U.S. billionaire tells group of Jewish youth on Israel birthright tour that many Palestinians also agree with U.S. presidential hopeful's controversial remarks.
American billionaire Sheldon Adelson, who is a close ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and owner of the Israeli daily Israel Hayom, said on Sunday that he agreed with Republican Presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich’s controversial remarks that the Palestinians are an invented people.
Gingrich’s "invented Palestinians" remarks to the Jewish Channel, a U.S. cable TV network, earlier this month were met with widespread criticism.
Addressing a Hanukkah celebration for hundreds of youths visiting Israel as part of the Taglit Birthright program on Sunday, Adelson said, “Read the history of those who call themselves Palestinians, and you will hear why [Newt] Gingrich said recently that the Palestinians are an invented people. There are a number of Palestinians who will recognize the truth of this statement.”
Adelson also appealed to the hundreds of Jewish youth in the audience to study history and be “goodwill ambassadors” for Israel.
“When you return to your countries of origin, speak in support of Israel – don’t let Muslim student organizations take over the campuses. Learn history, go back to the Ottoman Empire and the First World War, and know the issue under discussion, and when you return to our homes you will remember that you are goodwill ambassadors for Israel,” Adelson said.
Adelson and other speakers, including Minister of Information and Disapora Yuli Edelstein, addressed Jewish youth from around the world who are taking part in a ten-day Taglit Birthright tour of Israel to coincide with Hannukah.
Over 290,000 young Jews from 54 countries around the world have visited Israel as part of the Taglit Birthright program, which aims to forge links between young Diaspora Jews and Israel. The Adelson family has been one of the main donors of the Taglit program in the past six years.
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