AID Coalition is launching a campaign this week to elect its representatives to the World Zionist Congress.
The organization, which unites around 20 groups representing the Israeli high-tech community in the US, previously mobilized an unprecedented number of participants in protests against the judicial reform in Israel. Now, it is channeling its organizational strength toward the upcoming online elections next month.
Among the candidates on the list are senior Israeli executives residing in the US who have distinguished themselves in business, social, and professional spheres. The goal is to secure a significant number of delegates who will ensure that the substantial funds distributed by Zionist institutions are allocated toward rebuilding communities near Gaza and in northern Israel. They also aim to ensure that appointments in national institutions over the coming years are based on professional merit rather than political affiliation.
AID Coalition was founded by Jonathan Barsade, an entrepreneur, attorney, and board member of IsraAID and the Israel-America Friendship Fund; Ora Peled Nakash, a tech entrepreneur, the first female graduate of the Israeli Naval Officer Academy (Course Hovlim), and an activist in the pro-democracy movement; and Batell Blaish-Sultanik, a graduate of the IDF's Naval Academy, the first female deputy commander of an IDF missile vessel, and a council member of the Israel Bar Association.
Barsade stated: "For over a century, the Jewish people, through Zionist organizations, have built a financial asset generating nearly $1.5 billion annually, intended solely for the benefit of the Jewish people and those living in Israel. AID Coalition is running for the World Zionist Congress to prevent a hostile takeover of these resources by anti-Zionist and sectoral organizations. We aim to ensure a fair and rational distribution of these resources to support all citizens and the rehabilitation of border communities."
Blaish-Sultanik added: "Like hundreds of thousands of Israelis living in the US, I dedicated my best years to serving and defending the nation. A vacuum has emerged, and it is our duty to step in and act rather than sit idly by. The influence of the American Jewish community on Jewish national resources, controlled by Zionist institutions, is critical and extensive. We must serve as guardians, ensuring that every shekel is used wisely and justly for the benefit of the nation."
