Daily Kickoff
TOP TALKER: “Sheldon Adelson warms to Marco Rubio” by Alex Isenstadt: “Last week, during a campaign swing through Las Vegas, Rubio held a meeting in Adelson’s offices… Those briefed on the meeting described it as short but said it had an air of importance, with the two joined by Rubio’s campaign manager, Terry Sullivan, and a pair of senior Adelson advisers, Rob Goldstein and Patrick Dumont. A formal endorsement, they said, could come as soon as the end of the month — and with it, the potential for a multimillion dollar contribution… Last week, Rubio also held a lengthy private meeting in New York City with Paul Singer, a hedge fund manager who is among the most prolific Republican donors in the country but who has yet to pick a favorite.” [Politico]
Donald Trump tweets: “Sheldon Adelson is looking to give big dollars to Rubio because he feels he can mold him into his perfect little puppet. I agree!” [Twitter]
From our friends at Playbook: “We’re told that what sealed the deal with Adelson, a passionate advocate for Israel, was Rubio’s promise to reorder U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East – concrete actions, not just policy talk. Contributions will be hard and soft money. Adelson plans a statement of support that Team Rubio hopes will create momentum with other sidelined/Walker donors.” [Playbook]
DRIVING THE DAY: At 8:30PM, five presidential candidates face off in the first Democratic debate of 2016. Candidates include Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, Martin O’Malley, Jim Webb and Lincoln Chafee. CNN is reserving a podium for VP Biden but it doesn’t appear that he’ll participate just yet.
Top Tweet: S.E. Cupp — “Waiting for Joe Biden like Elijah at Passover.” [Twitter]
Debate Preview — by Jared Sichel: Can one of the “other” Democrats pull a Carly Fiorina? Before the first Republican presidential debates in early August, who could’ve guessed that Carly Fiorina, going into the third debate, would be top five in polls among Republican primary voters and riding a wave of very strong debate performances? Can one of the three democrats not named Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders — Martin O’Malley, Jim Webb, and Lincoln Chafee — pull a similar move, far exceeding the low expectations (if any) people have of them, and using a national audience to boost their name recognition.
What role will President Obama’s foreign policy play? In recent months Hillary Clinton has tacked left on economic and social issues which, politically speaking, is designed to not let Bernie Sanders be the only candidate attractive to the base–a not unexpected move in any primary race. But on foreign policy, whether regarding Iran, Russia’s, Syria, ISIS, or the Israelis and Palestinians, Clinton has not been nearly as forceful, striking a balance wherein she advocates more involvement than Obama — calling for a no-fly zone over Syria — but supporting his landmark nuclear deal with Iran. As the situation in the Middle East deteriorates, how will this play out Tuesday night? Will Clinton emphasize the parts of her foreign policy that would break from Obama’s or will she praise Obama on the major agreements they have, such as on the Iran deal?
Will it be boring or uninspiring? If so, watch the calls for a Joe Biden candidacy to become louder.
“Why Bernie Sanders Doesn’t Have to Talk About the Rest of the World” by Ross Barkan:“Given the acrimony Mr. Sanders confronted when he briefly waded into Israeli affairs, and the incentives the electorate is giving him to talk about something else, activists shouldn’t expect to hear a lot more from him on anything not related directly to America. Mr. Sanders’ campaign will be trying to draw sharp contrasts with Ms. Clinton on economic issues–and worry about the other stuff later.” [Observer]
Natan Sachs suggests a question for tonight’s Democratic debate — “Do you have a plan B for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? Recent U.S. policy has focused on full conflict resolution, avoiding any major interim steps that fall short of full peace. After the failure of the Kerry peace initiative, and given widespread skepticism that a final status agreement can be reached in the near future, do you have a backup plan? Would you, as president, shift U.S. policy toward conflict management rather than conflict resolution, or would you try again to broker a full peace agreement?” [Brookings]
Gary Bauer suggests asking — “First, if elected president, would you care how the U.S. is viewed in Israel? Second, what policy changes would you make to improve relations with Israel?” [CNN]
Hillary issues statement on recent violence in Israel: “I am alarmed by the recent wave of attacks against Israelis, including more than a dozen separate attacks since last Saturday. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. Men and women living in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and elsewhere cannot carry groceries or travel to prayer without looking over their shoulder. It is wrong, and it must stop. There’s no place for violence–only dialogue can produce a lasting peace.” [JI]
“4 Attacks by Palestinians Leave at Least 3 Israelis Dead” by Jodi Rudoren and Isabel Kershner: “Four attacks by Palestinians in Jerusalem and a city 40 miles away killed three Israeli Jews and wounded at least a dozen others in two hours on Tuesday morning, the police said, the most intense eruption so far in two weeks of escalating violence that has alarmed Israel and flummoxed its security forces.” [NYTimes]
“Fear Of A Third Intifada” by Ruth Margalit: “A kind of fatalism, or widespread numbness, appears to have gripped the country. Now there are growing concerns that the scattershot stabbings of today may become the suicide bombings of tomorrow.” [NewYorker]
Bret Stephens: “Today in Israel, Palestinians are in the midst of a campaign to knife Jews to death, one at a time. This is psychotic. It is evil. To call it anything less is to serve as an apologist, and an accomplice.” [WSJ]
Only in Israel: “Jerusalem hospital copes with treating victims and attackers” [AP]
Dan Senor tweets: “Traveling from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv right now. Hwy closed on & off. Jerusalem felt like a Saturday. People staying off streets & sidewalks… Just heard worrisome take from BB advisor: What if this isn’t start of 3rd Intifada but instead is spillover effect from region unraveling?” [Tweet]
IRAN DEAL: “Iran lawmakers vote to implement nuclear deal” by Nasser Karimi: “Iran’s parliament voted Tuesday to support implementing a landmark nuclear deal struck with world powers despite hard-line attempts to derail the bill, suggesting the historic accord will be carried out.” [AP]
“Iran Says Missile Didn’t Violate Nuclear Deal” by Asa Fitch: “But the deal’s prohibition “doesn’t lie in missile booster or nonnuclear warhead design, or range-payload,” said Anthony Cordesman, an expert on Iranian missile capabilities at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. “It only applies to actually developing and deploying a nuclear warhead for a given missile.” [WSJ] • “Iran test-fires domestically developed torpedo system” [AP] • “Despite Nuclear Accord, U.S.-Iran Tensions Are on the Rise” [WSJ]
Dem Whip Steny Hoyer: “Yesterday’s alleged ballistic missile test by Iran, likely in violation of U.N. Security Council Resolutions, makes absolutely clear why there must be no ambiguity when it comes to the United States and our partners’ willingness to enforce Iran’s obligations under UN resolutions and the JCPOA… If we fail to enforce ballistic missile restrictions, extended in U.N. Security Council Resolution 2231, confidence in our willingness to enforce other aspects of Iran’s commitments – particularly its obligations to roll back its nuclear program under the JCPOA – will be undermined.” [Statement]
AIPAC Getting Hit From The Right — by Jeff Ballabon: “In recent years, there has been an aggressive incursion into our community of a left-wing group that has misled people who are passionate about supporting and protecting Israel… Together with a group of policy experts, political insiders, and campaign veterans, I have launched at least one answer to what can be done: the Iron Dome Alliance, the first pro-Israel SuperPAC.” [5tjt]
J.J. Goldberg: “How a Vote for Republicans Harms Israel — and Not How You Might Think” [Forward]
BUSINESS BRIEFS: “Seth Klarman Buys Stake in Orexigen Therapeutics” [Forbes] • “Fortress’s Novogratz Plans Exit After Two Years of Losses” [Bloomberg; WSJ] • “Barry Sternlicht: Real Estate Market Best to Invest In” [Bloomberg] • “Chetrit and Yadidi Get $130M Refi From Signature on Diamond District Office Buildings” [Observer] • “Copperline raises $85M in Israeli bond deal” [RealDeal] • “Tel Aviv’s hippest, hautest hotel isn’t even kosher” [NYPost]
STARTUP NATION: “A New Silicon Valley In The Middle East” by Gil Karie: “Name the first three things that come to mind when you think of the Israeli Negev desert, and especially the city of Beersheba. If you came up with words like dust, poverty and camels, you are thinking of the old Beersheba. If, on the other hand, you thought of words like IT, innovation and entrepreneurship, your name might be Rubik Danilovich. The energetic mayor of Beersheba is hoping that, in the near future, he won’t be the only Israeli who associates the “Capital of the Negev” with words that today more often bring to mind Tel Aviv or Jerusalem.” [Forbes] • “Israeli Cybersecurity Firm Cybereason Raises $59M Series C Led By SoftBank” [TechCrunch]
TALK OF OUR NATION: “Being a Jew in Iran Means Separating Faith From Region’s Tussles” by Ladane Nasseri: “Iran was home to as many as 150,000 Jews before the revolution, after which the population went into sharp decline. The execution in 1979 of a Jewish business leader whom the revolutionary regime had accused of spying for Israel persuaded many Jews to leave for a new life in Israel or the U.S. Today, Tehran has 13 active synagogues, five Jewish schools, five kosher restaurants and a charitable Jewish hospital that employs 250 people, most of them Muslims.” [Bloomberg]
TALK OF THE TOWN: “Carnegie Hall’s Difficult Week” by Russell Platt: “This year’s opening gala, a concert by the New York Philharmonic, was never in doubt, but dark clouds had gathered nevertheless, due to the dramatic departure of the board chair, Ronald O. Perelman, only a few months after his acceptance of the position—one of the most honored in American philanthropy.” [NewYorker] • “How Do You Raise $3.47 Billion? Ask These Guys: More than a dozen New York cultural institutions are planning major projects, and fundraisers are racing to tap into the deepest pockets.” [NYT]
RECAP — “At Politicon, diversity and polarity make for entertaining (and loud) political fare” by Jared Sichel: “Modeled after the wildly popular Comic-Con, Politicon’s first run was a sort of cholent for the political mind. There was the good – former Obama speechwriter, Jon Favreau, and Jon Macks on speechwriting; conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, broadcasting his show live and interviewing, via telephone, Republican presidential candidate Carly Fiorina. There was the bad – a woman who screamed out “bulls**t!” to one of Gingrich’s points and then bragged about it after the panel. And there was the weird – ranging from the “Beats, Rhymes and Justice” slam poetry session to the cleverly and thematically cosplay-dressed attendees who got in for free.” [JewishJournal]
DESSERT: “Brewing beer with buckwheat: Israeli brewery goes gluten-free” by Hal Conick: “Being diagnosed with celiac disease usually means the days of drinking beer are over, but entrepreneur Bryan Meadan wasn’t quite ready to accept that fate. He is now brewing beer using ingredients such as chickpeas and quinoa.” [BeverageDaily]
BIRTHDAYS: Ari Fleischer turns 55… Sonia Bordo
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