Hebrew daily “Yediot Ahronot” quotes Sheldon Adelson as saying that what's good for Las Vegas is good for Israel. After accumulating $15 billion in the US gambling industry, the world's richest Jew, Adelson (71) sees no reason why Israel's should not benefit from the industry, too.
"Israel must build casinos. If not throughout the country, at least in Eilat," Adelson told Israel Ambassador to the US Daniel Ayalon. "It will be good for your tourism and economy. As for crime, you have nothing to worry about: Las Vegas is one of the safest places in the world."
Adelson, considered a close friend of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Minister of Finance Benjamin Netanyahu, told Ayalon that he personally was willing to invest millions in building a casino. "If we had a permit, we'd be happy to build hotels and casinos, or at least help you build them. Don’t be frightened of this. Casinos only do good. If you build them properly, there's no crime either."
Adelson is a major contributor to Chabad and the Jewish Federation of Las Vegas.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on January 31, 2005