The first night of the Republican Jewish Coalitionâs Leadership Summit in Las Vegas underscored top GOP leadersâ support for Israel as they seek to boost former President Donald Trumpâs chances in the upcoming presidential election.
The Sept. 4 dinner also showcased the lasting legacy of the late Sheldon Adelson, the major pro-Israel Republican donor who created the Venetian Las Vegas. The resort complex hosted the gathering.
Republican Jewish Coalition Chair Norm Coleman, a former senator from Minnesota, described the surroundings as âthe house that Sheldon built.â
Adelsonâs wife, Miriam Adelson, will speak on Sept. 5, the same day Trump makes a virtual appearance.
Leading Republicans who spoke included Michael Whatley, who chairs the Republican National Committee; Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), who is running for Senate leader; Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), co-chair of the Senate Abraham Accords Caucus; and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.
Whatley and Scott recounted trips to Israel.
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Like other Republicans who spoke, Scott, who is facing a challenge from Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, expressed his strong support for the Jewish community and the state of Israel.
âLet me know what I can do to be helpful,â Scott told the crowd just before departing the stage.
Ernst spoke about the death of American Israeli Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who had been a hostage of Hamas after the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack.
His parents spoke at the Democratic National Convention days before Goldberg-Polinâs body was recovered alongside those of five other dead hostages in a tunnel beneath Rafah.
Rep. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) speaks with the Republican Jewish Coalition in Las Vegas on Sept. 4, 2024. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times
âHersh should still be alive today,â the Iowa lawmaker said, before describing a recent sit-down with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.
A set but empty table at the gathering commemorated victims.
Ernst offered up a pro-Israel variation on the âAmerica Firstâ slogan popularized by Trump.
âI believe in America first, always, but never America alone,â she said.
Doug Kustoff (R-Tenn.), one of just two Jewish Republicans in the House, criticized the United Statesâ highest-ranking Jewish lawmaker, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), for his call for a new election for the slot currently occupied by Netanyahu.
A memorial table sits for Israeli victims of Hamas’s terrorist attacks, among guests at the Republican Jewish Coalition Leadership Summit in Las Vegas on Sept. 4, 2024. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times
âWe donât do that to our enemies, much less to our allies. That is shameful,â Kustoff said.
Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) followed up on his comments on X regarding a Turkish crowdâs attack on U.S. Marinesâan incident reportedly triggered by U.S. support for Israel.
Both Turkey and Greece are NATO allies of the United States. Scott has previously suggested Turkeyâs NATO membership should be rethought.
Rep. Rick Scott (R-FL) speaks with the Republican Jewish Coalition in Las Vegas on Sept. 4, 2024. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times
At the Venetian, he told The Epoch Times that Turkey was falling short as a NATO member.
âThatâs a decision for every member of NATO,â he said of any proposals to expel Turkey from the organization.
Original News Source Link – Epoch Times
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