Background

Eric Gallagher is a former fundraising director at The Israel Project, a Washington-based pro-Israel media organization. He previously worked at AIPAC, another major pro-Israel advocacy group. Gallagher became a key figure in discussions around the funding and operations of Canary Mission due to his appearance in undercover footage captured for the Al Jazeera documentary The Lobby – USA.

Role in The Lobby – USA Documentary

In The Lobby – USA, Eric Gallagher was recorded by an undercover Al Jazeera reporter posing as an intern. During their conversation, Gallagher stated that Adam Milstein, a prominent Israeli-American real estate investor and philanthropist, was the funder of Canary Mission Gallagher explained that Milstein had spoken with him about starting a “name-and-shame” effort targeting pro-Palestinian activists and solicited his feedback on the initiative.

Key Exchange from the Documentary:
> “So, Adam Milstein funds The Israel Project and he’s funding the Canary Mission website?”
> “Yeah, which is interesting because it makes us seem as though we’re a part of it, but we’re not,”
> — Eric Gallagher, speaking to “Tony,” the undercover reporter

Gallagher also noted that while Milstein was the funder, he did not know who Milstein had hired to oversee Canary Mission’s operations.

Canary Mission

Canary Mission is an anonymous website known for publishing detailed profiles of pro-Palestinian and Muslim student activists, academics, and organizations. The site has been accused by critics of doxxing, intimidation, and attempting to suppress free speech by blacklisting individuals and making their activism visible to potential employers and authorities. Since its founding in 2015, Canary Mission has profiled approximately 1,900 individuals.

Funding Controversy

Following the release of the documentary footage, Adam Milstein publicly denied funding Canary Mission. Gallagher also retracted his statement, claiming it was taken out of context and that the video was selectively edited to make it appear as though he was identifying Milstein as the funder. Despite these denials, the documentary and subsequent reporting have highlighted the opaque financial networks behind Canary Mission and intensified scrutiny of its activities and impact on student activism and free speech.

Summary Table

Aspect	Details
Name	Eric Gallagher
Affiliation	Former fundraising director, The Israel Project
Documentary	The Lobby – USA (Al Jazeera)
Key Statement	Identified Adam Milstein as funder of Canary Mission in undercover footage
Retraction	Later claimed statement was taken out of context; Milstein denied funding the website
Significance	Brought attention to the funding and tactics behind Canary Mission and related groups

Impact The exposure of Gallagher’s statements and the subsequent controversy have brought renewed attention to the funding sources and covert strategies employed by pro-Israel advocacy groups in the United States. The incident has raised questions about transparency, the ethics of anonymous campaigns, and the broader impact on free speech and activism within academic environments