The fervently Pro-Israel billionaire poured massive amounts of cash into Trump’s campaign [reportedly, $125 million]. He is already seeing his investment pay off. Nathan Guttman reports in The Forward:
Adelson’s political giving reflects his views on three issues: support for Israel and for the policies of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government; the battle against legalizing marijuana, and outlawing online gambling, which he perceives as a direct threat to his casino business.He is already seeing his investment pay off when it comes to all three issues, especially on Israel.
He is already seeing his investment pay off when it comes to all three issues, especially on Israel.
Guttman continues:
Adelson questioned the idea of a two-state solution even when the Republican Party and fellow Republican Jews made sure to list it as their preferred outcome. Adelson’s belief that establishing a Palestinian state would be akin to playing Russian roulette is, under Trump, taking root within Republican circles. The GOP dropped the call for a two-state solution from its 2016 platform (a move Adelson was not involved in), and Trump’s top Middle East appointees, ambassador-designate to Israel David Friedman and future international negotiator Jason Greenblatt, have expressed their doubts about establishing a Palestinian state alongside Israel.
Trump has made other policy statements that reflect Adelson’s view on Israel, including his promise to move the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem and to increase pressure on Iran.
A Jewish activist with close ties to Adelson said these issues came up in the conversations Adelson held with Trump before the elections. The activist noted there is no way of knowing whether it was Adelson’s advice that made Trump adopt these positions, but said the Vegas mega donor “always stresses in every conversation how important Israel is for him.”
Adelson is working to absolve Trump and associate Steve Bannon of charges of “anti-Semitism.” Guttman reports: “Adelson has not spoken out publicly on Bannon, but
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