As the Gaza war rages, Israeli funds target US college campuses and push to redefine antisemitism in US law
by Lee Fang and Jack Poulson
Part 5 - Knesset members to continue financial support for campaigns related to US policy and campus discourse
While the full extent of Israeli government influence on US institutions is not known, Knesset debate provides a window into Israeli strategy and interactions with US advocacy groups.
The Knesset has held several hearings with American Jewish organizations to discuss coordination. Margarita Spichko, an official from Chikli’s ministry of diaspora affairs, testified in December that her office issues a weekly report based on information gathered from partners in the US, including Hillel.
The Knesset has held several hearings with American Jewish organizations to discuss coordination. Margarita Spichko, an official from Chikli’s ministry of diaspora affairs, testified in December that her office issues a weekly report based on information gathered from partners in the US, including Hillel.
Hadas Lorber, then working as an aide to Israel’s national security council, noted during the same hearing that the prime minister’s office had met regularly with DC-based groups as part of “an honest attempt to see how we can combat antisemitism, how we can increase legislation in front of all the different members of Congress, to promote legislation in the US that will combat antisemitism, that will work on campuses”.
In March, the Knesset brought together leaders of major pro-Israel groups from around the world to report on activities around the war. Lawmakers at the hearing pressed advocacy groups to explain how they were pushing back on campus protests. Meir Holtz, the president of Mosaic United, noted in the hearing that the Israeli government this year will invest 48 million shekels, or about $12.8m, into his organization for campus outreach.
In March, the Knesset brought together leaders of major pro-Israel groups from around the world to report on activities around the war. Lawmakers at the hearing pressed advocacy groups to explain how they were pushing back on campus protests. Meir Holtz, the president of Mosaic United, noted in the hearing that the Israeli government this year will invest 48 million shekels, or about $12.8m, into his organization for campus outreach.
Last month, Alon Lavi, a representative from the Israeli ministry of foreign affairs, implored Knesset members to continue financial support for campaigns related to US policy and campus discourse. He warned that the state of Israel could not lead the effort, and should instead rely on non-governmental organizations and broader civil society.
“We need to form coalitions with elements inside that want to help us, and part of that is mobilizing the leadership, the university leadership, student leadership, the mayors, the local congressmen in states and towns,” Lavi said.
One of the lawmakers at the hearing, MK Meir Cohen, was unimpressed. “I don’t feel there is a sense of emergency,” Cohen noted, noting that the ministry’s budget plans amounted to little.
“If I may, MK Cohen, I agree with you completely,” replied Ron Brummer, a representative of the ministry of diaspora affairs who works closely with Chikli. “We need to put down 300m shekels, not 30m shekels.”
“We need to form coalitions with elements inside that want to help us, and part of that is mobilizing the leadership, the university leadership, student leadership, the mayors, the local congressmen in states and towns,” Lavi said.
One of the lawmakers at the hearing, MK Meir Cohen, was unimpressed. “I don’t feel there is a sense of emergency,” Cohen noted, noting that the ministry’s budget plans amounted to little.
“If I may, MK Cohen, I agree with you completely,” replied Ron Brummer, a representative of the ministry of diaspora affairs who works closely with Chikli. “We need to put down 300m shekels, not 30m shekels.”
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