About Us

Madar Center

The Palestinian Forum for Israeli Studies (MADAR) is an independent research centre specialising in Israeli affairs, based in Ramallah, Palestine. MADAR was established in 2000 by a group of Palestinian intellectuals and academics, including the late poet Mahmoud Darwish, Dr. Lily Feidy, Dr. Ali Jarbawi, Dr. Ahmad Harb, Mr. Walid Al-Ahmad and Mr. Akram Haniyyeh. The centre was registered as a not-for-profit organisation with the Palestinian Ministry of Interior, and obtained a research centre’s operational licensing from the Palestinian Ministry of Information.

Madar Goals

MADAR was created to meet the urgent Palestinian and Arab need for a research centre that is dedicated to studying Israeli affairs. Its main goal is to produce solid and critical research and analysis about the Israeli scene. It aspires to make an avant garde contribution and to provide Palestinian and Arab decision-makers and citizens with access to a comprehensive scientifically sound body of knowledge on the different aspects of Israel. MADAR continues to work persistently on the following projects to achieve its main goal:

Research and Studies

Conduct research and studies in various Israeli political, social, economic and cultural fields

Israeli Affairs

Translation of books published in Hebrew and other languages on Israeli issues into Arabic

Special Reports

Issuing special reports and evaluating position papers on a striking phenomenon and ongoing issues

Strategic Reports

Issue an annual strategic report on the Israeli scene

The Israeli scene

Issuing an appendix to the "Israeli scene" of the press, so that the task of monitoring the latest developments in areas of interest

Seminars, study days and conferences

Organizing seminars, study days and conferences on issues and topics related to various aspects of the Israeli arena

Since its establishment, MADAR has published scores of research studies, translations, and other publications, providing a comprehensive coverage for the Israeli historical, socioeconomic, ideological and political scenes. Additionally, MADAR monitors and analyses movements within these components, and the resulting impact and trends accompanying them. And the center has established an online databank (MADAR-Pedia) covering a wide range of terms and their definitions, as well as biographies of Israeli figures and leaders in Arabic.