Report: Soros Funding Liberal Israeli Group

A new Washington Timesinvestigative report reveals that billionaire, and liberal political activist, George Soros has been funding the Jewish-American advocacy group J Street, despite previous claims from the organization to the contrary.

According to the Times, Soros and his two children gave $245,000 from July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009 -- which represents a third of the group's revenue from U.S. sources during that period.

With the funding now in the open, J Street executive director Jeremy Ben Ami has changed his groups stance on the Soros funding. In an interview with the Times, Ami said that the $245,000 was part of a $750,000 gift from the Soros family to his organization made over three years, and admitted that during that same period Soros had raised $11 million for J Street and its political action committee.

J Street has long billed itself as the more reasoned Jewish-American organization, contrasting itself with organizations such as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). That apparently caught the eye, and wallet, of Soros, who has funded such liberal organizations as MoveOn.org and Media Matter for America.

"I am very, very proud that our movement and what we are trying to do is aligned with the values and principles of George Soros and we are proud to have his support," he said.