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People Behind ILF

Arieh King, Founder

Arieh King, director and founder of the Israel Land Fund (ILF), developed the idea over the course of ten years of working in the East Jerusalem area with several organizations and government bodies. Arieh realized the desire of Diaspora Jews to take a more active role in redeeming the land of Israel, especially in Jerusalem.

Born on Kibbutz Alumim, Arieh, 35, is one of the ten original residents of Ma’ale Zeitim (Ras-Al-Amud) where he currently resides with his wife and six children. Arieh was also one of the first people in the national religious camp to take legal action against the injustices of the State against the Jewish people. This included standing up to extreme left-wing organizations pushing the post-Zionist agenda.

Bringing more than ten years of experience in redeeming the land of Israel, Arieh started the Israel Land Fund while trying to recover land on the Mt. of Olives in 2007. Since then, he has been active both in recovery and preservation of Jewish land in East Jerusalem as well as throughout the Land of Israel. Arieh started the Israel Land Fund to offer unique opportunities for any Jew to personally acquire a piece of the land, part of a building or a number of buildings in Israel. His work encompasses empowering the donor or investor to become an active and eternal part of the aims of the organization. Arieh endeavors to acquire land of strategic national importance as well as areas of historical and religious value to the Jewish people.

*Name Withheld, Founder

A Jewish, prolific Zionist and American citizen helped establish the Israel Land Fund together with Arieh King. Married with children, he is devoted to the furthering the goals of the Israel Land Fund. An active partner, he helps set the Fund’s agenda, priorities and policies. He desired an organization which helps any Jew acquire a place and heritage in Israel, with the minimal possible costs, and with no financial danger or advance payment. Covering overhead, up front and brokerage costs of deals; he enables any investor to put 100% of their money into bringing the greatest possible amount of land back into Jewish hands.

*name withheld to maintain privacy

Management of the Fund

The Israel Land Fund employs three full time employees who help manage and run the daily operations of the Fund. The three are well versed in Arabic, and all served as officers in the Israel Defense Force. These skills are frequently called into play in their dealings with Arab sellers and with the local population in areas that the Fund is active. The Fund’s employees are also proficient in English, which is a basic requirement of the work, since the Fund’s main proponents are from the English speaking public.

In addition, the Fund employs numerous lawyers, appraisers, surveyors, investigators, translators and other professionals as outsourcers in order to run as cheaply and efficiently as possible. A result of years of experience, this system allows the Fund to focus on locating potential sellers, and leaves the nitty-gritty work of meshing out deals to the professionals. When the time comes to signing deals, the Fund is with the buyers throughout the process from start to finish, right up to the affixing of the mezuzah or planning of the land.

The Israel Land Fund’s offices are located near the Old City of Jerusalem representing its steadfast ambition to be an active and integral part of the city, in particular, East Jerusalem.