On July 22, 2011 the Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy won a major victory toward public release of a classified document illegally obtained by the Israeli government and passed to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. According to the Interagency Security Classification Appeals Panel (ISCAP) announcement, “The document came before the ISCAP classified in its entirety. The ISCAP voted unanimously to declassify some portions and affirm the classification of other portions of the document…” The US Trade Representative, which blocked release under the Freedom of Information Act, now has 60 days to appeal the ISCAP decision to the President. IRmep argued to ISCAP that the document was originally classified to protect American industry secrets, and that the main parties it was meant to be kept from illicitly obtained it almost immediately. (For the whole story, see “Spy Trade: How Israel’s Lobby Undermines America’s Economy.”) In a separate initiative, IRmep is seeking $6.4 billion in damages for victimized US industry and workers groups.
According to IRmep director Grant F. Smith, “Even partial release should clear away a major hurdle to direct industry litigation against both AIPAC and the Israeli government for billions of dollars in damages tied directly to their possession of this stolen document.”
IRmep 2010 appeal to the ISCAP: http://www.IRmep.org/07152010ISCAP.pdf
ISCAP release decision: http://www.IRmep.org/2010-074_IRmep_USTR_Decision.pdf