Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) National President Morton A. Klein and ZOA Director of Research & Special Projects Elizabeth Berney, Esq. released the following statement:

Earlier today, ZOA issued a press release detailing Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts’ disgraceful defense, whitewashing of, and alliance with Tucker Carlson, following Carlson’s string of libels (such as stating that Christian supporters of Israel are infected with a “brain virus” (I guess that includes Trump, Reagan, Rubio, Hegseth and Truman) and fawning interviews with notorious neo-Nazis, Holocaust deniers, Israel defamers and Jew-haters whom he did not push back on. Carlson’s actions are a blatant attempt to turn conservatives into antisemites and Israel-haters. ZOA explained that allying with Tucker Carlson will destroy the Heritage Foundation’s reputation as a bastion of honest, intelligent, moral, pro-Israel conservatism. (See “ZOA States Kevin Roberts Is Unfit to Lead Heritage Fdn. & Must Condemn & End Support for Jew-Hating, Israel-Hating Tucker Carlson,” Nov. 3, 2025.)

Up until now, ZOA was proud and gratified to be a key participant in the Heritage Foundation’s excellent Esther Project initiative to combat antisemitism. However, we believe that the Heritage Foundation can no longer capably combat antisemitism while its president defends and allies with leading forces that are defaming Israel and the Jewish people. ZOA has thus sadly and painfully concluded that we will terminate our participation in Heritage’s Esther Project, unless Heritage President Kevin Roberts publicly and immediately condemns Carlson’s actions and statements; apologizes for Roberts’ video statements; and ends Roberts’ and Heritage’s relationship with Tucker Carlson. The only alternative would be for Kevin Roberts to resign or be removed.

ZOA notes that our friend (and ZOA Coalition candidate for the World Zionist Congress) Rabbi Mark Goldfeder, Esq., CEO of the National Jewish Advocacy Center, has already quit Heritage Foundation’s antisemitism task force over Kevin Roberts’ statement normalizing anti-Jewish hate. There are others who have informed us they are also leaving the Esther Project and urging Roberts’ dismissal unless other similar actions are taken, as ZOA recommends. In these difficult times for the Jewish people, it is tragic that Kevin Roberts has severely harmed Heritage Foundation’s reputation and that it may soon become an institution that is anathema to Jewish and pro-Israel American leaders.