On the Medical School at Ariel University

A year ago it was announced that a new school of medicine is to open at Ariel University.

The corner-stone laying was done in the presence of Prime Minister Netanyahu and Education Minister Bennett and the prime donors, Sheldon and Miriam Adelson, who contributed $113 million to the project.

The Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson Health and Medical Sciences Building on the Ariel University campus is to open for the 2018-2019 academic year, launching Ariel University’s Medical School with a starting class of 70 pre-med students.

At the event, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said 

"the university is an open and pluralistic institution. This is the true spirit of the State of Israel. The School of Medicine in Ariel will strengthen Israel's prestige in the world....Ariel will always be part of the State of Israel, and I hope that graduates of the medical school will help with the development of medicine in countries which approach Israel [for medical assistance], such as India and China. We love the city of Ariel and will continue to build it."

Of course, there is opposition and problems but let's recall a bit of history:

Medicine and Zionism and Eretz-Yisrael all go together.

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And Who'll Apologize for the Anti-Semitic Innuendos?

Sheldon Adelson gets an apology:

“In press statements issued on June 29 and July 2, 2012, the DCCC made unsubstantiated allegations that attacked Sheldon Adelson, a supporter of the opposing party.  This was wrong.  The statements were untrue and unfair and we retract them.  The DCCC extends its sincere apology to Mr. Adelson and his family for any injury we have caused,” the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee said in an unusual statement released on Thursday afternoon. The DCCC had seized on an Associated Press report indicating that...Adelson was aware of prostitution at the casino’s location in Macau...

...Thursday’s retraction is a public relations victory for Adelson, who along with the billionaire Koch brothers — also conservatives — have been strongly criticized by Democrats for their immense financial influence on electoral politics this cycle...

However, what about all the slandering based on anti-Semitic-like stereotypes of "Jews with the money" references?  Tom Friedman, writing "Vegas would have been so much more appropriate than Jerusalem."  That, you'll recall, followed last November's swipe:

I sure hope that Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, understands that the standing ovation he got in Congress this year was not for his politics. That ovation was bought and paid for by the Israel lobby...

And Adelson is a big part of that lobby, we can presume.

And J Street also plays the money-card:-

It has been widely speculated that a recent $100 million pledge to support Romney’s bid by right-wing billionaire Sheldon Adelson could prove a determining factor in Romney’s stance.

Left-wing liberal Jews are so... well, you fill it in..

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The 10th Annual Awarding of the Israeli Media Criticism Award

The pictures:

Minister of the Treasury and Former IMW President Dr. Yuval Shteinitz

Benefactor Kenneth Abramowitz

The crowd at ZOA House Tel Aviv

The father of Major "R", of Ilana Dayan/Uvda Fame

Israel Hayom Editor Amos Regev

Sheldon Adelson (5th from left with reddish hair)




And speaking from the podium

Finally, Good Money News

Top donors criticize AIPAC
on backing for P.A. funding

WASHINGTON (JTA) -- Two top donors to AIPAC are raising objections over its support for a congressional letter that urges the Bush administration to increase assistance to the Palestinian Authority.

An active Republican, Adelson likened AIPAC to a friend assisting Israel's suicide.

"If someone is going to jump off a bridge, it is incumbent upon their friends to dissuade them," he told JTA. He added, "I love and admire the concept of AIPAC."

The other donor who has raised questions is Gary Erlbaum, a property developer prominent in the Philadelphia Jewish community. He said he would urge others to lobby against the letter.

"We should lobby our own congressmen never to sign the letter, unless there is clear evidence Palestinians have changed their educational system and have fought terrorism," Erlbaum said.

The letter to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, which was to have been sent out Friday, was initiated last month by U.S. Reps. Gary Ackerman (D-N.Y.) and Charles Boustany (R-La.). So far, 118 of 435 members of the U.S. House of Representatives have signed, including 12 Jewish Democrats.

It casts increased assistance as necessary to help Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority president, make the changes needed to guarantee Israel's security.

"Addressing corruption and public safety in the P.A., while continuing to engage with Israel to coordinate a remittance schedule for Palestinian tax monies and to improve access and movement," the letter states, "will ensure that assistance will be effective in reviving the Palestinian economy and creating the atmosphere of hope required for the success of diplomatic efforts."

Neither Adelson nor Erlbaum would address whether AIPAC's support for the letter would influence how they donate to the group. Speaking generally, Adelson said, "I don’t continue to support organizations that help friends committing suicide just because they say they want to jump."

An AIPAC spokeswoman confirmed that both men are supporters of the organization and described Adelson as a "major" donor.

Adelson, with an estimated net worth of $26.5 billion, often contributes in the millions to favored Jewish causes. He donated $25 million last year to Yad Vashem, Israel's Holocaust memorial, and gave birthright israel -- the program that flies Jewish youth to Israel for free tours -- $55 million over the past two years.

...Adelson, who recently launched a giveaway tabloid in Israel, said his research showed that vast majorities of Israelis opposed the concessions Olmert is reportedly considering, particularly sharing Jerusalem.

"Governments have to listen to the people -- of course, Olmert was duly elected, but promises made" on not dividing Jerusalem "are being neglected," Adelson said.

Rice has acknowledged pressing the sides toward a solution before her boss leaves the Oval Office. Still, Adelson would not criticize the Bush administration.

"The Bush administration and Condoleezza Rice can't be holier than the pope if the government of Israel wants to accept the destruction of Israel," he said.

Adelson and Erlbaum are also donors to the Zionist Organization of America, which has driven a campaign against any further funding for the Abbas-led Palestinian Authority.

"It is high time to condition any further U.S. aid on the Palestinians arresting terrorists, outlawing terrorist groups and ending incitement against Israel in their media, schools and speeches," ZOA president Morton Klein said. "Otherwise, the message is sent that the U.S. is not serious about the Palestinians changing their actions."