Avi Goldwasser — Person

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Avi Goldwasser

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Person·ngo·AI Enriched

Relationships:93

Events:5

Library:16

Confidence:

100%

Key Facts

Type

Person

Sector

ngo

Industry

media and advocacy

Status

Draft

Country

United States

Nationality

IsraelUnited States

Birth Date

Not specified

Death Date

Not specified

Sex

Male

Also Known As

No alternate names

Career & Education

Positions

Co-founder

David Project Center for Jewish Leadership

2004

Filmmaker / Producer

Clarion Project / Clarion Fund

2007 - Present

Education

No education added

About

Avi Goldwasser is an Israeli-American filmmaker, producer, and pro-Israel advocate renowned for producing documentaries that expose national security threats posed by Islamist extremism and its infiltration in Western societies. In 2002, he co-founded The David Project with Charles Jacobs; the organization, later known as the David Project Center for Jewish Leadership, is dedicated to countering anti-Israel activism on U.S. college campuses—such as the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement—and fostering pro-Israel advocacy within Jewish communities through education and leadership training. Goldwasser's media work includes key involvement in the 2005 documentary Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West, produced and distributed by the Clarion Fund, which was controversially mailed to over 28 million voters ahead of the 2008 U.S. presidential election, sparking debates over its political motivations and funding transparency. He has also contributed to The Third Jihad (2010) and Honor Diaries (2014), both Clarion Project films warning of radical Islam's threats, jihadist ideologies, and the implications of Sharia law. Currently, Goldwasser works as a filmmaker and producer for the Clarion Project (formerly Clarion Fund), where he has received financial compensation for his efforts. He frequently appears as a national security commentator on Fox News, has been quoted in Breitbart News, and has authored articles for The Jerusalem Post. Goldwasser maintains professional ties with figures such as Raphael Shore and Frank Gaffney and has affiliations with groups including AIPAC, the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA), Center for Security Policy, and Middle East Forum. His work aligns with conservative national security perspectives and has been criticized by opponents as Islamophobic or propagandistic, though supporters defend it as vital awareness-raising on jihadist threats. While no major legal controversies or personal scandals are publicly documented, his projects have faced scrutiny for opaque nonprofit funding linked to pro-Israel donors.

Key Relationships

Clarion Fund / Clarion Project

compensated

Avi Goldwasser, a co-founder and executive of the Clarion Project, has served as a strategic advisor and project partner for the organization. He has received compensation for his role in producing its media content and managing its operations, leveraging his expertise in pro-Israel media campaigns.

Since 2006

Clarion Fund / Clarion Project

project_partner

Avi Goldwasser, an Israeli-American filmmaker, producer, and pro-Israel advocate, has collaborated with Raphael Shore and the Clarion Project (formerly Clarion Fund) on multiple projects. His contributions include co-production, scripting, strategic distribution, and broader content creation and advocacy for high-profile documentary films such as 'Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West' and 'The Third Jihad,' work aligned with the organization's mission. His dual citizenship and ties to Israeli institutions suggest potential foreign direction or influence over Clarion's media production and advocacy work.

Since 2005

Clarion Fund / Clarion Project

friend

Avi Goldwasser has a long-standing personal and professional relationship with Raphael Shore, dating back to their collaboration on films critical of radical Islam. Their partnership extends beyond work, indicating a close personal bond.

Since 2005

Charles Jacobs

co_founder

Avi Goldwasser and Charles Jacobs co-founded the David Project Center for Jewish Leadership in 2004, establishing an institutional and organizational framework for pro-Israel advocacy. Their collaboration has been central to the organization's mission and operations, which focus on countering anti-Israel activism in academic settings, particularly on college campuses. Jacobs' strategic vision and leadership influenced Goldwasser's approach to advocacy, especially in the use of media and documentary filmmaking to engage Jewish students and communities, tying Jacobs directly to Goldwasser's early advocacy work. The organization later evolved and merged with other entities.

Since 2004

Raphael Shore

project_partner

Raphael Shore, an Israeli-Canadian national and co-founder of the Clarion Fund (later Clarion Project), collaborated extensively with Avi Goldwasser on the production of documentaries such as 'Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West' (2008) and 'The Third Jihad' (2010), co-producing and co-directing these films which warn of Islamist extremism. Shore's leadership at the Clarion Fund provided the institutional and financial framework for these projects, facilitating Goldwasser's filmmaking and advocacy work and directly shaping his focus and messaging on this threat. Shore publicly endorsed Goldwasser, and their work aligned on political messaging regarding Islamist extremism. Goldwasser received compensation from the Clarion Fund for his work. The Clarion Fund has been accused of advancing Israeli geopolitical interests through U.S. media, suggesting Goldwasser's work may have been directed or influenced by foreign (Israeli) priorities.

Since 2008

Frank Gaffney

collaborated

Frank Gaffney has publicly endorsed and collaborated with Avi Goldwasser on national security-related projects addressing radical Islamist threats. Their collaboration, which includes institutional work through Gaffney's Center for Security Policy, involved work on documentaries such as 'The Third Jihad' (2010), a film co-produced by Goldwasser for which Gaffney provided expert commentary and strategic guidance. Gaffney's views on radical Islam and Sharia law were prominently featured in the film, aligning their political messaging on national security and amplifying its impact on conservative national security circles. Gaffney has promoted Goldwasser's documentaries and advocacy work, with his Center for Security Policy being a vocal supporter of Clarion Project films. Their collaboration also involved potential contributions to Gaffney's media appearances and policy advocacy.

Since 2010

Recent Events

Collaborated: Robert Muise → Avi Goldwasser

Avi Goldwasser has collaborated with Robert Muise on legal and advocacy initiatives related to countering Islamist extremism and defending pro-Israel speech, particularly in academic settings.

1/1/2012

Collaborated: Frank Gaffney → Avi Goldwasser

1/1/2010

Foreign funded: Sheldon Adelson → Avi Goldwasser

Avi Goldwasser's projects, particularly those under the Clarion Fund, have been linked to funding networks that include Sheldon Adelson, a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen with deep ties to the Israeli government. Adelson is widely suspected of providing undisclosed financial support to the Clarion Fund, which compensated Goldwasser for his filmmaking. While direct payments to Goldwasser have not been publicly documented, Adelson's financial support for pro-Israel media and advocacy groups—and his broader history of funding pro-Israel and conservative media projects—aligns with Clarion Fund's activities. This suggests indirect foreign influence over Goldwasser's work and a possible back-channel funding relationship, given Adelson's alignment with Israeli geopolitical interests.

1/1/2008

Foreign funded: Jewish Agency for Israel → Avi Goldwasser

The David Project, co-founded by Avi Goldwasser, has received funding or support from the Jewish Agency for Israel, either directly or through intermediary organizations. The Jewish Agency's mandate includes promoting pro-Israel advocacy globally, which aligns with Goldwasser's work, suggesting potential foreign (Israeli) financial influence over U.S. campus activism.

1/1/2004

Foreign funded: Jewish Agency for Israel → Avi Goldwasser

1/1/2004