial's keynote speaker was Uzi Shimon, an alumnus of [[Betar]] the [[Revisionist Zionism|Revisionist]] youth organization founded by Jabotinsky.[^9] #### Funding and Donors - AFSI has relatively low income with only $197,000 in revenue in 2024.[^1] - This number is lower than previous years which surpassed $500,000 in revenue. - A significant majority (65%+) of AFSI's revenue goes towards paying staff. #### Notable Figures - Herbert Zweibon - Founder and longtime figurehead[^5][^6] - Zweibon is described as a "disciple of the legendary Revisionist-Zionist leader, Ze’ev Jabotinsky."[^5] - Zweibon is also described as "ideologically guided" by Shmuel Katz (mentioned above) and [[Yuval Ne'eman]].[^5] - [[Yuval Ne'eman]] was an Israeli politician and scientist involved in the clandestine [[Israel and the Nuclear Bomb|Israeli nuclear project]]. - Zweibon, who served in the American military during World War II, disparaged the U.S. army for not caring about Jews enough to save them from the holocaust. Using that justification, Zweibon asserted "we must learn to depend on ourselves... otherwise, all of Israel's great accomplishments could disappear in a flash." *Zweibon was a Jew only loyal to Israel and the global Jewish nation and he didn't hide it. How was this guy allowed to run an Israeli influence organization in the United States without being considered an undeclared foreign agent?* - Upon his death in 2011, Zweibon was eulogized by [[Zionist Organization of America (ZOA)]] leader [[Morton Klein]] as a man with "a special love for and commitment to the Jews who lived in Judea and Samaria and Gaza."[^6] *Judea and Samaria is what hardline pro-settler Jews call the West Bank. When a Jew or Christian Zionist uses that term, their disposition is clear.* - Erich Isaac - Founding chairman[^7] - Moshe Phillips - Chairman since August 2024[^4] - Phillip's AFSI bio describes him as a former board member of the [[American Zionist Movement (AZM)]], staff member at [[Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting and Analysis (CAMERA)]], and 2020 delegate to the [[World Jewish Congress]]. - [[Kenneth Abramowitz]] - Advisory council member[^2] - Leon Szmedra - N.Y. chapter chair ![[image-262.png|448]] *Leon Szmedra and extreme Israeli settler leader Daniella Weiss during an AFSI trip to Israel in 2014.*[^3] #### References [^1]: “Americans for a Safe Israel Inc,” _ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer_, [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/510181418](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/510181418). [^2]: “Board of Directors,” _Americans for a Safe Israel_, [https://afsi.org/about-us/board-of-directors/](https://afsi.org/about-us/board-of-directors/). [^3]: Staff, “AFSI Group Visiting Israel – in Sderot, and with Ateret Cohanim,” _Americans for a Safe Israel_, May 15, 2014, [https://afsi.org/afsi-group-visiting-israel-in-sderot-and-with-ateret-cohanim/](https://afsi.org/afsi-group-visiting-israel-in-sderot-and-with-ateret-cohanim/). [^4]: “Leaders of AFSI,” _Americans for a Safe Israel_, [https://afsi.org/about-us/leaders-of-afsi/](https://afsi.org/about-us/leaders-of-afsi/). [^5]: Fern Sidman, “Founder – Herbert Zweibon z”l,” _Americans for a Safe Israel_, January 2011, [https://afsi.org/about-us/founder-herbert-zweibon-zl/](https://afsi.org/about-us/founder-herbert-zweibon-zl/). [^6]: Steve Lipman, “AFSI Founder Zweibon, Ardent Zionist, Dies,” _Jewish Telegraphic Agency_, January 25, 2011, [https://www.jta.org/2011/01/25/ny/afsi-founder-zweibon-ardent-zionist-dies](https://www.jta.org/2011/01/25/ny/afsi-founder-zweibon-ardent-zionist-dies). [^7]: Atara Beck, “Dr. Erich Isaac, z”l – First Chairman of AFSI,” _Americans for a Safe Israel_, November 2021, [https://afsi.org/about-us/dr-erich-isaac-zl-first-chairman-of-afsi/](https://afsi.org/about-us/dr-erich-isaac-zl-first-chairman-of-afsi/). [^8]: “Shmuel Katz (politician),” _Wikipedia_, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shmuel_Katz_(politician)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shmuel_Katz_\(politician\)). [^9]: Upcoming and Past Programs, _Americans for a Safe Israel_, [https://afsi.org/programs/](https://afsi.org/programs/). [^10]: George F. Smalley, “Lobby Activities,” _Washington Report on Middle East Affairs_, February 25, 1985, [https://www.wrmea.org/1985-february-25/lobby-activities.html#:~:text=U.S.%20policy.-,For%20Israel%3A,-Americans%20For%20a](https://www.wrmea.org/1985-february-25/lobby-activities.html#:~:text=U.S.%20policy.-,For%20Israel%3A,-Americans%20For%20a). [^11]: Helen Freedman, “The Titanic – a Metaphor for Israel Today – AFSI Chizuk, Oct. 2013,” _Americans for a Safe Israel_, December 5, 2013, [https://afsi.org/the-titanic-a-metaphor-for-israel-today-afsi-chizuk-oct-2013/](https://afsi.org/the-titanic-a-metaphor-for-israel-today-afsi-chizuk-oct-2013/). [^12]: Helen Freedman, “JUBILATION and JITTERS,” _Americans for a Safe Israel_, June 15, 2017, [https://afsi.org/jubilation-and-jitters/](https://afsi.org/jubilation-and-jitters/). [^13]: Helen Freedman, “Mixing Euphoria with Emergency Needs – A Report on the AFSI Chizuk Nov. 10–16 Mission to Israel,” _Americans for a Safe Israel_, December 2, 2016, [https://afsi.org/mixing-euphoria-with-emergency-needs-a-report-on-the-afsi-chizuk-nov-10-16-mission-to-israel/](https://afsi.org/mixing-euphoria-with-emergency-needs-a-report-on-the-afsi-chizuk-nov-10-16-mission-to-israel/). [^14]: Helen Freedman, _Chizuk Mission to Israel: November 7–14, 2017 Full Report_, _Americans for a Safe Israel_, 12, [https://afsi.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Chizuk-Nov-7-14-Full-Report-Helen-Freedman-with-Pics.pdf](https://afsi.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Chizuk-Nov-7-14-Full-Report-Helen-Freedman-with-Pics.pdf). [^15]: Helen Freedman and Judy Freedman Kadish, _Chizuk Mission April 17–25, 2018_, _Americans for a Safe Israel_, [https://afsi.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Report-Mission-April-17-25-2018-1.pdf](https://afsi.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Report-Mission-April-17-25-2018-1.pdf). [^16]: “Adapted from the Notes of Glenn Richter,” _Memories of Americans for a Safe Israel’s Chizuk Mission, October 30–November 5, 2018_, _Americans for a Safe Israel_, [https://afsi.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Report-Mission-Oct-30-Nov-5-2018.pdf](https://afsi.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Report-Mission-Oct-30-Nov-5-2018.pdf). [^17]: _Summary of AFSI Chizuk Mission to Israel May 20–28, 2025_, _Americans for a Safe Israel_, [https://afsi.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Trip-Report-May-2025.pdf](https://afsi.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Trip-Report-May-2025.pdf). [^18]: Jack Poulson, _Towards a Public Database for Investigating Western Special Operations_ (Disruption Network Institute, November 28, 2024), 20, [https://static1.squarespace.com/static/64d25344dbe1c3217d71979a/t/67585686c6a11d7e5ca9bbc1/1733842567922/Jack+Poulson+-+Towards+a+Public+Database.pdf](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/64d25344dbe1c3217d71979a/t/67585686c6a11d7e5ca9bbc1/1733842567922/Jack+Poulson+-+Towards+a+Public+Database.pdf).