AIPAC 2013: The Greatest Pro-Israel Show On Earth · Aubrey Bloomfield http://www.policymic.com/articles/28499/aipac-2013-the-greatest-pro-israel-show-on-earth The annual policy conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) begins on Sunday in Washington, D.C. Aptly billed as “what may very well be the greatest pro-Israeli show on earth” by Chemi Shalev of Israel’s Haaretz newspaper, the three-day conference will host over 12,000 delegates and feature a high profile list of speakers, including U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (appearing via satellite). The conference’s legislative agenda is set to focus on strengthening U.S.-Israel relations and Iran’s nuclear program. In particular, delegates will lobby House and Senate members to co-sponsor legislation that would formally designate Israel as a “Major Strategic Partner” of the U.S., as well as press senators to cosponsor a resolution that would declare that the U.S. would stand by Israel should it take military action against Iran. AIPAC is one of the most powerful lobby groups in Washington and is the most powerful pro-Israel lobby group in the country, as evidenced by the array of high profile politicians, both Republicans and Democrats, who speak at its conference each year. The yearly conference is essentially a bipartisan Israel love fest and functions as an important and tangible reminder of the influence of the Israel lobby in U.S. politics. For the first time in seven years, neither the U.S. president nor the Israeli prime minister will be attending the conference (although as noted above Netanyahu will speak via satellite). However, despite the absence of President Obama, this year’s conference has still attracted a host of influential figures. Key speakers include Biden, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird (from perhaps the only other country in the world that comes close to the U.S. in terms of its staunch and unquestioning support for Israel), Republican House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Democrat Robert Menendez, and Republican Senator John McCain. See here for the full list of speakers. Two issues will dominate the agenda at this year’s conference: strengthening the U.S.-Israel relationship and addressing Iran’s nuclear program. Designation of Israel as a “Major Strategic Partner” of the U.S. would be the first such relationship between the U.S. and another country and would further cement the already strong bond between the two countries. In addition, AIPAC delegates will also be lobbying Congress to make sure that the over $3 billion in annual security assistance for Israel and the additional $211 million for the Iron Dome missile defense system are exempt from spending cuts. On Iran, delegates will be lobbying House members to co-sponsor the Nuclear Iran Prevention Act, which would further strengthen and expand the already harsh U.S. sanctions on Iran and also allow President Obama to impose sanctions on entities that maintain significant commercial ties to Iran. Furthermore, if senators approve the resolution on U.S. backing for an Israeli strike on Iran, while it would not amount to an explicit congressional authorization to use military force, it would, as Hayes Brown of ThinkProgress notes, “serve as an official announcement of U.S. policy to support any Israeli strike.” The conference will also be the target of vocal protests by groups gathering under the banner Occupy AIPAC, which seeks to lessen AIPAC’s stranglehold on U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East and encourage an “even-handed position that respects international law and the human rights of all people in the region.” Groups including CODEPINK, Interfaith Peace Builders, U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, and the Fellowship of Reconciliation will be hosting a series of counter events around the AIPAC conference such as protests outside the conference venue and a day of counter-lobbying of U.S. politicians. While the image of bipartisan support for Israel has been somewhat marred by the saga surrounding Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel’s confirmation process, in terms of substance nothing has changed. The level of bipartisan agreement when it comes to Israel is neatly captured by a quote from Eric Cantor in a promotional video for AIPAC. Cantor notes that, “although we are on opposite sides of the political aisle, we are absolutely united when it comes to the U.S.-Israel relationship.” While AIPAC and the Israel lobby in general are incredibly influential in U.S. politics, it is important to remember that it does not represent the views of all Jewish people or the opinion of all American on Israel. Part of the power of AIPAC and Israel lobby is that it serves to obscure and marginalise these dissenting viewpoints. This is worth keeping in mind as we watch the greatest pro-Israel bipartisan love fest on earth unfold over the next few days. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Also, read: Thousands of people will be lobbying senators this week to support a backdoor to war with Iran. Take action now to tell your senators to oppose this dangerous legislation. Don't let AIPAC push the U.S. into war with Iran!! Tikkun and NSP are teaming up with Peace Action West to stop this war before it starts!!! The run-up to war doesn’t happen overnight. It’s made up of small steps to slowly build acceptance for the idea of military action. A group of senators have introduced just such a bill that urges US military and other support if Israel attacks Iran. Tell your senators to oppose this backdoor to war with Iran. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), a powerful lobbying group with hawkish positions on Iran and a blind support for Israel's right-wing government that has been agitating for a preemptive first strike on Iran, is marching on the Hill this week, bringing thousands of supporters to DC to lobby in favor of this bill. That's why we at the interfaith (and atheist-welcoming) Network of Spiritual Progressives have aligned ourselves with Peace Action to challenge AIPAC. AIPAC does not speak for me! Does it speak for you? I wish J Street and the Reform Action Center were willing to openly challenge AIPAC, but these very decent organizations are so interested in maintaining their appearance of being "centrist" and pro-Israel that they shy away from confrontations with AIPAC even though AIPAC's policies frequently support directions that are really bad for Israel, for the Palestinian people, for world Jewry, and for global peace!!! So that's why it is so essential to have the voice of Tikkun and the Network of Spiritual Progressives, in alliance with other groups, challenging this destructive direction. In Tikkun magazine we've explained in detail why an assault on Iran is destructive to Israel's best interests, and destructive to the best interests of the U.S. and global peace. With your help, we bought a full page ad against a first strike on Iran, and we would like to do that again, this time in the Washington Post. If you wish to sign and donate to such an ad, please click here. If you have trouble donating on line, send us a check made out to Tikkun and sent to Tikkun/No War on Iran, 2342 Shattuck Ave, #1200, Berkeley, Ca. 94704. It is very difficult for senators to say no to pressure to support this bill if they aren’t hearing from the other side. Your senators need to hear from you right now. And Peace Action West has set up the mechanism to get your message to them right away.Just Click Here. While the resolution is nonbinding, it sends a very dangerous message. When powerful senators from both parties officially announce that the US should back Israel in the event of an ill-conceived attack on Iran, it undermines ongoing diplomatic efforts and normalizes the idea of bombing Iran. We know an attack on Iran would be shortsighted and tragic. Let your senators know you’re not going to sit back quietly while they take us on a path toward war. Take action now. Support our ad, and support the message to your Senators! Thank you. Rabbi Michael Lerner Tikkun/Network of Spiritual Progressives [email protected], www.tikkun.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thousands of volunteer lobbyists are landing in Washington, D.C. this very minute for the annual convention of AIPAC, the powerful pro-war Israel lobby group that acts like it owns Congress. But this year, I'm happy to report, we have a big surprise waiting for them! As of this morning, plastered across the busiest Metro stations in D.C., there are 100 largeback-lit ads with our message: “I am Jewish and proud - and AIPAC doesn’t speak for me.” Now we have just 48 hours to outnumber those thousands of AIPAC lobbyists with at least 20,000 pro-peace lobbyists—that means you! Click here now: www.jvp.org/aipac You’ll be able to send an email AND call your Representative and the White House to tell them to say NO to AIPAC. We think this brazen ad campaign — produced with Avaaz, the 19-million strong people-driven activist organization— is ground-breaking. Now let’s overwhelm our Congressional representatives the same day they get inundated with AIPAC lobbyists who demand that Congress: * Exempt aid to Israel from sequestration, despite the fact that Americansare bearing the burden of $85 billion in cuts. * Guarantee US support for an Israeli strike on Iran, which would outsource decisions about the safety and security of the American people. * Remain silent on settlement building in E1, enabling the Israeli government to drive a nail in the coffin of the peace process. We have just 48 hours to show that AIPAC represents a radical anti-peace minority. Click here now: http: www.jvp.org/AIPAC AIPAC is the NRA of Middle East lobbies--they do not represent American Jews or voters. Let’s tell Congress and President Obama to send them packing. Sincerely Cecilie Surasky, Deputy Director P.S.: Just to be sure, on top of the 100 Metro ads, when members of Congress file into the AIPAC gala tonight, our 20-foot mobile truck will be there to greet them with the message see above. And when AIPAC lobbies on Capitol Hill, we’ll be there too. 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