Emergency Committee for Israel
Encyclopedia
The Emergency Committee for Israel's Leadership is a right-wing
501(c)(4) political advocacy organization in the United States
. The group’s board members include Weekly Standard editor William Kristol
and former Republican presidential candidate Gary Bauer
, Republican Virginia congressman Scott Rigell
, and conservative writer Rachel Abrams, wife of Elliott Abrams
. Noah Pollak
is its executive director.
Kristol said his group was inspired by the new "liberal" J Street
group, "whose ability to amplify criticism of the Israeli government showed the power of a small new group — if on the other side of the debate." The Emergency Committee plans to take on other congressional races as well according to Pollak. “We want to be hard-hitting; we want to get into the debate and shake things up and make some points in a firm way,” he said.
The organization ran ads opposing the elections of U.S. Senate candidate Joe Sestak and U.S. House of Representatives candidate Mary Jo Kilroy
, portraying them as "openly hostile" to Israel
.
In October 2011, the committee produced a video portraying Occupy Wall Street
as anti-Semitic. Washington Post columnist Richard Cohen referred to the video and said he found no evidence of antisemitism during his two visits to the demonstration site.
Right-wing politics
In politics, Right, right-wing and rightist generally refer to support for a hierarchical society justified on the basis of an appeal to natural law or tradition. To varying degrees, the Right rejects the egalitarian objectives of left-wing politics, claiming that the imposition of equality is...
501(c)(4) political advocacy organization in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The group’s board members include Weekly Standard editor William Kristol
William Kristol
William Kristol is an American neoconservative political analyst and commentator. He is the founder and editor of the political magazine The Weekly Standard and a regular commentator on the Fox News Channel....
and former Republican presidential candidate Gary Bauer
Gary Bauer
Gary Lee Bauer is an American politician notable for his ties to several evangelical Christian groups and campaigns.-Biography:...
, Republican Virginia congressman Scott Rigell
Scott Rigell
Edward Scott Rigell is the U.S. Representative for . He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life, education, and business career:...
, and conservative writer Rachel Abrams, wife of Elliott Abrams
Elliott Abrams
Elliott Abrams is an American attorney and neoconservative policy analyst who served in foreign policy positions for two Republican U.S. Presidents, Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush. While serving for Reagan and in the State Department, Abrams, Paul Wolfowitz, and retired U.S. Marine Corps officer...
. Noah Pollak
Noah Pollak
Noah Pollak is an American political writer specializing in issues concerning foreign policy, Israel, and the Jewish people.Currently, Pollak is a regular contributor to the American publication Commentary Magazine. He also serves as the executive director of the Emergency Committee for Israel's...
is its executive director.
Kristol said his group was inspired by the new "liberal" J Street
J Street
J Street is a nonprofit liberal advocacy group based in the United States whose stated aim is to promote American leadership to end the Arab-Israeli and Israel-Palestinian conflicts peacefully and diplomatically. It was founded in April 2008....
group, "whose ability to amplify criticism of the Israeli government showed the power of a small new group — if on the other side of the debate." The Emergency Committee plans to take on other congressional races as well according to Pollak. “We want to be hard-hitting; we want to get into the debate and shake things up and make some points in a firm way,” he said.
The organization ran ads opposing the elections of U.S. Senate candidate Joe Sestak and U.S. House of Representatives candidate Mary Jo Kilroy
Mary Jo Kilroy
Mary Jo Kilroy is the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 2009 until 2011. She is a member of the Democratic Party from Ohio. In her first term she introduced a bill to lend $20 million per year to small businesses and an amendment to assign liability to credit reporting agencies. She...
, portraying them as "openly hostile" to Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
.
In October 2011, the committee produced a video portraying Occupy Wall Street
Occupy Wall Street
Occupy Wall Street is an ongoing series of demonstrations initiated by the Canadian activist group Adbusters which began September 17, 2011 in Zuccotti Park, located in New York City's Wall Street financial district...
as anti-Semitic. Washington Post columnist Richard Cohen referred to the video and said he found no evidence of antisemitism during his two visits to the demonstration site.