About Us
Our Mission
The Institute for Middle East Understanding (IMEU) is an independent non-profit organization that provides journalists with quick access to information about Palestine and the Palestinians, as well as expert sources, both in the United States and in the Middle East. Both through its website and its staff, the IMEU works with journalists to increase the public's understanding about the socio-economic, political, and cultural aspects of Palestine, Palestinians, and Palestinian Americans.
What We Do
The IMEU assists journalists who are working on stories about Palestine or the Palestinians by:
- Providing access to the latest news stories, expert analysis, photographs and other visuals
- Maintaining an updated panel of credible experts and analysts who can comment publicly on the news, life and culture of Palestinians and Palestinian Americans.
- Putting journalists in contact with Palestinian women and men from all walks of life — including artists, poets, businesspeople, medical professionals, policymakers, and more — who are willing to be interviewed.
- Compiling an extensive library of images, maps, studies, reports and polls relating to Palestine and the Palestinians
- Providing a comprehensive set of answers to the most commonly asked questions about Palestine and the Palestinians
- Supplying links to websites and other online materials that offer journalists a wide range of information on the Palestinian experience. The IMEU provides these links as a service to journalists but it does not necessarily endorse the views or opinions of the various sources.
What We Believe
Only through increased understanding of the peoples of the Middle East — their history, their struggles, their rights and aspirations — can a just and lasting peace be achieved, which is in the interest of all Americans.
Sound public policy is achieved when citizens receive balanced and accurate information from the media. And if journalists have easy access to credible information and analysis about Palestinians, it can only result in a better informed American public.
Diverse opinions are necessary for the free and full exchange of ideas. The IMEU can best serve the media and the public by staying independent and providing access to a range of voices.
All human beings should be treated equally, regardless of gender, faith or national origin — whether they reside in the United States, Palestine, Israel or anywhere else in the world.
Violence is abhorrent — whether perpetrated by individuals or by states — and must be repudiated in all its forms.
Who We Are
The IMEU was founded in 2005 by a group of concerned Americans who want to foster an increased understanding among Americans about Palestine and the Palestinians. The IMEU is an independent organization and is not affiliated with any government or political party. It is funded through individual donations and foundations.
Board of Directors
Khaldoun Baghdadi - Chairman
Khaldoun Baghdadi is a prominent attorney in the California firm Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger and has been recognized by the legal community through his inclusion in the “Best Lawyers in America.” He served as Chairman of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission and is an adjunct professor of law at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law.
Nasser Barghouti
Nasser Barghouti is a human rights activist and a technology entrepreneur. He served on the board of directors of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of San Diego and Imperial Counties for 7 years. He also served as a member of the steering committee of the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights for four years. He is a long-term member of Amnesty International USA, ACLU, and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC). Originally from Ramallah, Palestine, he grew up in Cairo, Egypt and immigrated to the US in 1981. He lived in New York City prior to moving to San Diego in 2001 and then to Texas in 2018. Nasser holds B.S., M.S., and Ph.D degrees in Computer Science from Columbia University.
Jeanmarie Condon
Veteran producer and director Jeanmarie Condon is an award-winning executive producer, director, and writer of documentary features and series. Condon’s work with outlets such as ABC, Hulu, National Geographic, A&E Networks, NPR, and Boston Globe has focused on social justice, humanitarian, and environmental issues. She has spent over 20 years directing, writing, and producing documentaries primarily with the late Peter Jennings, as well as with Ted Koppel, Christiane Amanpour, and Diane Sawyer.
Zahira Dahdul - Treasurer
Zahira Dahdul's over twenty-year career has spanned New York, London, and Dubai, which included working for Lehman Brothers in the transaction management division, then subsequently at Nomura, where she was Head of Human Resources for the Middle East. She is an active supporter of educational and work opportunities for Palestinian women and children.
Isam Salah
Isam Salah is a former senior finance partner in King & Spalding’s New York and Dubai offices, where he led the firm’s Middle East & Islamic Finance Practice Group. He is a frequent writer and speaker on the topic of Islamic finance and investment and is a former President of the Arab Bankers Association of North America.
Nadia Tommalieh - Secretary
Nadia Tommalieh is a former localization program manager in the software industry. She is a food enthusiast, blogger, and a cooking instructor focusing on Arabic cuisine and promoting traditional Palestinian home cooking. Nadia has been an active volunteer in several organizations in the Seattle area.
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Statements
The IMEU prepares financial statements audited by an independent accounting firm. View available financial statements.