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The Algemeiner reports:

Matt Brooks, the CEO of the Republican Jewish Coalition, warned this week that anti-Israel sentiments that he said have taken over the Democratic Party are beginning to infiltrate the Republican Party and require a strong response.

The remarks are notable from an organization that has long framed the Republican Party as the pro-Israel party, and reflect growing concerns from more traditional conservatives about growing isolationist sentiments within the GOP.

"We have an obligation to be vigilant because the cancer that has taken over the Democratic Party with the woke progressive left — with Bernie Sanders, AOC, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, and the protesters on the college campuses — we're starting to see the beginning cells of that cancer start to take hold in the Republican party and we cannot allow that to happen," Brooks said at the Jewish News Syndicate's International Policy Summit.

Brooks said that the GOP must "combat the rise of neo-isolationism in our party" and make clear to "voices on the woke right" that the MAGA movement and President Donald Trump are definitionally pro-Israel.

"Donald Trump is the definition of MAGA, Donald Trump is the most pro-Israel president in history," Brooks said. "Our party is pro-Israel, and if you want to try and argue that Israel is not an ally and Israel is a liability, well, let me just tell you you're going to have to go through the Republican Jewish Coalition first. And so that is a battle to come."

At the same time, RJC Chairman Norm Coleman and Brooks also argued that support for Israel remains strong and widespread in the Republican Party.

The Jewish Insider reports:

Senators on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee postponed a final vote on advancing the Antisemitism Awareness Act after approving four amendments that could jeopardize GOP support for the bill and leave its future passage once again in question.

...The approved amendments included one by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) stating that it is not antisemitic to use free speech rights to oppose the "devastation of Gaza", and laying out a series of Sanders' specific objections to the war and criticisms of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. All Democrats and Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) voted in favor.

...The amendments are likely to make some Republicans who had previously supported the legislation wary of doing so. A final committee vote was already expected to be tight, with only two Democrats expected to support the bill and one Republican expected to oppose it, meaning that sufficient support may no longer exist to move the bill forward.

"So that it’s clear for the people that are watching, supporting these amendments is an effort to kill this bill, which protects Jewish students from antisemitic acts," [committee chair Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA)] said during the meeting. "The bill includes protections for free speech. So let’s not be naive as to what’s taking place here."

The Republican Jewish Coalition released a statement slamming Senate Democrats and Rand Paul for maneuvering to kill the Antisemitism Awareness Act, the Jewish community’s top priority for the 119th Congress.

RJC CEO Matt Brooks said:

This setback vividly illustrates that the Chuck Schumer-led Senate Democrats are increasingly unreliable, or worse, in defending Jewish Americans. It also shows, as I warned this week in Israel, that there is a real cost to the influence of the anti-Israel right in the GOP.

Led by the most anti-Israel Senator, Bernie Sanders, all 11 Democrats on the Senate Education Committee voted for an amendment to the bill that consists of a litany of vicious, anti-Israel attacks - most of them clearly based on Hamas propaganda.

This dishonorable vote served to advance a "poison pill" strategy to kill the Antisemitism Awareness Act. The shameful gambit could not have succeeded without the assistance of one Republican: Rand Paul.

As the Jewish community continues to face unprecedented levels of antisemitism, these US Senators chose to align with a collection of wildly anti-Israel organizations like J Street, CAIR, and Code Pink against the Jewish community’s top legislative priority:

• Bernie Sanders (D - VT)
• Rand Paul (R - KY)
• Patty Murray (D - WA)
• Chris Murphy (D - CT)
• Maggie Hassan (D - NH)
• Ed Markey (D - MA)
• Lisa Blunt Rochester (D - DE)
• Tammy Baldwin (D - WI)
• Tim Kaine (D - VA)
• John Hickenlooper (D - CO)
• Andy Kim (D - NJ)
• Angela Alsobrooks (D - MD)

RJC has strongly supported the Antisemitism Awareness Act since it was first introduced in 2016. Despite the current difficulties, we remain strongly committed to securing enactment of the bill during the 119th Congress.

RJC National Chairman Senator Norm Coleman and RJC CEO Matt Brooks continued their reports from the RJC Board of Directors trip abroad. (See earlier dispatches from the Poland leg of the trip here and here.)

Last Friday, the RJC Board of Directors delegation met with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his office. Matt wrote:

As he entered the room, the Prime Minister joked, "I see it's the usual suspects!", a testament to our organization's robust access, influence, and lifelong friendships with world leaders. We spent over an hour with the Prime Minister discussing major issues, including efforts to win the war against Hamas, rescue the remaining 59 hostages, and counter Iran's malign activities in the Middle East. Bibi commented that he was incredibly energized by the intensity of the RJC's efforts in support of Israel.

On Friday night, the group welcomed in Shabbat (the Sabbath) with a group of Israeli soldiers at the home of Aba and Pamela Claman in the Old City of Jerusalem. The next day, they met with the new US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, and his wife, Janet.

We congratulated and thanked Ambassador Huckabee for his lifelong support of the Jewish state, and had a wide-ranging conversation over lunch at the David Citadel. The Jewish community is incredibly lucky to have such a strong supporter of Israel in this position, and we know Ambassador Huckabee will serve with distinction as part of President [Donald] Trump's Pro-Israel Dream Team.

Read Matt's update message here.

On Sunday, the RJC delegation had a series of high-level meetings in Jerusalem with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Finance, and Strategic Affairs, the Speaker of the Knesset, and Israel's Ambassador to the United States.

The day began breakfast with Israel's Minister of Strategic Affairs, Ron Dermer, followed by International Affairs Advisor to Prime Minister Netanyahu, Caroline Glick. Both stressed the vital importance of preventing Iran from having nuclear enrichment capabilities, and thanked President Trump for his strong support of the Jewish state.

The delegation then traveled to the "beating heart of Israel's democracy", the Knesset, to meet with Speaker Amir Ohana. The conversation ranged from the prospects for another ceasefire/hostage deal to the strength of the current governing coalition.

RJC Chairman Norm Coleman recounted:

Our next meeting was with Israel’s Minister of Finance, and former Mayor of Jerusalem, Nir Barkat. Minister Barkat was highly optimistic and bullish about the future of the Israeli economy. On relations with the United States, he said the government’s vision is 100% aligned with ours, and is working to ensure that nothing gets in the way of economic cooperation and success. Minister Barkat also noted that “the RJC is an anchor for Israel.”

At Joy Grill House for lunch, we were joined by Israel’s Ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter. Ambassador Leiter was very generous with his time, highlighting the many challenges and opportunities for Israel in America.

...Sunday was capped off by the RJC's participation in the inaugural Jewish News Syndicate (JNS) International Policy Summit.

My remarks at the JNS Policy Summit focused on the disappointing degradation of support for Israel among Democrats - only 33% say they have a favorable opinion of Israel, compared to 83% of Republicans, according to a recent Gallup poll. But we also cannot lose sight of the fact that pro-Israel Republicans are losing young people: Among Republicans, negative views of Israel are growing among younger adults, with Republicans under 50 now about as likely to have a negative view of Israel as a positive one (50% vs. 48%). Support for Israel should be bipartisan, and the RJC is doing our part to ensure Republicans continue to stand with the Jewish state.

I also stressed we need to up our game on social media, to find voters where they are and deliver our message effectively.

RJC CEO Matt Brooks highlighted that although the GOP is clearly the pro-Israel party in the United States, we must be vigilant and commit to fight the strain of neo-isolationism and anti-Israel sentiment in the Republican Party.

You can view our full remarks here.

Read Norm's update message here.

This week, the group traveled to the north and south of Israel, to learn from and to encourage Israelis living with what happened on October 7, 2023, and in the months since.

In the north, the group visited the hilltop community of Misgav Am, near the Lebanese border. Just beyond the border are Hezbollah forces. Next, the group traveled to the Druze village of Majdal Shams in the Golan Heights. The community experienced tragedy on July 27, 2024, when Hezbollah fired a rocket that landed on a local soccer field, killing 12 children and critically injuring 36 more. Matt wrote, "We heard from families about the children they lost. We offered our sincerest condolences and embraced the families."

The day in the north ended on the border with Syria, looking down from the Golan Heights into Syria.

Read Matt's report from the north of Israel here.

On Tuesday, the last day of the delegation's trip, they traveled to the south of Israel. There the group visited kibbutz Kfar Aza, Nahal Oz military base, and the site of the Nova Music Festival. They heard stories of courage and loss and witnessed the beginnings of renewal and rebuilding in those areas devastated by the events of October 7, 2023.

RJC Chairman Norm Coleman concluded:

From Birkenau to Nova, they have tried to annihilate us—but we are still here. We have a Jewish state that can defend itself and soldiers with boundless courage.

We have seen the tremendous resilience and unyielding strength of our people here in Israel—together, I have no doubt that we will win.

This Leadership Mission reminds us why what we all do is so important for the Jewish people and the Jewish homeland.

Read Norm's report from the south of Israel here.

RJC National Chairman Norm Coleman shared some concluding thoughts about the Leadership Mission today. He said in part:

Our shared commitment to the mission of defending the Jewish people and our ancestral homeland has only gotten stronger. We have a sovereign state in our ancient home, protected by warriors with boundless courage, supported by a people with unyielding grit and determination. It is our sacred duty to stand with them, and the RJC will continue to do so.

See all the messages from RJC National Chairman Senator Norm Coleman and CEO Matt Brooks from the RJC Leadership Mission:

• RJC Abroad: A Note Ahead of the March of the Living (Matt Brooks)

• RJC Abroad: Reflecting on the March of the Living (Norm Coleman)

• RJC Abroad: Arrival in Israel, Shabbat in Jerusalem (Matt Brooks)

• RJC Abroad: Weekend Update from Israel (Norm Coleman)

• RJC Abroad: Northern Israel (Matt Brooks)

• RJC Abroad: Southern Israel (Norm Coleman)

• RJC Abroad: 2025 Leadership Mission In Review (Norm Coleman)

The Algemeiner: At Israeli Summit, Gaza Ceasefire Rejection Sparks Broad Support for Continued Pressure on Hamas

... As for the status of the US-Israel relationship, Matt Brooks, CEO of the Republican Jewish Coalition, warned against what he termed the "woke right" of the Republican party.

...Speaking later to The Algemeiner, Brooks said the danger came from rising voices within the GOP advocating American disengagement from the world, led by figures like Tucker Carlson.

"There’s not a lot of foreign policy difference and in some ways economic populist difference between, say, Bernie Sanders on one hand and Tucker Carlson on the other," he said.

Extremes on both the right and the left were converging in a form of "neoisolationism" that seeks to "withdraw America’s role in the world and shrink it to just to our borders" and that views Israel as a liability rather than a strategic ally, Brooks said.

"It’s a very dangerous place for the Republican Party and for the country to go," Brooks said.

JNS International Policy Summit 2025: RJC National Chairman Sen. Norm Coleman & RJC CEO Matt Brooks

RJC National Chairman Senator Norm Coleman and RJC CEO Matt Brooks spoke at the JNS International Policy Summit 2025 in Jerusalem, Israel. See their remarks here.

Holocaust Survivors, Freed Israeli Hostages Gather at Auschwitz for 'March of the Living'

At the march's opening ceremony, the head of the Republican Jewish Coalition, Matt Brooks, lit one of six candles — representing the six million Jews murdered by the Nazis — and addressed rising antisemitism in the world.

"Jews all over the world fear walking streets with a kippah and it's unacceptable. College students are being attacked verbally and physically," he told The Algemeiner.

He praised US President Donald Trump for "combating this scourge."

"There's a new sheriff in town. It's my hope the rest of the world can look to him to see how to support and defend the Jewish community against these vile attacks," he said.

Trump mandates universities to report foreign funding, a demand of pro-Israel groups

President Donald Trump has demanded that US colleges and universities report all foreign funding in an executive order issued Wednesday.

The order requires colleges and universities to report all gifts and funds from foreign countries and states that funds could be revoked from schools that fail to comply with reporting standards. It is the latest salvo in a broad set of White House efforts cracking down on campuses — including freezing billions of dollars of funding and arresting student activists.

...The House bill received support from AIPAC and the Republican Jewish Coalition. Opponents, including umbrella groups for colleges and universities, say the legislation will inappropriately expand government monitoring of higher education and could hinder international collaboration.

The first 100 days of President Donald Trump's second term have been a whirlwind of activity. On issues including the border, the economy, protecting Jewish students on college campuses, and standing with Israel, President Trump has kept his promises.

The White House put out a review of a few of those "Promises Made, Promises Kept."

Economist Stephen Moore, writing at Fox News Business, lists nine top economic accomplishments from President Trump's first 100 days.

The RJC tweeted out a list of some of things President Trump has done for Jewish Americans and the pro-Israel community:

President Trump has:

• Ordered a whole-of-government strategy to combat antisemitism in the United States and around the world.

• Secured the border and brought illegal immigration to a halt.

• Unleashed American energy to help reduce the cost of living.

• Championed school choice for our children and pushed back on four decades of government education failures.

• Authorized the deportation of foreign pro-terrorist radicals from our streets and college campuses.

• Ordered an interagency Joint Task Force to investigate the October 7th terrorist attack and provide victim assistance.

• Imposed sanctions on the rogue, anti-American, anti-Israel International Criminal Court.

• Delivered justice to Gold Star families by capturing the terrorist responsible for the Abbey Gate bombing in Kabul that killed 13 of our brave servicemembers in Afghanistan.

• Signed an executive order requiring a mandatory death penalty sentence for anyone who murders a police officer.

• Put 60 universities under investigation, and slashed billions of dollars of federal funding, for failing to address rampant antisemitism and protect Jewish students.

• Withdrawn from the anti-Israel, antisemitic United Nations Human Rights Council.

• Removed the obstacles preventing Israel from receiving critical military aid as it continues to fight an existential war.

• Helped to rescue and save hostages being held by Hamas in the terror tunnels underneath Gaza.

• Reinstituted maximum pressure on Iran to isolate and bankrupt the terrorist regime in Tehran.

• Re-listed the Iran-backed Houthis on the Foreign Terrorist Organizations list and ordered decisive military action to protect the interests of America and our allies.

• Welcomed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Washington as the first foreign leader to visit the White House.

• Dispatched Vice President JD Vance to Dachau to commemorate the victims and survivors of the Nazi terror regime and the 80th anniversary of the camp’s liberation by American forces.

• Defunded the antisemitic, anti-Israel UNRWA.

• Nominated and the US Senate confirmed Marco Rubio as US Secretary of State and Mike Huckabee as US Ambassador to Israel.

This past Tuesday, the Republican Jewish Coalition launched its new Western Phoenix chapter with over 60 attendees, marking a major step in our Arizona expansion.

Led by RJC leaders Robert A. and Barbara Cline—recently relocated from Washington, DC —and supported by RJC State Director Alan Hedrick, the event reflected strong momentum in the West Valley.

We were honored to welcome special guest speaker Shiry Sapir, vice chair of the Arizona GOP, whose remarks energized the crowd. With leaders like the Clines and growing local enthusiasm, Western Phoenix is shaping up to be a vital hub for grassroots activism, Republican outreach, and turning out the Jewish vote across Arizona.

Israel Hayom: Trump's DOJ strips UNRWA of immunity

The US Department of Justice informed the Southern District Court of New York last night that UNRWA – the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees – will not receive immunity from lawsuits in the United States, as it is not considered an affiliated body of the UN.

... This statement came in response to a major lawsuit filed by families of the October 7 massacre victims in American courts... The American announcement carries significant implications – UNRWA and its employees involved in the massacre could be ordered to pay substantial compensation to victims and their families if the court rules against them. Furthermore, the US administration's determination that UNRWA lacks diplomatic immunity could substantially facilitate Israel's efforts to end the agency's operations within Israeli territory.

Washington Free Beacon: State Department to dismantle anti-Israel grantmaking office in effort to rein In ‘rogue people’ at agency

A little-known grantmaking entity within the State Department created an anti-Israel program without adequate authorization during the Biden administration. Now, President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio plan to shut it down.

The Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL) offered nearly $1 million to nonprofit groups for investigating alleged human rights abuses in Israel, the Gaza Strip, and the West Bank.

...The move is part of a broader effort to align federal bureaucrats at Foggy Bottom with the Trump administration's policy priorities. When it comes to DRL's grantmaking power, the administration believes that regional offices staffed with political and diplomatic appointees are less likely than career agency employees in Washington, DC, to contradict those priorities.

"As the Secretary likes to say, we want to work from the ground up, from the embassies out in the field back to the regional bureaus, and that’s where we’re going to do our business," a State Department official said.