FDD’s Mark Dubowitz Awarded Prestigious Bertelsmann Fellowship

Joins 28 young policy leaders selected to strengthen relations among Germany, Israel, and the United States

Washington, D.C. (June 20, 2006) — The Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) is pleased to announce that its chief operating officer, Mark Dubowitz, has been awarded a prestigious fellowship by the Bertelsmann Foundation.  The fellowship brings together young Israeli, German, and U.S. policy leaders to strengthen international bonds and explore potential areas of cooperation.

“FDD is committed to delivering programs that strengthen alliances between key allies in the war on terrorism – and the promotion of a stronger U.S.-Israeli-European alliance is one of our strategic goals,” said Dubowitz.  “The strong German-Israeli alliance is one of the extraordinary bonds of our time and I am honored to be a participant in its continued development.”

Bertelsmann is one of Europe's largest media companies.  Its operating divisions include Random House publishing, BMG music, and the RTL Group television and radio.  Through its private foundation, the annual Bertelsmann fellowship convenes 28 young leaders in German and Israeli politics, media and business to promote stronger German-Israeli relations.  Participants collaborate with leading journalists, politicians, and national security figures in both Germany and Israel.  The program also reunites participants every year after the initial program to cement relationships.

Dubowitz was selected for his role in helping to establish FDD's European programs and for his efforts to remove terrorist media outlets from worldwide broadcast.  Through FDD's Coalition Against Terrorist Media (CATM), Dubowitz has been instrumental in removing Hezbollah's al-Manar television stations from eight of ten global satellite providers, including four European providers, and having the station designated as a terrorist entity by the U.S. Department of Treasury.

He is the only U.S.-based participant to be selected for the fellowship in 2006. His participation reflects Bertelsmann's desire to include North Americans in promoting a three-way partnership in the crucial issues confronting the world today, including the fight against terrorism.  The program kicks off with a seven-day session in Berlin and Munich in June, followed by an October session in Israel.

The Foundation for Defense of Democracies is non-profit, non-partisan policy institute dedicated exclusively to promoting pluralism, defending democratic values, and fighting the ideologies that drive terrorism.  Founded shortly after the attacks of 9/11, FDD combines policy research, democracy and counterterrorism education, strategic communications, and investigative journalism in support of its mission.

# # #