Washington Institute for Near East Policy

Founded, in 1985, by Martin Indyk while he was research director for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the Washington Institute for Near East Policy differentiated itself from the AIPAC lobby as a think tank. Until the beginning of the George W. Bush Administration, WINEP was among the most influential policy organizations, described as #1 by figures as diverse as Charles Krauthhammer and Al Gore. It describes its mission as " Under the guidance of a distinguished and bipartisan Board of Advisors, the Institute seeks to bring scholarship to bear on the making of U.S. policy in this vital region of the world. Drawing on the research of its scholars and the experience of policy practitioners, the Institute promotes an American engagement in the Middle East committed to strengthening alliances, nurturing friendships, and promoting security, peace, prosperity, and democracy for the people of the region." It is is a 501(c)(3) organization.

Its 1998 recommendations helped shaped the George H.W. Bush administration policy, with the guideline toThe "resist pressures for a procedural breakthrough until conditions have ripened." Writing for the Middle East Report, Stanford University professor Joel Beinin stated: "'Six members of the study group responsible for the report joined the first Bush administration, which adopted this stalemate recipe not to change until change was unavoidable. Hence the United States acceded to Israel's refusal to negotiate with the Palestine Liberation Organization despite the PLO's recognition of Israel at the November 1988 session of the Palestine National Council'" (April 6, 2003).

A report recommending containment of both Iran and Iraq follwed in 1992. Indyk joined the Clinton National Security Council Staff as senior director for Near East and South Asian affairs at the National Security Council.