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The two largest donors to a new pro-Israel lobbying group, the Israeli-American Council, addressed its first national conference today. They called for Israel to pursue an implacable, hawkish, Islamophobic agenda against Iran and the Palestinians. Sheldon Adelson, who gave the IAC its single largest donation ($2.5-million), didn’t surprise anyone with his usual Palestine-denying rhetoric. Though it tended even more Kahanist than usual. Adelson rejected the notion that Israel must be a democracy:

“I don’t think the Bible says anything about democracy. I think God didn’t say anything about democracy,” Adelson said. “God talked about all the good things in life. He didn’t talk about Israel remaining as a democratic state, otherwise Israel isn’t going to be a democratic state — so what?”

Israel, a democracy? So what? That’s going to become a memorable phrase in the annals of the Israel war in the American Jewish community.

At another juncture, Adelson said:

“Israel can no longer live if you say we want to live as a democracy.”

If you’d asked me twenty years ago whether it’d be possible for a devout follower of Meir Kahane to be one of the richest men in the world and one of Israel’s strongest and richest advocates, I’d have thought you’d taken leave of your senses. Thinking back on what I knew or believed then, it would’ve made me beyond depressed to have known what was to come.

I have no doubt that had he lived, Meir Kahane would be Israeli prime minister and Sheldon Adelson would spend unlimited amounts of money to keep him there. Even more than he’s willing to spend on Bibi, which is considerable.

But major Aipac and Democrat donor, Haim Saban, also offered shocking, memorable copy. He told the audience that if Israel doesn’t like the Iran-western nuclear deal, it should “bomb the daylight out of the sons of bitches.” Saban ($400,000 to IAC in 2011) is one of Hillary Clinton’s largest donors. During her upcoming campaign, when you hear her rattle sabers on Iran or any other Israel-related subject, you’ll now know why.

Saban is also suspected by the FBI of being the Israeli Mossad asset with whom then Congresswoman Jane Harman negotiated a deal she hoped would bring her the chairmanship of the House Intelligence Committee. Since Arnon Milchan has written a book reciting his considerable espionage exploits in the U.S. on behalf of the Mossad, it should come as no surprise that the Mossad would see Saban as a prime asset. It would also come as no surprise if Saban served Israeli intelligence as a loyal, even enthusiastic resource.

The IAC is a new wrinkle on the concept of an Israel Lobby startup. It focuses mainly on the 100,000-500,000 (depending on who’s counting) Israelis who make their home in the U.S. Adelson believes that since they’re Israelis and already imbued with ‘Zionist values,’ they’re even more valuable assets for Israel here than American Jews. They have the zeal, experience, and passion to convey Israel’s story to American policymakers that the rest of us Jews don’t have. To Adelson, they are the Zionist equivalent of the Christian soldiers of the old hymn (“Onward Christian soldiers marching as to war”).

IAC strives to present itself as a “non-partisan” organization. That’s as ridiculous as saying Adelson is non-partisan. Perhaps what they mean is that it is not partisan in terms of U.S. politics. That’s why it’s important to them they have both a Republican and Democrat fatcat donor. But the lead speakers at the event were Mitt Romney, Joe Lieberman, and Lindsay Graham. Not exactly “fair and balanced.” The prime target for the speakers was the current Democratic president. And as for Israel, this group is as partisan as they come. In fact, I firmly believe it should be forced to register as an agent of the Israeli government (as should Aipac).

Saban and Adelson, who own important media properties, goaded each other into further strategic purchases of newspapers like the New York Times in order to further their pro-Israel agenda:

“Why don’t you and I go after The New York Times?” Adelson joked with Saban, later explaining that the only way to do so is by offering “significantly more than it’s worth” and thus having shareholders sue the owners if they don’t accept the offer.

At one time, Saban considered a major investment in Al Jazeera which presumably would’ve toned down its reporting on the Israel-Palestine conflict. He also participated in the bidding for the Washington Post, which Jeff Bezos eventually won. He does own Univision. Adelson owns Yisrael HaYom and subsidizes it to the tune of $36-million per year. During his talk, Adelon admitted he doesn’t like journalism and believes what the rest of us call responsible journalism is “looking for the wrong, to tell the people what’s wrong in life.” He called this perspective “insane.”

I’ve been writing fairly apocalyptic posts about developments in Israel lately. About the self-destructive nature of the country’s leaders as they face what may become a new Intifada, but this one inside Israel. If we now add to this the insane bellicosity of billionaires like Adelson and Saban, we’re approaching a perfect storm. If Israel had no allies, no trade partners, no donors, it would be forced to trim its ideological sails. But donors like these encourage the baying of the Zionist hounds. They both “love the smell of napalm in the morning.” They both are going for the jugular. They both are implacable enemies of realism and pragmatism. Just the opposite of what Israel needs at this juncture. All I can say is that with friends like these Israel, in its current incarnation, will hasten its own demise.