The Peres Academic Center paid former President Bill Clinton $500,000 to give a 45-minute speech in Israel to honor Israeli President Shimon Peres for his 90th birthday, according to the New York Post.
Mr. Clinton will speak at the Peres Academic Center in Rehovot on June 17, and the payment will go toward his William J. Clinton Foundation, the Post reports. The Jewish National Fund — that footed the bill for the event — is an environmental group and is known for an extensive tree-planting campaign in Israel.
The Israeli newspaper Haaretz called the fee paid by the nonprofit a “cause for embarrassment,” The Blaze first reported.
A chief at Israel TV tweeted she believes its payment to Mr. Clinton indicates “a loss of all shame.”
“The founders of the JNF are turning in their graves,” Ayala Hasson said. “The JNF spokeswoman didn’t answer me who approved this scandalous amount. She only responded that it is a great honor blah blah…”
Mr. Clinton is one of the highest paid speakers in the world and receives an average of $180,000 per appearance, the New York Post reports.
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• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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