Let us know if you spot an inaccuracy: trackjpac@gmail.com
Research indicates that the political campaign “Marc Berman for Assembly” has documented relationships with pro-Israel advocacy and the Israel lobby through direct contributions, legislative affiliations, sponsored legislation, and participation in delegations to Israel.
Marc Berman’s political campaigns have received documented contributions from organizations and individuals identified with the Israel lobby. According to track-jpac, an organization that tracks Israel lobby contributions, Marc Berman has received a total of $77,550 in direct contributions from sources identified as part of the Israel lobby. Specific contributors to Marc Berman’s campaigns, with years spanning or encompassing the 2018 election cycle, include:
Marc Berman is a member of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus (LJC). This caucus aims to promote pro-Israel legislation, strengthen California-Israel ties, and counter anti-Zionism. The LJC has issued statements characterizing support for a free Palestine as antisemitic and has been noted for showing public support for Israeli victims of the October 7th attack without similar statements for Palestinian victims. Marc Berman publicly endorsed a statement from the California Legislative Jewish Caucus which denounced protests using chants perceived as calling for the destruction of Israel and justifying Hamas’s actions.
Berman has also been a co-author and sponsor of legislation that aligns with pro-Israel advocacy. He is a co-author of Senate Bill 1387 (SB 1387), which proposes adding “Jewish” as an ethnic identity on California state government forms. This bill is sponsored by “Jewish California,” formerly known as the Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California (JPAC), a coalition of over 40 Jewish organizations. Additionally, Berman is listed as a sponsor of Assembly Bill 2664 (AB 2664), a bill that seeks to restrict protests at places of worship by creating a 100-foot buffer zone around them. One source describes AB 2664 as part of an “Israel lobby’s agenda of indoctrination, censorship and genocide-denial,” aiming to curb protests related to sales of occupied Palestinian land or events featuring Israeli military figures.
In July 2018, Marc Berman participated in a bipartisan delegation of California state legislators that visited Israel. This trip was sponsored entirely by Project Interchange, an educational institute of the American Jewish Committee (AJC). The stated purpose of the program was to strengthen California-Israel relations and explore opportunities for bilateral collaboration.
| Candidate | Years | Direct Contributions | Behested Payments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sabrina Cervantes | 2017 | $8,800 | $0 |