FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media contact: Uri Zehavi, Director Atlanta Israel Coalition uri@atlantaisrael.org
Free live conversation on Wednesday, October 28, the night after Israel votes and five days before Americans do
ATLANTA, October 18, 2026 — The Atlanta Israel Coalition (AIC) will host Joel Rubin and Joel Rayburn for a live conversation, “What the Midterms Could Mean for Israel,” on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. ET on Microsoft Teams. Registration is free, and an optional gift is available.
Israel holds its election on October 27. Americans vote on November 3. The conversation falls in between. Rubin and Rayburn will talk about what is at stake for Israel whichever way the House and Senate go: aid and security cooperation, Iran, and how solid bipartisan support in Congress really is. They will also take up what each party is getting wrong with pro-Israel voters who feel pushed out, including antisemitism in each party’s own ranks.
Joel Rubin is a Democrat and a former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Obama administration. He is a former Executive Director of the American Jewish Congress and the author of the foreign policy Substack The Briefing Book.
Joel Rayburn is a Republican and a former US Special Envoy for Syria in the Trump administration. He is a Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute.
Uri Zehavi moderates. It is a conversation between the two guests, and they will talk with each other. Uri puts the same questions to both, and each gets equal time. Neither guest is a candidate, and the questions are about Israel. There is time for audience questions.
AIC does not endorse or oppose any candidate or party. Our guests speak for themselves.
“Israel votes on the 27th, and America votes on November 3. Whoever runs the House and Senate next year will have a lot to say about aid, Iran, and whether support for Israel stays bipartisan, so I’m going to ask both guests where their own party is losing pro-Israel voters.” — Uri Zehavi, Director, Atlanta Israel Coalition
“So many people who love Israel feel pushed out right now, and they’re seeing antisemitism on the left and the right. Atlanta Israel Coalition is nonpartisan, for all ages and stages, so whoever you vote for, if you care about Israel, you’re welcome, and if you could bring a friend, that would be amazing.” — Cheryl Dorchinsky, Founder and Executive Director, Atlanta Israel Coalition
Details
- What: “What the Midterms Could Mean for Israel,” a live online conversation
- When: Wednesday, October 28, 2026, 7:30–8:30 p.m. ET
- Where: Microsoft Teams (live online)
- Cost: Free. An optional gift is available.
- Register: atlantaisrael.org/events/midterms-panel
For media: Reporters are welcome to attend. Interviews with either panelist can be arranged through Uri Zehavi at uri@atlantaisrael.org. Images are available on request.
About the Atlanta Israel Coalition
The Atlanta Israel Coalition (AIC) is a Jewish, grassroots, nonpartisan 501(c)(3) founded in 2018 by Cheryl Dorchinsky and Rabbi Yitz Tendler of Congregation Beth Jacob. AIC educates, mobilizes, and unites communities of many faiths in support of Israel and against antisemitism, locally and internationally. Since 2018 AIC has hosted more than 230 programs, led direct aid missions to Israel, and built partnerships across faith and civic communities. atlantaisrael.org
###
