Amidst the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, Republican candidates eyeing a 2024 presidential run are facing a significant challenge at the Republican Jewish Coalition's (RJC) annual conference. The conference, attracting leading GOP figures, presents a crucial opportunity for candidates to differentiate themselves from former President Donald Trump and showcase their support for defending Israel.

While Trump remains immensely popular among Jewish conservatives, concerns have arisen among some of his advisors regarding any potential fallout after the former president criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over intelligence failures following Hamas' surprise terror attack on October 7. Trump's belief that Netanyahu had been disloyal by recognizing President Joe Biden's victory in 2020 has created a potential opening for his primary opponents to establish themselves as staunch supporters of Israeli security without alienating Trump's base.

Numerous interviews with Republican donors, RJC board members, and conference attendees have emphasized the importance of candidates addressing the persistence of anti-Semitism both globally and within the United States. Attendees hope to hear from the candidates how they plan to tackle this growing issue and handle the crisis in Israel differently than President Biden. Since the conflict began, Biden has advocated for providing wartime and humanitarian aid to Israel and denouncing the actions of Hamas.

RJC board member and former Representative Lee Zeldin expressed expectations that the conference will focus on the current state of affairs in Israel, as well as the impact on domestic issues such as protests and activities on college campuses. Zeldin emphasized the need for candidates to articulate their approach to growing anti-Semitism on US soil while expressing unified support for Israel's inherent right to self-defense and the value of the alliance.

Meanwhile, Trump's presence at the conference alongside the 2024 primary field makes for a unique dynamic. As the war between Israel and Hamas rages on, Trump aims to position himself as the candidate with the strongest record on Israeli security. He often highlights that no such conflict occurred during his presidency, and emphasizes accomplishments such as orchestrating the Abraham Accords and moving the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

For RJC attendees, even those supporting candidates other than Trump, the former president's record on Israel casts a long shadow over the rest of the field. Some donors and attendees remain skeptical that any opinions will shift after the candidates give speeches at the conference, affirming that their support is already solidified for the candidate of their choice.

The list of candidates scheduled to attend the conference in Las Vegas includes Trump, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, former Vice President Mike Pence, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. Each candidate has been allocated time to deliver remarks on Saturday. Other prominent Republican elected officials on the schedule include Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Senators Lindsey Graham, Rick Scott, and John Thune, as well as Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo.

The RJC conference holds significance at a time when the Republican Party, as a whole, has been critical of Democrats and the Biden administration regarding the ongoing conflict. Some political rivals of the president have attempted to draw a direct connection between Hamas' attack and the US-Iran prisoner deal struck earlier this year. Speaking at the conference offers the candidates a rare opportunity to showcase their foreign policy credentials during a crisis that has captivated global attention.

It is worth noting that several influential Republican donors, including Miriam Adelson, the widow of Republican mega-donor Sheldon Adelson, have declined to provide financial support to any of the candidates in the current nomination fight. Adelson's stance is seen as a significant factor since she is a major RJC benefactor.

As the conference approaches, the candidates have refrained from directly criticizing each other's responses to the war between Israel and Hamas. Instead, they have chosen to contrast the Republican Party with Democrats and the Biden administration, while also presenting their own distinctive Israel policies.

Governor DeSantis has emphasized his position as a sitting governor in providing assistance to Israel, including the transportation of essential supplies and ordering Florida universities to deactivate their chapters of Students for Justice in Palestine. Other candidates, such as Nikki Haley, seek to emphasize their foreign policy knowledge and differentiate themselves by positioning their stance as either isolationist or interventionist.

The RJC conference, unlike typical party gatherings, provides a platform to highlight candidates' positions on a specific foreign policy issue. Ari Fleischer, a member of the RJC board of directors and former press secretary for George W. Bush, believes this presents a vital opportunity for former UN ambassador Haley, who championed Israel's defense during her tenure as Trump's top diplomat to the United Nations.