A pro-Israel group is moving its gala marking the 45th anniversary of the Munich Massacre to President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago Resort in Florida from another local venue because "we support our president," its organizer told Newsmax on Wednesday.
"Everyone is taking a stand as to why they don't like him," Steven Alembik, 66, a Boca Raton communications executive, told Newsmax regarding"The Truth About Israel Gala" in an exclusive interview. "We're taking a stand that we do.
"We support Israel. We support our president.
"He is our commander-in-chief," Alembik said. "He's doing a great job."
The gala, to be held Feb 25, was moved from the Boca Raton Resort and Club. Sponsored by a nonprofit called the Truth About Israel, the celebration will be the group's first — and organizers are planning for 700 attendees.
The nonprofit's decision flies in the face of those by other charities who have canceled their fundraisers at Mar-a-Lago in light of the President Trump's comments about the Charlottesville violence that killed one woman and injured 19 others.
Three organizations pulled their events last week from Mar-a-Lago: the Cleveland Clinic, the American Cancer Society, and the American Friends of Magen David Adom.
However, others have decided to keep their fundraisers there, including the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach and the Palm Beach Police Foundation.
"They're pulling out because they're afraid some of their donors might be thin-skinned," Alembik told Newsmax.
"In my world, you either stand up for something, or you will fall for anything."
Truth About Israel was established by Danny Ayalon, 61, a career diplomat who has served as Israeli ambassador to the United States, deputy minister of foreign affairs, and a member of Israel's Parliament.
He also has served as a policy adviser to three prime ministers.
This year's event will commemorate the anniversary of the slaying of 11 Jewish athletes and a German police officer by the Palestinian terrorist group Black September at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
The gala will feature swimmer Mark Spitz, who won seven gold medals in Munich, as one of its speakers. He completed his competitions before the hostage crisis began and left Germany under guard during the attack.
Other speakers include three Republican members of Congress: Reps. Ron DeSantis and Brian Mast of Florida, and New York Rep. Claudia Tenney.
Performance artist Michael Israel will headline the evening's entertainment.
The gala's theme this year is "Proclaiming the Truth. Dispelling the Lies."
Alembik told Newsmax that moving the celebration to Mar-a-Lago showed he was committed to Israel, America, and President Trump.
"I don't care what they do," he told Newsmax of the other charities, "but I'm letting people know that if you're only afraid of losing a $50 contribution, you have no commitment.
"They are only committed to themselves and their pocketbooks," he added. "It's all about them.
"I wanted to say, 'Thank you, Mr. President, for being a supporter of the state of Israel, our only ally in the Mideast.'"