Posted on: November 25, 2023, 11:03h.
Last updated on: November 25, 2023, 11:03h.
Las Vegas Sands’ controlling shareholder, Dr. Miriam Adelson, who inherited the stake following her husband’s passing in January 2021, says Hamas supporters are enemies of the Jewish community and should be considered “dead to us.”
In an op-ed published this week in Israel Hayom, a media publication she owns, Adelson wrote that foreign fans of Hamas are enemies of the Jewish state.
If you condemn Hamas and then add a ‘but’ followed by condemnation of Israel, you’re dead to us,” Adelson wrote. “If you insist Israel is obligated to seek accommodation with Hamas, an idea you would never have entertained for Western powers that fought the Nazis, al-Qaida, or ISIS, you’re dead to us.”
“If you fail to recognize that Israel could end the threats to its existence by bringing its power fully to bear and eliminating Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Iranian regime but does not do so due to its concern for civilian suffering, you’re dead to us,” Adelson continued.
She continued, “We Jews love life. And we are done with meekly counting our dead.” The billionaire petitioned Jewish opponents to “be decent and fair” and morally and intellectually clear-eyed. Be brave.”
“We will not forgive our enemies in Gaza or anywhere else. Nor would you. And nor shall we forget the many who stand by us, understanding that our fight is their fight, too,” she concluded.
Faithful Israel Supporter
Adelson is carrying on her late husband Sheldon Adelson’s mission to improve the Israeli state. She contributes much of her inherited wealth, currently estimated at $32.5 billion by Forbes, to causes seeking to improve relations between the US Jewish community and lawmakers in DC.
The Adelsons have also donated heavily to Republicans. They contributed $524 million to GOP candidates and PACs since 2011. The power couple’s political campaign money to Donald Trump resulted in him adhering to their wishes that the US Embassy in Israel be relocated from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Adelson controls roughly 57% of the Las Vegas Sands empire. The company today is invested in China’s Macau where it owns and operates five integrated resort casinos. Sands also owns and runs Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, often referred to as the gold standard of the IR industry.
Sands previously built The Venetian Resort and Palazzo on the Las Vegas Strip. Sands sold the properties following Adelson’s death for $6.25 billion to Vici Properties and Apollo Global Management. Sands previously sold its Sands Bethlehem resort in Pennsylvania in 2019 to the Poarch Band of Creek Indians for $1.3 billion.
2024 GOP Candidate Awaits
Adelson has committed to staying out of the Republican Party’s primary process. She says she will instead respect the will of GOP voters and support the candidate who emerges as the party’s presidential nominee.
Currently, the odds strongly suggest that will be Trump for a third consecutive presidential cycle. Traders on the political wagering exchange PredictIt give the former president an implied chance of 75% of securing the party ticket to take on President Joe Biden or whoever represents the Democratic Party.
Trump, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, currently the three GOP 2024 frontrunners, each spoke before Adelson at last month’s Republican Jewish Coalition Annual Leadership Summit in Las Vegas at The Venetian.
