to the starving for food. In Israel there are people going hungry, this money can greatly benefit those families.

" $500,000 for 45-minutes"? I don't think so.

I am glad that JNF decided not to pay 500,000 for a speech. He's not worth it. No one is. I will nor donate another dime to this organization. I'm glad that they responded to public pressure. This person is pissed.

This proposal to pay former President Clinton this amount of money was always going to be a bit rich, excuse the pun. I have always wondered why high powered business people need to be smooched and charmed at such events. Are they so enamoured of status, ego and prestige that they somehow get some "frisson" in the presence of bigger "stars". Also, a conference is only as good as its intention. If this conference is only about fundraising it will lack soul. When everyone and everything is an object life is boring.

It is already too late, I have already remove JNF from the list of donations when I die. Their thinking is just too liberal. You do not spend my money that should go to trees on having a political talk. It is political because most Republicans hate what he did to the morals of this country.

We {I} learned a little more about our presidents true character ,or more correctly lack of character.

The JNF was founded to help develop Eretz Yisrael. It was not founded to support political agendas. Peres and company can go to a strip club to celebrate his BD for all I care.

I don't have enought guts to be a member of the I.D.F. But I have enough sense to honor them.I'd think that it would be better to buy a few apartments for soldiers with young families than it would be to frivolously spend money on the guy who made a Jewish girl the sujbect of ridicule worldwide.

Has everyone forgotten that he is a billionaire, thanks to Tadiran? Me, personally, I wouldn't throw a party for him at a falafel kiosk. But if he wants a major do, he can certainly afford to pay for it himself. Neither the contributors to the JNF nor the Israeli taxpayers should foot the bill. Peres, after all, is a legend only in his mind.

Peres is almost as bad as jimmy carter. ..He sold his country for the Nobel prize...

Note, that at no moment JNF states that its a nonsense expenses, but in order not to harm, Israeli people, Clinton or even Peres. they've decided not to continue. In other words, they are washing off their hands! (but not their face) Shame on JFN leaderships

This is going to be interesting - perhaps Bill will decide to do an academic boycott of the conference, like Stephen Hawking That would be terrrific!

the leadership at the jnf finally came to their senses! the purpose of the jnf is NOT to maintain bill clinton in the style to which he has become accustomed. had they gone ahead with wasting money this way, i, and probably a lot of other donors, would have reconsidered the wisdom of our donations to the jnf. better late than never.

not benefit to iisrael or jnf but to his wife's next campaign and peres' leftist buddies...a friend of Israel would not charge so much and would donate back to Zionist causes. from this article its not clear how much jnf has already paid out or how it will get any funds back at all from this world assembly of schnorers!

"JNF, which did not fund the event directly, is expected to see its funds returned in the near future." Some clarification is required, as earlier reports indicated the money was already paid last year to guarantee Clinton's appearance. Since Clinton doesn't seem embarrassed by this imbroglio, and it would seem out of character to waive his appearance fee and send the money back, would I be out of line for suggesting that someone may be quietly covering the cost in order to get JNF off the hook? What a pity that worthwhile projects now won't be funded because JNF'S out-of-touch leadership are too busy playing "machers" hanging with other machers, and folks who might otherwise donate simply close their wallets.

Thank God Clinton's "lecture", if it takes place, would , at a be reasonably priced after the great public outcry. However, the REAL reason for the original outrage is still the pitiful, fearful need of the Israeli political leadership at all levels to ingratiate themselves with the Goyim at any cost - even to the safety and security of the Jewish state.

I had the feeling that Clinton might have 'promised' to help with JNF fundraising. It is not needed. JNF has done fine without it for over 100 years.

Some donors wish to remain anonymous, while others clearly do not. But the JNF needs to be more open about its incomings, and outgoings. And it really is not go enough to claim they were not involved, when they are clearly linked with a possible payment of $500,000 to Clinton. If THEY weren't involved, then who IS entitled to commit their funds in this way? And why do they not have any control over this "leakage"?

By Clinton's own admission in an interview, he usually receives a $100,000 speaking fee. It's outrageous he was asking Israelis to pay 5 times more than usual, especially since he pressured Israel into inviting PLO terrorists into the country that killed thousands of people.

If this just came to light, I wonder what else JNF have been doing with the money raised for Israel ? Any other massive payouts to friends we should know about ? When I was a kid, we used to go door-to-door raising money for JNF, this really is a slap in the face.

Remember that it takes two to tango.

The outcry of the public changed the minds of those mindless wonders who run the JNF. They have the money to blow, seems like money is absolutely no problem. They have the low mentality to approve such a costly deal; that is not the problem. Plenty of mindless wonders running the place. What is the Problem?? The problem is that because of the public realizing that the JNF having soo much money (no one should ever donate to them) and the heads having no brains, they made a super blunder and exposed themselves as a lavish country club run by elite idiots, they made a gross mistake and want to cover their asses, well, dear JNF friends, I will never give a cent to your cause any more!!! A public investigation should be started to see just how wealthy this 'charity' cause is, and just how much money the fat cats at the top are putting in their own pockets!!

V. good but who is going to pay the bill!!!!???? They should cancel his visit.

The real lesson here is an important one for Israelis. Public pressure does work! Remember that. All too many of us are apathetic when it comes to applying public pressure to politicians and political organizations. The lesson here should be well assimilated by all of us - the use of non-violent public pressure can change things!

they actually had no part in? This article raises many questions and I don't find it even close to truth. I demand real answers, I have called for a boycott of JNF and suggest everyone do the same. If you want to donate and help, you can do so in many different ways. Due to the gov't raising VAT this past week, there are 35,000 more Israelis who are not able to afford a roof and food. This is where donations must be given to help Israel today. Our holocaust survivors cannot even afford their medications, no less food and a roof over their heads. JNF is not a worthwhile cause and they clearly have no problems squandering donation on frivolous bs, rather than using it as intended by the donors..

JNF will be put under greater scrutiny from now on. I have heard many stories of waste and abuse coming out of JNF. Maybe it is time to investigate them and if need be dismantle them and use whatever funds they have to actually contribute to the Jews of Israel.

No wonder he is smiling. Surely when you get invited to someone's birthday party you bring a present and not ask for a check?