Parties ‘on same side’ when it comes to Israel: Adelson

Jewish philanthropist Sheldon Adelson, a major funder of the Republican Party, told a gathering of Israeli Americans that U.S. political parties are “on the same side” when it comes to supporting Israel.

“Everyone in this room, whether you’re a Republican, a Democrat or Independent … when it comes to Israel, we’re on the same side,” Adelson said at the first national conference of the Israeli-American Council in Washington. He made his remarks while sharing a stage with Israeli American philanthropist Haim Saban, a top funder of the Democratic Party.

Though the media often focuses on Adelson’s political giving, he is also the world’s leading private donor to Jewish education, the Taglit-Birthright Israel program, and Jerusalem’s Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial. He owns Israel Hayam, the largest-circulation newspaper in Israel.

Adelson also commented on the nuclear negotiations wuth Iran.

“I wouldn’t just talk, I would take action,” he said. “Not taking action is too costly.”