WASHINGTON, Jan. 15, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- America's first National Summit to Reassess the U.S.-Israel "Special Relationship" will be held in the ballroom of the National Press Club on March 7 in Washington, DC.

U.S. financial, military, and diplomatic support for Israel has grown significantly and steadily throughout the past 60 years and now dwarfs annual American foreign assistance to all other nations. Research indicates the U.S.-Israel "special relationship" is a major factor in foreign hostility towards Americans. Some experts suggest that Israel has been central to U.S. wars in the Middle East.

However, the huge public backlash against Israel lobby-generated momentum for U.S. attacks on Syria and Iran indicates that Americans are concerned about the direction of U.S. foreign policy, how it is made, and those trying to make it. This historic summit will provide an in-depth, multifaceted inquiry into this critical subject matter. Panelists will include former military and diplomatic personnel, intelligence officers, scholars, economists, researchers and a variety of other subject-matter experts and authors often shut out of key discussions in public forums and news media outlets. Members of the public will be allowed to ask the key questions and network with other attendees.

Interested members of the public may now register for an early-bird discount online at EventsNow (link).  Members of the press may request credentials and currently enrolled university or college students may apply for one of the limited number of donor-funded free student tickets by completing and submitting this registration form (PDF link).  A complimentary lunch will be provided during mid-day keynotes and panels.

National Summit organizers are:

CNIF advocates for Middle East policies that serve the national interest; that represent the highest values of our founders and our citizens; and that work to sustain a nation of honor, decency, security and prosperity.

IAK is an independent research and information-dissemination institute with particular focus on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, U.S. foreign policy regarding the Middle East, and media coverage of this issue.

IRmep is a Washington-DC based nonprofit researching U.S. Middle East policy formulation and how warranted law enforcement and civil action can improve outcomes.

WRMEA is a magazine published by the American Educational Trust focusing on news and analysis from and about the Middle East and U.S. policy in that region.

Follow http://www.Natsummit.org and @NATSummit on Twitter for future official updates.

SOURCE Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy