Patriots owner Kraft pledges $20 million to battle anti-Semitism, BDS

The owner of the New England Patriots, Robert Kraft, accepted Israel’s prestigious Genesis Prize at a lavish ceremony on Thursday, where he pledged $20 million to establish a foundation dedicated to combating anti-Semitism and the Palestinian-led boycott movement against Israel. In his keynote address, Kraft told the audience of Israeli and international dignitaries that he was “humbled and blessed” to accept the award, vowing that his new foundation would seek to tackle the rising tide of anti-Semitic vitriol online.

The feting and ritzy ceremony in his honor in Jerusalem offered Kraft a welcome reprieve just four months after he was charged with soliciting a prostitute at a Florida massage parlor. The 78-year-old billionaire businessman has vigorously battled the charges, and the case against him appears to be crumbling. He has pleaded innocent but also issued a written apology, expressing sorrow for hurting his family, friends and fans.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara on Thursday evening attended the Genesis Prize award ceremony at the Jerusalem Theater.

In his remarks, Netanyahu said to prize winner Robert Kraft, "When Sara and I first met you and Myra, we talked about Israel, about the Jewish people, about your love for the state, your concern for its future, your determination to help fight for its future, and your determination to help fight for the truth. You have stood up for the truth and you have stood up for Israel, and we applaud you for it.” “The greatest assault that we have on Israel is the assault on the truth,” he continued.

“When modern Zionism came along, the founders of modern Zionism did not say that the attacks on the Jewish people would cease if we had a Jewish state. They said that we would be able to defend ourselves against those attacks once we had a state. We have established here a remarkable country, with an army, an economy with an idea of a free market. I’m very proud that I had something to do with it,” continued the Prime Minister.

“Anti-Semitism is rearing its head, in America too, with horrible consequences. And what you have to do in the face of these attacks is to fight back. Robert Kraft fights back, and he is committed to fight BDS and to fight the slanders against Israel and to stand up with the State of Israel," said Netanyahu

Netanyahu and Genesis Prize Foundation Chairman and CEO Stan Polovets awarded the Genesis Prize to Kraft for his commitment to Israel and his great contribution to the Jewish community over the years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vL4a2KHtnNc

Attached photo credit: Haim Zach (GPO)