Report: Adelson Turns Against Jeb Bush over Adviser’s Position on Israel

Billionaire casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, a generous Republican donor and staunch supporter of Israel, has reportedly become “incensed” at former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush over comments that a Bush foreign policy adviser made about Israel.

Former Secretary of State James Baker, who is among Bush’s advisers, gave the keynote address last week to the D.C. gala dinner of J Street, a left-wing group that opposes the Israeli government and supports the Obama administration’s policy.

Baker told J Street that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was to blame for the stalled Middle East peace process, that Netanyahu was too hawkish on Iran, and that the U.S. should not support an Israeli strike against the Iranian regime.

As Breitbart News reported last week, Jeb Bush invited Baker to join his list of foreign policy advisers, despite knowing that the Bush family ally had a checkered record on Israel and is distrusted by many Jewish voters because of alleged prejudice.

Exactly a year ago, Adelson hosted Jeb Bush at a private fundraising event in Las Vegas, coordinated with the Republican Jewish Coalition ahead of its annual spring meeting. The event was the most exclusive item on the weekend’s agenda.

Adelson’s apparent shift, reported by the New York Times, would be a major blow–although Bush has already raised so much money that he may not feel worried.

The potential may now be open for another candidate to win Adelson’s favor.