Jewish Businessmen Show Support For Romney in Israel With Big Bucks – OpEd
By Jim Kouri
In private, President Barack Obama may be kicking himself for missing out on a campaign finance bonanza in Israel after learning that a group of U.S. Jewish businessmen are handing over $50,000.00 each during a fundraising breakfast Sunday with GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney, according to the Law Enforcement Examiner’s Israeli police source.
Obama’s opponent began his highly anticipated visit to Israel on Saturday following his controversial visit to London.
More than 50 businessmen flew to Israel in a private jet specifically to attend the fundraising meal with Romney at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem. The former Massachusetts governor said he would reveal his proposed Middle East policies during a speech.
While the guest list is being kept a secret, the Israeli Ma’ariv newspaper named a few of the attendees such as casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, top attorney Philip Rosen, and California real estate magnate Bobby Rechnitz.
A key guest listed by the newspaper is Kenneth Abramowitz, a New York-based multi-millionaire and one of the leaders of an organization that raises money for Israeli defense.
Casino owner Sheldon Adelson is an enthusiastic political supporter of Israel’s tough Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and is said to be the largest donor so far to Romney’s campaign.
Reports indicate Adelson pledged a more than $100 million in his quest to see Romney oust President Barack Obama in the election scheduled for November. He recently sued the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee for libel as a result of a vicious campaign by them and their blogosphere friends to vilify him.
Some of the group’s members have previously donated funds, directly or indirectly, to the Likud — Israel’s conservative and hawkish party — primaries last Spring.
“I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that Obama is making an important trip to Israel in the coming days once he learns how much cash is available from the Israeli left-wing,” quipped Michael Baker, an attorney and political consultant.
