2025-11-20 09:04:PM <br/> Tags: #organization #AmericanJewry #Lobby #Israel #KeyOrganizations ![[image-180.png|757x218]] # Israeli-American Council (IAC) - The Israeli-American Council (IAC) is an American Jewish organization formed by and for Israeli expats; Israelis who have become American citizens. - The IAC was founded in Los Angeles in 2007. - The IAC is a major force within organized American Jewry, commonly hosting the biggest Jewish names at its events. - The IAC was founded as the "Israeli Leadership Council," [changing its name](https://jewishjournal.com/mobile_20111212/113955/) to the Israeli-American Council at its annual gala in 2013. *The addition of "American" plays better to the public.* - The IAC is highly political yet non-partisan, drawing donors and hosting speakers from both the left and right. - Despite its non partisan claims, the IAC is clearly oriented towards American Republican and Israeli [[Likud]] politics. - The IAC has significant ties to Israeli intelligence units and covert operations. #### Founding - The IAC was founded in 2007 at the behest Ehud Danoch, the Israeli consul general of Los Angeles at the time. - The IAC was founded by a groups of Jewish and Israeli businessmen in Los Angeles including: [[Adam Milstein]], [[Naty Saidoff]], Shawn Evenhaim, Eli Tene, Danny Alpert, and Shoham Nicolet. - The IAC was founded amid rising Israeli-American fear of assimilation. - The IAC sought to curb Jewish-Israeli assimilation to America by building an organization dedicated to Israeli-Americans and their affinity for Israel. #RedPill *Israelis move here and gain American citizenship to advance their personal/business/academic lives, with no intention of returning loyalty. If they feel the need to form organizations to specifically retain their Israeli loyalties, what can we call it but dual loyalty?* - The IAC's three founding pillars are: - Strengthening future generations of Israeli Americans - *opposing assimilation.* - Strengthening American Jewry - Strengthening Israel - The IAC's 2007 founding-event was held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles. - Since 2003, the Beverly Hilton has been owned by [[Beny Alagem]], as Israeli-American businessman and honorary IAC board member. - Many IAC events have been held at the Beverly Hilton since its founding. #### General Activity in the U.S. - In its first year of operation (2008) the IAC launched a project called "Live Sderot," which brought attention to the Israeli city of Sderot. - Sderot, which is right next to the northern Gaza border, had been under fire from Hamas rockets. - The IAC's Live Sderot campaign drew support from both 2008 presidential candidates, Barack Obama and John McCain. - Obama traveled to Israel during the summer of 2008 and visited Sderot. - The IAC emphasizes the use of the Hebrew language for Israeli-Americans. - The IAC, in partnership with the PJ Library, the [[Harold Grinspoon Foundation]], and the [[Adam Milstein|Adam]] and Gila Milstein Family Foundation, ran a program called *Sifriyat Pijama B’America* (Pajama Library in America), which provided free Hebrew-language books to Israeli-Americans. *The PJ Library is a program of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation.* - The IAC launched the "Celebrate Israel Festival," an annual event to celebrate Israel's independence day, the 5th of Iyar (roughly May 14). - The IAC commonly honors Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers at its events. - The IAC wishes to instill a reverence for the Israeli military at its events and in the minds of American Jews. - By 2013-15, with major funding from [[Sheldon Adelson]], the IAC expanded from a Los Angeles organization into a national one. - Sheldon Adelson took a particular liking to the IAC over groups like [[AIPAC]], because the IAC was the most Israel-first of them all. ![[image-182.png|719x479]] *[[Miriam Adelson|Miriam]] and [[Sheldon Adelson]] with [[Mitt Romney]] at the IAC National Conference in Washington, D.C., 2014. [Source](https://www.wrmea.org/israel-palestine/adelson-funded-iac-and-other-groups-may-soon-rival-aipac-for-influence-power.html#:~:text=(L%2Dr)%20Dr.%20Miriam%20Adelson%2C%20Sheldon%20Adelson%20and%20former%20Gov.%20Mitt%20Romney%20at%20the%20inaugural%20%C2%ADIsraeli%2DAmerican%20National%20Conference%20in%20Washington%2C%20DC%20in%20November%202014.%20(WWW.ISRAELIAMERICAN.ORG)) * - In 2017, the IAC partnered with [[Friends of the IDF (FIDF)]] on a Los Angeles fundraising event. - FIDF is an American organization that exists to support the military of Israel. - In 2018, the IAC partnered with the [[Maccabee Task Force]], and the Israeli Reichman University to produce the [[Act.IL]] app. - The Act.IL app was a 'crowdsourced cancellation' app. - The app directed users to swarm supposedly antisemitic and anti-Israel social media posts with reports in the hopes that the posts will be taken down. - The app also directed users to the websites of businesses that criticized Israel, prompting mass negative reviews. - Act.IL received significant funding from [[Sheldon Adelson]]. - The IAC's Mishelanu program is "a nationwide student network on dozens of campuses across the nation." - The program creates "ambassadors" for Israel out of American Jewish college students. - The program trains Jewish students to "combat antisemitism" and to "bring the spirit of Israeliness to your campus." - [During the spring of 2024](https://web.archive.org/web/20250801162820/https://www.thenation.com/article/activism/israeli-american-council/), amidst mass U.S. campus pro-Palestine protests, the IAC led the Israeli opposition to the protests. - The IAC led an event in April 2024 at UCLA. - The event was led by IAC CEO [[Elan Carr]]. - The [[ADL]]'s [[Jonathan Greenblatt]] was a featured speaker. - Israel Bachar, Israel's consul general to the Pacific Southwest was a featured speaker. - In an effort to disrupt the pro-Palestinian encampment, the IAC deployed loudspeakers blasting disturbing sounds and repetitive music. *This sounds almost innocuous, however this is a page straight out of the Israeli psychological warfare playbook. The Israelis have been using these "audio terror" tactics for years in the occupied territories. * - The efforts of the IAC to end the encampments resulted in a horde of pro-Israel extremists descending on the encampment, launching a violent attack on its inhabitants. - In March 2025, the IAC joined the [[Conference of Presidents]]. - The Conference is the umbrella organization for the roughly 50 largest and most important American pro-Israel Jewish organizations. - The IAC joining the Conference is a major achievement. #### Lobbying - In 2016 the IAC founded the Israeli-American Coalition for Action (IAC for Action). - The IAC for Action was originally called the "Israeli-American Nexus." - The IAC for Action is the political lobbying arm of the IAC. - The IAC for Action is a 501(c)(4) organization. - The IAC for Action is not registered as a foreign agent under FARA. *I find this one more egregious than AIPAC. * - IAC for Action lobbying has focused on: - Targeting BDS - boycotts of Israel. - The IAC for Action boasts that their lobbying has "helped 39 states pass anti-BDS laws, creating an economic Iron Dome to protect businesses from antisemitic discrimination." - Increased AI and technology partnerships between the U.S. and Israel. - The IAC for Action is currently (2025) lobbying for a congressional resolution that will enhance the U.S.-Israel relationship regarding the "science and technology sectors." - Opposing Iran. - The IAC for Action was absolutely opposed to the 2015 [[Iran Nuclear Deal]]. - The IAC strongly Israel's preemptive war on Iran in 2025. - During the 2025 "12 Day War," the IAC for Action [called for](https://icanaction.org/briefings/ican-policy-brief-israel-iran-conflict-june-12-18-2025/#:~:text=Federal%20Lawmakers%3A,the%20Abraham%20Accords.) lawmakers to: Publicly support Israel's preemptive strike; replenish Israel's missiles; block sanctions relief for Iran; support the expansion of the Abraham Accords. #### National Summit and IAC Events - Since 2014, The IAC has hosted a large annual conference called the "National Summit." - The National Summit has been held in Washington, D.C., South Florida, and Austin Tx. *The majority are held in South Florida* - The IAC National Summit hosts "politicians, diplomats, academics, businessmen, philanthropists and media personalities." *The [original quote](https://www.milsteinff.org/jewish-press-the-birth-of-a-new-force-in-u-s-jewish-communal-life/#:~:text=Talks%20by%20politicians%2C%20deplomats%2C%20academics%2C%20busdinessmen%2C%20philantropists%20and%20media%20personalities%2C) on Adam Milstein's foundation website contains numerous spelling errors, so many that it feels intentional.* - The IAC's 2026 annual National Summit will host: - [[Miriam Adelson]] - [[Haim Saban]] - [[Adam Milstein]] - [[Liora Rez]] - [[Safra Catz]] - [[Roz Rothstein]] - Caitlyn Jenner *(the transsexual formerly known as Bruce)* - [[Elan Carr]] - [[Dave Rubin]] - [[Shira Ruderman]] - Udi Mokady - Founder of [[CyberArk]], an Israeli cyber security company. - Siggy Flicker - Israeli/American pro-Trump influencer who spams Israeli propaganda on Twitter. - Boaz Levy - CEO of [[Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI)]]. - Jonah Platt - Jewish actor and son of [[Julie Platt]]. - Glenn Cohen - Former chief [[Mossad]] psychologist. - Previous IAC events have hosted: - [[Donald Trump]] - [[Sheldon Adelson]] - [[Nikki Haley]] - [[Danny Danon]] - [[Naftali Bennett]] - Mike Pence - Nancy Pelosi - Chuck Schumer - [[Ted Deutch]] #### Donald Trump - 2019 Speech and other IAC connections ![[image-181.png|782x534]] *Donald Trump takes the stage at the 2019 IAC National Summit with Sheldon and Miriam Adelson.* - In 2019, [[Donald Trump]] became the first U.S. President to [speak at the IAC's national summit.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGI6EsNvbu8) - The content of the speech is quite relevant so I have provided a full breakdown: - Donald Trump took the stage, flanked by [[Sheldon Adelson]] and [[Miriam Adelson]], all three holding up a menorah. - Trump described the Adelsons as "great people, and they love Israel." *No mention of the United States.* - Trump then called every person in the audience a "national treasure." *Which nation?* - Trump highlighted two Congressmen in the audience Jim Jordan (R-OH-4) and [[Mike Waltz]] (R-FL-6). - Mike Waltz became Trump's National Security Advisor at the beginning of his second term in 2025. Waltz was soon caught working for the Israeli government, coordinating a hawkish position on Iran. - Trump then highlighted [[Jared Kushner]], stating, "he loves Israel and he's fighting hard for Israel." - Trump then praised Israel's Ambassador to the United States, [[Ron Dermer]], calling him "a great gentleman and a friend of mine... Known you a long time Ron, haven't I? Long before this." - Trump then bashed the Obama Administration stating, "I don't think they liked Israel too much, I'm sorry. I don't think they liked Israel too much." Followed by the reassurance that, "I am happy to report that the United States-Israeli relationship is stronger now than ever before." - Trump then stated, "America and Israel are woven together by history, heritage and the hearts of our people." *Could anything be less true?* - Trump then stated, "The Jewish state has never had a better friend in the White House than your President, Donald J. Trump." - Trump then boasted that he moved the American Embassy to Jerusalem. - Trump then praised his ambassador to Israel, [[David Friedman]]. - Trump then stated, "we have to get the people of our country, of this country, [the U.S.] to love Israel more. I have to tell you that. We have to do it. We have to get them to love Israel more. Because you have people, that are Jewish people... they don't love Israel enough. You know that. You know that." *Yes, our problem is that Jews are not pro-Israel enough.* - Trump then spent a while boasting about how pro-Israel he his, and how only he could move the embassy to Jerusalem. The crowd of Israelis erupted in chants of "four more years." - As the chant was cooling down, Trump made a revelatory statement, saying, "Well, I learned all these tricks from [[Sheldon Adelson|Sheldon]]. So you know." - Trump then boasted that he recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. - Trump then describes a conversation he had with [[Sheldon Adelson]], where Adelson said "the biggest thing you did for Israel was breaking up and terminating the horrible catastrophic [[Iran Nuclear Deal]]." - Trump then threatened to "Use every single weapon at our disposal" to combat the "vile poison," and "venomous creed" of antisemitism. - Trump then boasted that his administration supports "civilian settlements in the West Bank." - Trump then brought a Mexican-born Jewish woman to the stage to brag about "bringing legal action" against NYU for antisemitism. *Shabbos Kestenbaum 2024 RNC flashbacks.* - Trump then made his obligatory holocaust remarks stating that boycotting Israel is "A grave insult to the memory of the six million Jews who were murdered in the holocaust." - Trump then introduced his new [[Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism]], [[Elan Carr]]. - [[Elan Carr]] became the CEO of the IAC in 2023. - Carr took the stage and bragged about travelling around Europe to "coordinate our efforts to prosecute and punish anti-Semitic hate crimes." - Carr boasted that he visited France to push a bill to adopt the [[International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA)]] definition of antisemitism. - The crowd erupts as Carr boasts that the bill passed. - Carr explained the fight against antisemitism globally as "the multi-front battle we are waging." - Trump closed asking God to bless the state of Israel. --- - Donald Trump gave a similar speech to an IAC conference in September of 2024, during the height of the 2024 election season. - Once again, [the speech](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqHwEVQPl2E) opened with praise of [[Miriam Adelson]]. *Sheldon died in 2021* #### Israel - The idea to found the IAC came from the Israeli consul general in Los Angeles, Ehud Danoch. - The IAC regularly hosts Israeli government officials at its events, both in person and over video, including: - [[Yair Lapid]] - Former Prime Minister - [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] - Prime Minister - [[Naftali Bennett]] - Former Prime Minister - Reuven Rivlin - Former president of Israel - Yuli Edelstein - Former speaker of the Knesset - Ayelet Shaked - Former government minister - Marius Nacht - Israeli billionaire and founder of [[Checkpoint Software Technologies]] - Yasmin Lukatz - Israeli born daughter of [[Miriam Adelson]]. Founder of - The IAC's most notable benefactor, [[Sheldon Adelson]], was an extremely close personal ally of Prime Minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]]. #### Notable Figures - [[Sagi Balasha]] - CEO from 2011-2015 - In 2016 Balasha returned to Israel where he led Concert, an Israeli [[Ministry of Strategic Affairs]] shell company. - Concert's purpose was to fund influence operations and sophisticated intelligence gathering operations to primarily help Israel fight growing anti-Israel movements (BDS) in the U.S. - Balasha's associate at Concert, IDF brigadier general Sima Vaknin-Gill, [described](https://web.archive.org/web/20250801162820/https://www.thenation.com/article/activism/israeli-american-council/#:~:text=What%20we%E2%80%99ve%20done%20is%20mapped%20and%20analyzed%20the%20whole%20%5Bpro%2DPalestinian%5D%20phenomena%20globally.) their activities as "What we’ve done is mapped and analyzed the whole [pro-Palestinian] phenomena globally." *Two can play at that game.* - Shoham Nicolet - co-founder and CEO from 2015-2023 - [[Adam Milstein]] - [[Naty Saidoff]] - Board chair from 2019-2024 - [[Elan Carr]] - Current CEO since 2023 - Avi Almozlino and Tal Shuster - Current co-chairs of the board #### Funding and Major Donors - The IAC has received ~$15-20 million in annual revenue since 2015. - ~90% of IAC revenue comes from contributions. - In 2013 [[Sheldon Adelson]] and [[Miriam Adelson]] donated $10 million to the IAC. - The Adelson's contribution was the catalyst for rapid IAC expansion. - The Adelsons have since contributed tens of millions more dollars to the IAC. - A number of IAC events/meetings have been held at Sheldon Adelson's Las Vegas home. - Other IAC donors include: - [[Haim Saban]] - [[Adam Milstein]] - Leo David - Among the founders of [[Friends of the IDF (FIDF)]] - [[Beny Alagem]] - [[Naty Saidoff]] - Israeli diamond dealer - Saidoff served as IAC national chairman from 2019-2024 - [[Paul Singer]]'s [[Paul E. Singer Foundation|Foundation]] - $200,000 in 2014[^2] #### References - “Israeli-American Council,” _Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia_, August 17, 2025, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli-American_Council](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli-American_Council). - Dev, Netz. “Jewish press: The Birth of a New Force in U.S. Jewish Communal Life.” _The Adam and Gila Milstein Family Foundation_. November 22, 2014. [https://www.milsteinff.org/jewish-press-the-birth-of-a-new-force-in-u-s-jewish-communal-life](https://www.milsteinff.org/jewish-press-the-birth-of-a-new-force-in-u-s-jewish-communal-life?). - “IAC 2026.” _MCI Events_. [https://plus.mcievents.com/event/IAC2026/home](https://plus.mcievents.com/event/IAC2026/home). - Tibon, Amir. “This Powerful Adelson-funded Israel Lobby Could Soon Rival AIPAC’s Influence in Washington.” _Haaretz_, October 31, 2017. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230129091046/https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/2017-10-31/ty-article/.premium/the-adelson-funded-group-that-could-rival-aipacs-influence-in-d-c/0000017f-dbd1-db22-a17f-fff13a650000](https://web.archive.org/web/20230129091046/https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/2017-10-31/ty-article/.premium/the-adelson-funded-group-that-could-rival-aipacs-influence-in-d-c/0000017f-dbd1-db22-a17f-fff13a650000). - Lowenfeld, Jonah. “Israeli Leadership Council Changes Name.” _Jewish Journal_, March 13, 2013. [https://jewishjournal.com/mobile_20111212/113955/](https://jewishjournal.com/mobile_20111212/113955/). - “Sifriyat Pijama B’America.” _PJ Library_. [https://pjlibrary.org/books-and-music/sifriyat-pijama-b-america](https://pjlibrary.org/books-and-music/sifriyat-pijama-b-america). - “IAC Celebrate Israel Festival.” YouTube playlist. [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtuYlYTQB_PvWr1Xbe6MMfCCof21LDJNA](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtuYlYTQB_PvWr1Xbe6MMfCCof21LDJNA&). - “Sheldon Adelson in Praising His Pro-Israel Group Takes a Shot at AIPAC.” _Jewish Telegraphic Agency_, November 5, 2017. [https://www.jta.org/2017/11/05/politics/sheldon-adelson-in-praising-his-pro-israel-group-takes-a-shot-at-aipac](https://www.jta.org/2017/11/05/politics/sheldon-adelson-in-praising-his-pro-israel-group-takes-a-shot-at-aipac). - Torok, Ryan. “Elan Carr Named CEO of Israeli-American Council.” _Jewish Journal_, September 18, 2023. [https://jewishjournal.com/community/362920/elan-carr-named-ceo-of-israeli-american-council](https://jewishjournal.com/community/362920/elan-carr-named-ceo-of-israeli-american-council). - Eyadat, Fadi. “Obama Tours Sderot, and Says All the Right Things.” _Haaretz_, July 24, 2008. Archived at [https://web.archive.org/web/20210323132035/https://www.haaretz.com/1.5006096](https://web.archive.org/web/20210323132035/https://www.haaretz.com/1.5006096). - “Beny Alagem.” _Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia_. Last modified January 30, 2025. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beny_Alagem](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beny_Alagem). - Bamford, James. “The Israel-Affiliated Organization Leading the Backlash Against Student Protests.” _The Nation_, May 16, 2024. Archived at [https://web.archive.org/web/20250801162820/https://www.thenation.com/article/activism/israeli-american-council/](https://web.archive.org/web/20250801162820/https://www.thenation.com/article/activism/israeli-american-council/). - “Israeli-American Council (IAC) Joins the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.” _Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations_, March 17, 2025. [https://conferenceofpresidents.org/press/israeli-american-council-iac-joins-the-conference-of-presidents/](https://conferenceofpresidents.org/press/israeli-american-council-iac-joins-the-conference-of-presidents/). - Trump, Donald J. “Remarks by President Trump at the Israeli American Council National Summit 2019.” The White House, December 8 2019. [https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-israeli-american-council-national-summit-2019/](https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/remarks-president-trump-israeli-american-council-national-summit-2019/). *Full transcript of Trump's 2019 IAC speech.* - “Jewish Journal: The Israeli-American Council (IAC) Goes to Washington DC … and Plans to Stay.” _The Adam and Gila Milstein Family Foundation_. March 5 2015. [https://www.milsteinff.org/jewish-journal-the-israeli-american-council-iac-goes-to-washington-dc-and-plans-to-stay/](https://www.milsteinff.org/jewish-journal-the-israeli-american-council-iac-goes-to-washington-dc-and-plans-to-stay/). *Mentions Ted Deutch* - “Enhanced U.S.–Israel Science & Technology Collaboration.” _Israeli-American Coalition for Action_. [https://iacforaction.org/enhanced-science-technology-collaboration-israel-us](https://iacforaction.org/enhanced-science-technology-collaboration-israel-us). [Israeli-American Coalition for Action](https://iacforaction.org/enhanced-science-technology-collaboration-israel-us/) - “ICAN Policy Brief – Israel-Iran Conflict (June 12–18, 2025).” _Israeli-American Civic Action Network_. June 18, 2025. [https://icanaction.org/briefings/ican-policy-brief-israel-iran-conflict-june-12-18-2025/#:~:text=Federal%20Lawmakers%3A,the%20Abraham%20Accords](https://icanaction.org/briefings/ican-policy-brief-israel-iran-conflict-june-12-18-2025/#:~:text=Federal%20Lawmakers%3A,the%20Abraham%20Accords). - Bandler, Aaron. “The App That BDS Fears.” _Jewish Journal_, January 8, 2018. [https://jewishjournal.com/israel/229456/app-bds-fears](https://jewishjournal.com/israel/229456/app-bds-fears). - “Act.IL.” _Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia_. Last modified October 10, 2025. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Act.IL](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Act.IL). [^2]: ProPublica, “Paul E Singer Foundation - Form 990PF (fiscal year ending November 2018),” [https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/272009342/201902849349100700/full](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/272009342/201902849349100700/full).