Edited by: Fern Sidman

In the wake of the October 7 attacks by Hamas terrorists in Israel, Wall Street and Hollywood billionaires are reportedly exploring a plan to launch a substantial media campaign, aiming to spend up to $50 million, as was reported last week on the Semafor.com web site. The initiative, spearheaded by real-estate billionaire Barry Sternlicht, seeks to define Hamas not only as an enemy of Israel but also as a threat to the United States.

Sternlicht’s efforts, revealed through an email obtained by Semafor, indicate a desire to counteract potential shifts in public opinion, particularly as media coverage intensifies on the Palestinian situation.

Sternlicht’s email, sent to over 50 high-profile individuals with a combined net worth nearing $500 billion, according to Bloomberg and Forbes data.  Among the recipients of the e-mail were media mogul David Geffen, investors Michael Milken and Nelson Peltz, and tech luminaries Eric Schmidt and Michael Dell, according to the Semafor report.

It’s unclear how far the effort has advanced or who is on board, but it has raised several million dollars, hired Josh Vlasto, a former aide to Sen. Chuck Schumer and Gov. Andrew Cuomo, to advise it, and quietly launched a website, people familiar with the matter said, Semafor reported.

The report on Semafor also indicated that the objectives of plan are to distinguish between anti-Semitism and the complexities of the Palestinian situation. Concerned about the potential erosion of global empathy for Israel, Sternlicht emphasized the need to get ahead of the narrative, specifically countering perceived efforts by Hamas terrorists, to shape public perception, the Semafor report added.

In the email, Sternlicht mentioned discussions with notable figures, including CNN owner David Zaslav and Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel, who was initially reported to be coordinating the campaign, as was reported by Semafor.  However, spokespeople for Zaslav and Emanuel have since stated that they are not currently involved.

The impetus for this campaign lies in the concern that recent media coverage, focusing on the plight of Palestinians in Gaza and orchestrated by Hamas may shift public opinion against Israel, Semafor reported. Sternlicht highlighted the potential impact of scenes, whether real or fabricated by Hamas, on diminishing Israel’s current standing in the world community.

This initiative is one of several behind-the-scenes efforts by business tycoons, both Jewish and non-Jewish, to support Israel in the aftermath of the barbaric attacks by Hamas that left 1400 people dead and 239 people abducted by the terror group. Michael Bloomberg, for instance, donated $44 million to Israel’s nonprofit emergency medical service.

Recent polling conducted by the University of Maryland and Ipsos reveals a nuanced picture of public sentiment following the October 7 attacks. The Semafor report said that while there was initially a groundswell of support for Israel, particularly in response to the toll inflicted by Hamas on Israeli civilians, attitudes among key constituencies have started to shift.

Investor Bill Ackman and Apollo CEO Marc Rowan have publicly criticized universities for their handling of pro-Palestinian student demonstrations. The spectrum of opinions extended to the Israeli government, with Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel expressing his dissatisfaction with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.