Key Facts
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About
The Kohelet Policy Forum (KPF) is an influential conservative, libertarian, and right-wing Israeli nonprofit think tank founded in 2012 by Moshe Koppel, a computer scientist and Talmudic scholar who grew up in New York City and moved to Israel in 1980. Headquartered in Jerusalem and run by Koppel as chair alongside Avraham Diskin, Avi Bell, and Eugene Kontorovich, the organization is funded primarily by U.S. donors including billionaire investors Arthur Dantchik and Jeff Yass. Its primary mission is to influence Israeli government policies by promoting Israel's future as the nation-state of the Jewish people—advocating for a strong Jewish identity for the state—strengthening representative democracy, and advancing individual liberty and free-market principles. KPF focuses on judicial reform, security, and right-wing policies, and has been instrumental in drafting laws and producing policy papers on these topics, often aligning with Israel's conservative political factions. The think tank gained international attention for its role in the 2023 judicial overhaul efforts, which sparked widespread protests and division in Israel. KPF has faced scrutiny for its foreign funding and close ties to Israeli political figures, such as Economy Minister Nir Barkat, and has been criticized for its opaque funding and potential to import American libertarian ideologies into Israeli policy debates. Despite controversies, it maintains relationships with elected officials and positions itself as a key player in shaping Israel's political landscape. The organization includes senior fellows among its staff.