How Oregon Tech Funds Israeli Apartheid and Genocide
OREGON TECH INTERTWINED WITH ISRAEL
As scores of American cities have called for a ceasefire, from Olympia to Oakland and Seattle to San Francisco; we must ask why Portland has not chosen to push for a permanent ceasefire in Palestine. One can imagine that the lack of morality in advocating for an end to the violence against civilians, stems from an investment in the ongoing genocide.
Oregon ranks 3rd in the nation for states’ exports to Israel, according to the Jewish Virtual Library. Since 1996, Oregon has exported 6.5 billion dollars to the apartheid state, of what has been recorded. Ranking 27th in population in the US, the share of our support for the apartheid state is prominent.
Oregon is notable for our investment in the tech industry. Since the 90s, we have granted millions in state tax-breaks to build the “Silicon Forest”, a center for the advancement of technological innovation. As such, technology has been our largest tie to the illegal occupation of Palestine.
According to the US Center for Palestinian Rights, these contributions to the apartheid state include heavy military investment. Oregon has reportedly spent over 40 million dollars to fund the military occupation, while over 10 million dollars were sourced from the City of Portland. These figures are from the fiscal year 2023.
All of this has been facilitated by one of the most secretive groups influencing Oregon politics. Operating under the name Technology Association of Oregon (TAO), this organization works to build the deep tie between Oregon technology and Israeli firms. Israel contributes little to the global economy and its main export is tech, an industry that is deeply intertwined with Oregon’s own economy.
The TAO is listed as the “parent company” of the Oregon-Israeli Business Alliance (OIBA) according to their own Facebook. They are not simply tied together due to their merger, but because they are responsible for manipulating Oregon politics and policies collectively.
According to the Jewish Virtual Library, “Oregon-Israel Business Alliance formed in 2010 under the leadership of Governor Ted Kulongoski and various Israeli government officials, the OIBA held its inaugural event on the campus of the University of Oregon in Portland and was attended by officials from the State of Oregon, the City of Portland and businesspeople from the biotech, high-tech and cleantech industries. During his speech at the event, Gov. Kulongoski described ‘the secret’ to cooperation between the two sides as relating to Israel’s advancement in water technologies and Oregon’s expertise in forestry.”
According to the Jewish Federation of Portland, which incorrectly equates Judaism with Zionism, “The Oregon-Israel Business Alliance (OIBA) connects companies, business professionals, governmental officials, universities, and economic development agencies to expand business and economic relations between the State of Oregon and Israel. Recognizing their shared entrepreneurial and pioneering spirit, OIBA supports and promotes existing businesses and new opportunities, especially in sectors already important to both states, such as clean-tech, transportation, bio-science, high tech, agriculture and tourism”.
The co-founder of the OIBA is a businessman by the name of Noah Siegel. Siegel and Newberry, according to their website, became acquainted when they both worked in the office of the Mayor of Portland, the now-disgraced sexual predator and harasser Sam Adams.
Newberry has played a part in normalizing relations with Israel for over a decade. He was the Economic Development Policy Advisor for the Office of Mayor Sam Adams, according to his professional listings.
Noah Siegel is notable for having moved to Israel, while born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia. There, according to The Times of Israel, he met his wife, a native Bostonian, who both moved to assist the development of the apartheid state. Siegel worked for the Foreign Office, alongside the State Department. They then moved back to the states, where they settled in Portland. He began his work with the mayor’s office, handling international trade. After that he became a pivotal political advisor of the regional planning committee, Metro Oregon.
In 2015, the two organizations, TAO and OIBA merged into a single organization, due to their “shared interests”. They are now under the direction of a man who has had an immense impact on enforcing the support of Israel, current CEO Skip Newberry. The merger was celebrated by The Times of Israel and the Israeli government as a sign of “an emerging tech-Israel-Jewish community nexus, emerging in what many consider to be an unlikely place”.
All of this is intertwined with the work of TechFest NW. The technological festival ran from 2012 to 2021. While the event has the tagline: “where startups are celebrated, partnerships are ignited, innovation rules and business gets done”; it has been the tool of the Willamette Week and the Technology Association of Oregon, to further build relationships with Israeli tech firms.
TechFest NW was founded by Willamette Week publisher Mark Zusman. Zusman was the editor for years, before taking over as publisher. Willamette Week now lists Anna Zusman, alongside several family members of Mark in prominent positions in the paper. This explains the paper’s lack of coverage of the protests against the Palestinian genocide, alongside their working to condemn the Portland Teacher’s Association for advocating for Palestinian students — which will be discussed in detail in a following article.
According to the news site ORIsraeliLife, regarding the 2019 event “TechFest NW will feature Israeli speakers on the main stage for the first time when the eighth annual conference convenes at Portland State University April 4–5.”
Mark Zusman responded to the site with the following statement: “There are few countries in the world that have the spirit of entrepreneurship and the innovation that Israel is doing. To put on a technology/entrepreneurial event and not have Israel is a handicap.”
“About three years ago, Skip Newberry, CEO of the Technology Association of Oregon, and Steve ‘Rosy’ Rosenberg, founder of the Oregon Israel Business Alliance and a past president of JFGP, met Zohar while leading cybersecurity and biotech executives on a trade mission to Israel. Skip was also doing federal work on smart cities and was aware Tel Aviv had been named the world’s smartest city in 2014, so he connected with Zohar. Zohar founded DigiTel, which connects Tel Aviv residents with city information, cultural events and discounts. A key lesson from the Tel Aviv experience, says Skip, is the need to engage people before implementing technology… Skip will join him along with several other smart city experts for a panel discussion on the main stage.”
TechFestNW has been instrumental to further intertwining Oregon and Israel’s tech sectors. Its last event was moved virtually in 2021, and since then they have not held a festival. However, their work in platforming Israeli tech has had enough of an impact in the state.
OREGON TECH PAC SUPPORTING APARTHEID
Technology Association of Oregon (TAO) has a PAC called the Oregon Technology PAC. According to their website, “The Oregon Technology PAC is a political action committee in Oregon whose focus is to support candidates for office who promote and advocate for the agenda of the state’s technology industry”.
TAO and OIBA, now a single entity, have donated to a number of current politicians, in order to fuel the further investment in Israel through the State of Oregon and the City of Portland. While the Oregon Technology PAC claims that their “focus is to support candidates” who “advocate for… the state’s technology industry”; the name and language are intended to shelter its true intentions, to lobby politicians to pour more money into the apartheid regime of Israel.
The PAC has the mass support of the region’s tech industry and corporations. Since 2010, the PAC has been supported by Intel, Amazon, AT&T, and more. According to the Oregon Secretary of State (SOS) ORESTAR PAC Tracking System: Amazon has donated over $15,000 to the PAC. Intel has recorded over $120,000.
Yet there is another notable PAC contributing to the Oregon Technology PAC. The Oregon AEA PAC is a shady organization, with little information outside of their massive donations towards the PAC and Portland city governance. They are listed as “General Business Issues for the High-Tech Industry”. Oregon SOS documents over $30,000 in contributions to the TAO PAC.
The AEA PAC is listed under the direction of lobbyist James D. Craven. His professional profile lists Intel as a former employer, and so it’s not hard to tie his work as clearly in support of Intel to expand their influence over high-tech.
Then there are those who have received funding from the Oregon Technology PAC. This lobbying group has had a deep influence on even our local politicians. Since 2010, the PAC has donated to current Mayor Ted Wheeler, and new Governor Tina Kotek. To Wheeler, they recorded over $1,500 in donations, while Kotek has received over $8,500.
Oregon Technology PAC is also known for their support of right-wing Political Action Committees. Promote Oregon Leadership PAC is listed as “the campaign arm of House Republicans” by Oregon Live.
Skip Newberry has played an instrumental part through his federal contracts. He has been photographed in meetings with Senator Jeff Merkley, with Governor Tina Kotek, and in numerous roles in influencing further advancement of Israeli goals.
As he wrote on his LinkedIn, in November of 2023, he was “sworn in as the new Honorary Commander assigned to the 116 Air Control Squadron of the 142nd Wing Mission of the Air National Guard. In addition to providing radar, surveillance identification, cybersecurity and other services, members of the 116 Air Control Squadron and Oregon Air National Guard provide critical support to the region in times of natural disasters, pandemics and other crises”.
“The Honorary Commander Program pairs local community partners to Units from the Portland Air National Base and Camp Rilea in Warrenton.” According to him, he will be focused on “strengthening connections between the Air National Guard Base and the region’s tech industry and broader community during my two-year term”.
The TAO made significant strides as soon as Kotek entered office. It was clear that they had massive influence over the new governor of Oregon. Last year, Newberry was captured standing with a number of lobbyists in her office, as she signed “HB2049, which establishes an Oregon Cybersecurity Center of Excellence as of October 1st. The CCOE has a big workforce focus and is designed to help fill the 6,000+ open cybersecurity positions in Oregon while also enabling best-practice and resource sharing across public, private and academic/education sectors”.
So it is clear; the Technology Association of Oregon (TAO), after its merger with the Oregon-Israel Business Alliance, has worked to divest public taxes in the Portland area, and the State of Oregon, towards the illegal occupation of Palestine. TAO funds both the current Portland city government and the Governor, and provides direct support to the House GOP. All of this intended to further fuel investment in the apartheid State of Israel through our technology industry.
The following are notable members of TAO/OIBA: Prosper Portland, Multnomah County, Comcast Business, AT&T, Intel, Amazon, HP, Hilos, Nike, Legacy Health, Oregon Health Authority, Oregon State University, Portland State University, PGE, Portland Trail Blazers, Providence Health Plan, Reed College, University of Portland, Trimble Inc., and Vesta, among many others.
Prosper Portland specifically is “the economic and urban development agency for the city of Portland”, revealing the level of influence on the city waged by the Technology Association of Oregon.
HILOS is an interesting partner in the TAO. HILOS is a tech-clothing company that 3D-prints shoes, and is based in Old Town. The CEO and co-founder is Elias Stahl. Elias is a former IOF operative, according to his LinkedIn, listed as Special Forces.
His co-founder, Gaia Giladi, is currently an activist for the Instagram account @oregonforisrael. This new organizing group captured our attention for protesting as the entire city was shuttered at home, during the week of snow and ice in mid-January 2024. Gaia has made many public posts on her Instagram condemning the calls for a ceasefire, and equates criticism of the Netanyahu regime as “antisemitism”. Oregon for Israel is listed as a nonprofit currently seeking 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status from the federal government.
It is clearly funded by HILOS, which is a key figure in the TAO. As it was founded by Stahl, the factory in Old Town was visited by TAO President Skip Newberry, who stated the following on his LinkedIn, “touring HILOS’s HQ, I met team members from Brazil, Israel and all over the U.S. Now occupying two buildings in Portland, HILOS has big plans”.
Skip Newberry and Noah Siegel, through TAO/OIBA, are key figures in directing Oregon’s investment in the illegal occupation of Palestine. The TAO presents itself as furthering development in the region’s tech industry, yet through its unprecedented power through the Oregon-Israel Business Alliance; it has tied our tech sector to partner with the Israeli apartheid state.
They have played an enormous part in directing investment into the Netanyahu regime in the 2010s, as Israel passed the fascistic “Nation-State Law”. This law was so racist that it was held up in Israeli courts for clear discrimination against Palestinians, before being passed after multiple appeals. Through the OIBA/TAO merger, they forced Portland to support the State of Israel right as they implemented the law that declared that the land was “the nation-state of the Jewish people, and the Jewish people alone”.
The organization fueled the development of illegal settlements in the Occupied West Bank and Gaza. It bolstered the intensity of the apartheid state. And it was the passage of this law, and the increase of apartheid laws, that fueled the October 7th attacks, as well as the subsequent genocide against the Palestinian people.
With Oregon’s contributions to Israel listed as third in the fifty states, our tech sector has laced itself with the development of Israeli tech firms. Israel is the world’s premier techno-fascist state that created entire tech sectors dedicated to enforcing apartheid, and slaughtering Palestinians.
“NO TECH FOR APARTHEID”
What is notable is that this genocide has been widely criticized by groups like “No Tech for Apartheid”, as clearly driven by American and Israeli Artificial Intelligence, alongside tech often developed in places like Silicon Valley and the Silicon Forest. Firms like Boeing, Intel, and Raytheon, with a heavy presence in the Pacific Northwest, are seeing record-breaking profits from the current onslaught in Gaza.
The extent of the use of high-tech is horrifying and one can label Israel as the prime example of a techno-fascist state.
The use of AI technology has been recorded in depth by anti-apartheid reporters, notably an Israeli/Palestinian news and opinion website named +972 Magazine. In November, a month after the genocide against Palestinians commenced, +972 revealed the Israeli military’s use of AI to generate targets and killzones for the indiscriminate bombing.
The Israeli military developed a new AI-based system called “Habsora” (“The Gospel”) with the support of numerous Israeli tech firms. At the wall constructed on the Gaza Strip and on the West Bank, the regime constructed AI-powered automatic firearms for “crowd dispersal”. This technology, called “Smart Shooter” fires stun grenades, tear gas, and rubber-tipped bullets at Palestinians that approach the illegal borders.
The Israeli regime also uses “Red Wolf” and “Blue Wolf”, two pieces of technology that are used to enforce apartheid. Red Wolf is an experimental facial recognition system that is used to track Palestinians, especially through military checkpoints that are used to control their every moment.
Google and Amazon became integral to the development of these technologies, alongside the firms that have worked with them for years. In May 2021, in the midst of the Sheikh Jarrah crisis in occupied Jerusalem, these corporations signed a 1.2 billion dollar contract with the Israeli government.
The agreement was titled “Project Nimbus”. While Google and Amazon attempted to diminish the extent of their newfound partnership, and its contributions to the military occupation; an independent media team Calcalist revealed that the corporations were selected for their ability to “support big data analysis, artificial intelligence, and machine learning for the Israeli military”.
As a shared cloud solution, Google Cloud Platform and Amazon Web Services are being used to host surveillance and military-industrial endeavors of the Israel Occupation Forces. An investigation uncovered by The Intercept revealed training documents that claim Google is assisting Israel in advancing “advanced AI and machine learning tools, including facial detection, automated image categorization, object tracking, and sentiment analysis”.
While Google maintains a secretive office in the Portland area, and Amazon employs thousands in Oregon; the extent of Oregon’s influence in the development of tech for apartheid extends to the entirety of the sector due to the work of the Technology Association of Oregon and the Oregon-Israeli Business Alliance.
Notably, Intel is one of the largest employers in the Portland Metropolitan Area. With an office in Hillsboro, it was the site of a protest against their opening of a 25 billion dollar factory in Israel. It has developed technological advances embraced by the Israeli government. Intel has operated offices in Israel for decades, yet the current model of Israeli expansion benefits their goals.
According to Al-Jazeera, Intel received a grant from the apartheid state of 3.2 billion dollars. “In addition to the grant that amounts to 12.8 percent of the total investment, the chipmaker also committed to buying 60 billion shekels ($16.6bn) worth of goods and services from Israeli suppliers over the next decade, while the new facility is expected to create several thousand jobs”.
IBM is another notable firm with offices in Washington and Oregon. It has operated in Israel since the 1970s, and is currently investing in AI and quantum computing. With a number of contracts with the Department of Defense and the Pentagon, quantum computing will be used to expand military capabilities.
Specifically, IBM Research Israel is known for their deep research into AI technology, from voice recognition to computer vision and more, in conjunction with Israeli firms. The AI tech that is enabling the expansion of settlers into the West Bank and Gaza is being developed by American and Israeli firms.
Oregon’s tech industry is deeply intertwined with Israel. Our investment in the tech sector has worked to expand Israel’s ability to enforce apartheid, and fueled the bombing of Gaza.
This is the work of the Technology Association of Oregon, that has worked for years to divest public funds and industry advancements into the techno-fascist State of Israel.
