Cruz to address GOP Jewish group linked to mega-donor Adelson

Ted Cruz will address an influential Republican Jewish group next week in Las Vegas.

The Republican White House hopeful will speak on April 9 before the Republican Jewish Coalition at a hotel owned by GOP mega-donor Sheldon Adelson, according to a statement from the group obtained by The Hill.

{mosads}The RJC on Friday announced it is holding its spring meeting at the Venetian, a ritzy hotel and resort. The event begins April 8 and draws attendees from the group’s 40,000 members and 45 chapters nationwide.

Adelson is an RJC board member and reportedly one of the group’s key funders.

The casino mogul has not yet endorsed a GOP presidential candidate and his endorsement is highly coveted. Four years ago, he and his wife, Miriam Adelson, donated nearly $100 million in the 2012 election cycle.

Miriam Adelson reportedly prefers Cruz, while Sheldon Adelson liked Marco Rubio, who suspended his campaign last month.

Cruz has fiercely defended Israel during his campaign, praising it as America’s closest ally in the Middle East.

He slammed front-runner Donald Trump’s position on the Israel-Palestinian conflict last month.

“My leading Republican opponent has promised that as president he would be neutral between Israel and the Palestinians,” Cruz said during the America Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) conference on March 21. “Let me be very, very clear: As president, I will not be neutral. America will stand unapologetically with the nation of Israel.

Trump suggested in early March he would remain neutral in talks between Israel and the Palestinians as president. He took a more pro-Israel stance in his own AIPAC address later that month, fiercely criticizing ties between Palestinians and terrorism.

Politico on Friday said that neither Trump nor presidential rival John Kasich are confirmed to deliver speeches to the RJC.