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California State Senator Ben Allen has a documented relationship with pro-Israel advocacy through his leadership and participation in the California Legislative Jewish Caucus.
Allen was selected as the Vice-Chair of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus in December 2016 and subsequently elected as its Chair in December 2018. The Jewish Caucus actively engages in pro-Israel advocacy, including sponsoring legislation. For instance, in 2016, the Caucus sponsored AB 2844, a measure that prohibits the state of California from contracting with companies that participate in boycotts, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) targeting the State of Israel. This legislation was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown. The Caucus’s legislative agenda has also included efforts to reaffirm and strengthen California’s Memorandum of Understanding with Israel on mutual interests such as renewable energy, drought management, cybersecurity, and technology.
In February 2020, Senator Allen, as Chair of the Jewish Caucus, discussed a trip to Israel organized by the caucus to foster economic ties between California and Israel, as outlined in a 2015 agreement. The trip, which involved legislators, was partially underwritten by non-legislative foundations and the Jewish Caucus’s own nonprofit. Allen described the trip as including “substantive meetings the entire week” on economic and political situations.
Furthermore, the California Legislative Jewish Caucus, with Allen as its chair, has successfully lobbied for state funding for various initiatives, including approximately $60 million in 2019 for Jewish camps and other priorities. These priorities included $15 million for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which aids religious centers and schools susceptible to hate-motivated crimes, and $6 million for the expansion of the Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust.
Allen’s personal background also indicates connections to Jewish community organizations. He is a graduate of the Jewish Federation’s New Leaders Project and the Anti-Defamation League’s Glass Leadership Institute. He is also a member of the Kehillat Israel Congregation and has visited Israel multiple times.
| Candidate | Years | Direct Contributions | Behested Payments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catherine Blakespear | 2021 | $5,900 | $0 |
| Jerry McNerney | 2023 | $4,000 | $0 |
| Matt Haney | 2021 | $3,500 | $0 |
| Henry Stern | 2013 | $2,000 | $0 |
| Dawn Addis | 2021 | $2,000 | $0 |
| John Harabedian | 2023 | $2,000 | $0 |
| Marc Berman | 2015 | $500 | $0 |