Martin Oliner

Martin Oliner
Mayor of Lawrence, New York
In office
2010–2016
Personal details
Born1947 (age 78–79)
Germany
SpouseReva Oliner
EducationJ.D., New York University
Occupationtax attorney, chair of Religious Zionists of America

Martin Oliner is an American attorney, former politician, and chairman of the Religious Zionists of America.[1]

Early life and family

Oliner was born in 1947[2] in a displaced persons camp in Germany after his parents survived the Holocaust.[3][4][5] He grew up in Brooklyn[4] and received his JD from New York University.[5][6] He is married.[7][8]

Career

Oliner has been a tax attorney since 1972[9][7] and CEO of First Lincoln, an investment firm, since the 1990s.[10][11][6]

Boston Navy Yard

In the 1990s, Oliner acquired development rights in the Boston Navy Yard through his company, LDA Acquisitions.[12] In 1997, he filed a proposal to build a 260-unit apartment building that became known as the HarborView Place condominiums. The project was delayed due to local opposition and the city approval process.[13][12] A slightly smaller version of the project was approved by the city around 2003,[14][12] and construction was completed four years later.[12] In 2012, Oliner's company, Shipyard Quarters Marina Inc, was cited by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection for "dilapidated and unsafe elements" at Pier 8 in the Boston Navy Yard.[15][16][17] By 2013, Oliner had accrued $6 million in fines.[18][19] In October 2014, Oliner reached a settlement with the city to sell the property and pay a fine of $250,000.[20][21]

Politics and philanthropy

Oliner served as mayor of the village of Lawrence, New York, from 2010 to 2016.[4] After Hurricane Sandy in 2012, he criticized the state and county government's relief efforts and organized a letter with other local mayors asking Government Andrew Cuomo for assistance.[22][23][24] A Touro University trustee, he donated money to establish the Disaster Relief Clinic at Touro Law Center to provide legal advice to people affected by the hurricane.[7][25] Oliner was a board member of the Peninsula Hospital in Far Rockaway, New York City[26] and attempted to save it from bankruptcy with a $5 million loan in 2011.[27][28] The hospital shut down the following year.[29]

Oliner is the chairman of the Religious Zionists of America, a conservative, Orthodox Jewish organization.[30][31][6] He spearheaded a 2016 campaign to preserve the historical home of Religious Zionist rabbi Abraham Kook.[32] He advocated for Donald Trump to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem,[33][34] which Trump did in 2018,[35] and supported Trump's 2020 Israel–Palestine peace plan.[36] In 2017 and 2018, Oliner traveled to Qatar on trips organized by Nicolas Muzin, an agent of the Qatari government tasked with improving its relations with the Jewish-American community.[37][11][38] He donated an ambulance to Beit El, an Israeli settlement in the West Bank, in 2018.[8]

In 2020, President Donald Trump appointed Oliner to the Holocaust Memorial Council which governs the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.[30][4][39]

Oliner ran for superintendent of Hempstead, New York, in 2026 because of his opposition to a planned 309-unit apartment building in the town.[40][41]

Writing

Oliner's writing has appeared in The Jerusalem Post,[42][43] Algemeiner,[44] and Jewish News Syndicate.[45] In 2022, he wrote a column supporting Bezalel Smotrich and the Religious Zionist Party in the Israeli election.[46][47] In February 2025 he wrote a column in support of Trump's proposal to relocate Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip.[39][48] He argued that "The people of Gaza are collectively guilty” for the October 7 attacks, stating that "They are fundamentally evil, and they must pay a price for their actions."[3][39][42] In response, the Council on American-Islamic Relations called for him to lose his position on the Holocaust Memorial Council.[39][3] In June 2025, he wrote a column criticizing the Holocaust Memorial Museum's efforts to fight antisemitism as lacking, stating that they present antisemitism as defunct. He voiced his support for Trump's efforts to revamp the museum.[49][50]

References

  1. ↑ Malhi, Sabrina (2017-05-03). "US-Israel relationship: More critical than ever". TheHill. Archived from the original on 2021-09-26. Retrieved 2026-01-27.
  2. ↑ Staff, J. I. (2026-05-15). "Homestretch in Kentucky primary". Jewish Insider. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  3. 1 2 3 "US Holocaust Memorial Museum Board Member Calls Gazans "Fundamentally Evil"". Hyperallergic. 2025-02-03. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Bessen, Jeff (2020-12-30). "Lawrence resident Martin Oliner appointed to Holocaust council". Herald Community Newspapers. Retrieved 2026-01-27.
  5. 1 2 Varghese, Susan (2011-07-15). "Lawrence Mayor: "They Have My Cell Number"". THE SOUTH SHORE STANDARD. p. 1. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  6. 1 2 3 "Leadership - The Religious Zionists of America". 2015-04-15. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  7. 1 2 3 Bessen, Jeff (2013-02-06). "Touro Law Center creates disaster relief clinic". Herald Community Newspapers. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  8. 1 2 Kempinski, Yoni (2018-04-05). "Lawrence philanthropists donate new ambulance to Beit El". Israel National News. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  9. ↑ "Suffolk judge halts immediate eviction of Charlestown boaters - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Archived from the original on 2013-08-27. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  10. ↑ Ginsberg, Steven (1998-07-03). "FIRST LINCOLN IN TALKS TO PURCHASE CROWN BOOKS". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  11. 1 2 "New Info on Lobbyists Paid to Improve Qatar's Image Among American Jews". Tablet Magazine. 2018-12-04. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  12. 1 2 3 4 Carlson, Stephen P. (2010). "Charlestown Navy Yard Historic Resource Study" (PDF). National Park Service. p. 247.
  13. ↑ "Apartment building proposed for site at Charlestown Navy Yard/Richard Kindleberger". The Boston Globe. 1997-04-22. Archived from the original on 2026-04-19. Retrieved 2026-06-20 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ Associated Press (2003-04-03). "Developer unveils $120 million biotech center project". Portsmouth Herald. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  15. ↑ "Boston cites N.Y. official's firm for crumbling pier". Boston Herald. 2012-09-22. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  16. ↑ Manning, Becca; Staff, Patch (2012-12-13). "Shipyard Quarters Marina Owner Fined $25K Per Day". Charlestown, MA Patch. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  17. ↑ "Lawrence mayor in hot water over rotting piers in Boston". Newsday. 2013-08-07. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  18. ↑ "State, boatyard owner at odds over repairs - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Archived from the original on 2013-11-21. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  19. ↑ "Judge Orders Charlestown Shipyard To Halt Planned Eviction - CBS Boston". www.cbsnews.com. 2013-08-15. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  20. ↑ "N.Y. owner cuts deal to sell decrepit Charlestown marina". Boston Herald. 2014-10-01. Archived from the original on 2025-06-13. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  21. ↑ Perkins, Matt; Staff, Patch (2014-09-30). "Shipyard Quarters Marina to Pay $450K in Fines for Environmental, Public Safety Violations". Charlestown, MA Patch. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  22. ↑ Barron, James; Dolnick, Sam; Schwirtz, Michael (2012-11-03). "Fractured Recovery Divides the Region". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  23. ↑ Gur, Haviv Rettig (2012-11-04). "Stalled relief efforts raise anger and confusion in Sandy's wake". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  24. ↑ Nahmias, Jacob Gershman And Laura (2012-11-26). "Recovery Efforts Left Many Towns Adrift". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  25. ↑ Maligno, Thomas; Rajotte, Benjamin (July 1, 2019). "TRIAL BY WATER: REFLECTIONS ON SUPERSTORM SANDY". Fordham Environmental Law Review. 35 (966).
  26. ↑ Wave, The (2004-02-27). "Oliner Named To PHC Board Of Directors - The Wave". The Wave - Rockaway's Newspaper since 1893 | 718-634-4000. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  27. ↑ "Home care groups blast state DOH regs". www.crainsnewyork.com. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  28. ↑ "New financing offer for bankrupt Peninsula Hospital". www.crainsnewyork.com. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  29. ↑ "Peninsula Hospital to close permanently". www.crainsnewyork.com. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  30. 1 2 "Trump Appoints Controversial Loyalist Grenell to Holocaust Memorial Council". Haaretz.
  31. ↑ Associated Press (2015-04-18). "After Israeli elections, US Zionists cast votes of their own". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  32. ↑ "American religious-Zionists kick off campaign to save Beit Harav Kook | The Jerusalem Post". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 2016-02-25. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  33. ↑ "הקונגרס האמריקאי יציין 50 שנה לאיחוד ירושלים" [The US Congress will mark 50 years since the unification of Jerusalem]. Makor Rishon. 2017-04-30.
  34. ↑ Stoil, Rebecca Shimoni (2017-05-31). "Trump risks ire of millions of pro-Israel voters by keeping embassy in Tel Aviv". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  35. ↑ Aharon, Eliran (2018-02-26). "'The world has been turned upside down'". Israel National News. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  36. ↑ Kempinski, Yoni (2026-06-20). "Martin Oliner: 'What's critical is for Israel to move forward with annexation'". Israel National News. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  37. ↑ "Top US Jewish leader bargains with Qatar for missing Israelis in Gaza | The Jerusalem Post". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 2017-11-27. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  38. ↑ Dreyfus, Hannah; Friedman, Dan (2018-06-13). "How the king of New York kosher restaurants helped Qatar win over American Jewish leaders". Mother Jones. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  39. 1 2 3 4 "New York Holocaust Museum Removed Trump Images From Hate Speech…". Jewish Currents. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  40. ↑ Berman, Melissa (2026-05-22). "Former Lawrence Mayor Martin Oliner launches independent run for Hempstead Supervisor". Herald Community Newspapers. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  41. ↑ "Hempstead supervisor race 2026: three-way contest emerges". Newsday. 2026-06-02. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  42. 1 2 "Trump appointee: Palestinians are 'fundamentally evil' and not worthy of 'any mercy'". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  43. ↑ "Martin Oliner | The Jerusalem Post". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  44. ↑ Algemeiner, The. "Martin Oliner". Algemeiner.com. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  45. ↑ "Martin Oliner". Israel & Jewish News - JNS. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  46. ↑ קמפינסקי, יוני (2022-10-25). "מרטין אולינר תומך במפלגת הציונות הדתית" [Martin Oliner Supports the Religious Zionist Party]. Arutz Sheva (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  47. ↑ "Why religious Zionists should vote for Bezalel Smotrich - opinion | The Jerusalem Post". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 2022-10-24. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  48. ↑ Oliner, Martin (2025-02-01). "Trump's Gaza relocation plan could reshape the Middle East". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2026-01-27.
  49. ↑ "Upcoming 'upgrade' to Holocaust Museum exhibit on US response to Nazi Germany sparks some staff concerns: Sources". ABC News. 2025-08-29. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  50. ↑ "The US Holocaust Memorial Council is failing to fight antisemitism | The Jerusalem Post". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 2025-06-11. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
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