"Our defense is in the preservation of the spirit which prizes liberty as the heritage of all men, in all lands, everywhere. Destroy this spirit and you will have planted the seeds of despotism around your own doors."

- Abraham Lincoln

The Council for the National Interest is a non-profit, non-partisan grassroots organization advocating a new direction for U.S. Middle East policy. As CNI Founding Chairman Paul Findley notes, CNI is "motivated by the national interest of our country in Middle East policy. This organization provides a way for all citizens, regardless of religious affiliation or national origin, to speak out in an effective way."

Our membership consists of well-informed supporters from all ethnic, religious, social, and political backgrounds who strongly believe the American national interest is directly linked to upholding American principles and values, and strictly adhering to international law.

Our operations are entirely funded by donations from individual American citizens. We receive no government support, foreign or domestic.

Our Mission

• Protect our national interest by encouraging and promoting a U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East that is consistent with American values

• Contribute to a just solution of the most pressing problems in the Middle East, namely the Arab-Israeli conflict

• Restore a political environment in America in which voters and their elected officials are free from the undue influence of foreign interest groups

Our Goals

• Diplomacy as the primary method of problem resolution in the Middle East

• Elimination of unaudited aid to foreign countries

• Normalized relations between Israel, all Middle Eastern states, and regional organizations such as the Arab League.

• American recognition of a totally independent state of Palestine

• Total withdrawal of Israel from all occupied territory (the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and Golan Heights)

• A shared Jerusalem, the capital of two states, Israel and Palestine

• An end to all acts of aggression, provocation, and retaliation (to include terrorism committed against Israelis as well as the state terrorism committed by Israel against Palestinians)

• A political atmosphere in which (1) a fair and objective media covers the Middle East without fear of retaliation by advertisers or foreign interest groups; (2) the American electorate is unafraid to debate the issues openly and frankly; and (3) our elected officials vote their conscience

What Does CNI Do?

• CNI is the only organization of its kind striving against tremendous odds to reverse the U.S. government's one-sided, one-way Middle East policies

• CNI works to oppose foreign interest groups' influence on Congress and the White House

• CNI promotes the expansion of democracy in the Middle East, including constitutional guarantees of equality for all citizens of Israel and the Arab world.

• CNI monitors the use of U.S. taxpayer funds in the Middle East

• CNI reaches out to the American people and like-minded institutions through:

• efforts with local and regional organizations
• regional chapters and activists nationwide
• public hearings and seminars in Washington D.C. on current issues
• networking and information sharing with grassroots activists and peace and social justice groups
• local and national full-page newspaper advertising and the use of email lists to build the organization

JOIN US!

The Council for the National Interest needs your help and energy on the ground to make sure our message is heard. By supporting CNI, you will receive timely strategic background information on the issues on a regular basis. We will also help locate speakers for your area, and assist you in developing political action at the community level.