Marco Rubio appears to be well on his way to landing an important ally after the Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom lauded him and his stance on Israel: the paper’s publisher, billionaire Sheldon Adelson.
After Rubio announced he would run for the White House, the newspaper ran a front-page headline about his candidacy that was bolstered by an interview with its foreign editor. In a big show of support, the editor and senior analyst, Boaz Bismuth, praised Rubio.
“It became clear that Rubio may be the most pro-Israel presidential candidate that America has to offer,” he wrote. “This was the man who stole Hillary Clinton’s thunder this week, with his freshness, his charisma, his personal biography and, most importantly, with the new blood he would be introducing into the White House, representing change while preserving the values that have made America a world leader.”
Later, an online media review called Seventh Eye described the piece as “fawning over” Rubio. Seventh Eye pointed out that the article also showcased images of disparaging U.S. stories featuring Hillary Clinton.
Bismuth, a journalist and dual Israeli-French citizen, has traveled to Iraq, Lebanon and other countries that clash with Israel to report on news events. He refused to be called Adelson’s mouthpiece.
“I’ve been a reporter for 31 years and nobody dictates what I write,” he told Bloomberg in a telephone interview.
Bismuth’s articles on contenders Jeb Bush, Ted Cruz and Scott Walker, however, were more subdued, merely highlighting some of their pro-Israel rhetoric. Adelson himself has paid them relatively little attention.
Adelson has not announced who he will support for the 2016 Republican nomination, and he says he will not do so for a while.
“Any support of a presidential candidate is at least a year away,” said his adviser, Andy Abboud.
But he has talked with Rubio frequently, and his aides have thrown a Rubio breakfast fundraiser.
Adelson, 81, ranks 26th in the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, with $26.4 billion. Israel Hayom, which is given out for free, has the highest newspaper circulation in Israel.
Israel Hayom is consistently ridiculed by Israel’s best-selling paper, Yediot Aharonot, for making itself so available for use by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who Adelson formed close ties with. Opponents of Netanyahu are attempting to push through legislation that would require Israel Hayom to charge its readers, thereby reducing circulation and the paper’s clout.
Adelson is well-known in Republican fundraising and endorsement circles. He attends the Republican Jewish Coalition’s leadership conference in Las Vegas annually, where the event has been nicknamed “Sheldonfest.” The convention is hosted at his hotel, the Venetian. Republican candidates turn up every year, hoping to snatch Adelson’s endorsement.
In 2014 alone, Adelson and his wife, Miriam, gave $5.5 million to conservatives. In 2012, he topped the spending in the presidential race, with about $93 million.
