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Hi all, I will be attending the following conference in Washington D.C. and have been encouraged to bring other students, who may attend for free. Please let me know if you are interested. Speakers include fmr Chief of Staff for Secretary of State Lawrence Wilkerson; Deputy Legal Director at the Center for Constitutional Rights, Maria LaHood; journalist and author of *Miral* Rula Jebreal; Israeli columnist Gideon Levy; author Susan Abulhawa; Palestinian-American lawyer and activist Huwaida Arraf; and others <http://israelsinfluence.org/speakers/default.html>. http://israelsinfluence.org/Students/default.html March 18 Conference to Examine Israel’s Influence on America [image: iigba_montage] “Israel’s Influence: Good or Bad for America?” is the theme of a daylong conference at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, on March 18, 2016. “Israel’s Influence” is co-sponsored by the American Educational Trust, publisher of the *Washington Report on Middle East Affairs <http://wrmea.org/>*, and the Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy (IRmep <http://irmep.org/>). Attendees receive lunch and an invitation to a special attendee-speaker reception. Expert panelists and keynote speakers will analyze the enormous impact Israel’s influence has on Congress, establishment media, academia and other major institutions. They will explore the costs and benefits in terms of foreign aid and covert intelligence, foreign policy, America’s regional and global standing, and unbiased news reporting. American taxpayers provide Israel with more than $3.1 billion annually in military aid. Since 1948 Israel has received far more than any other country, despite polls showing that most Americans oppose such aid. Israel and its U.S. supporters are now lobbying for a $1 billion increase—to $4.5 billion yearly—as “compensation” for the recently concluded nuclear deal with Iran, despite Israel and its lobby’s overt attempts to prevent it. What Israeli assumptions about America drive this? In 2001 Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who characterized the 9/11 attacks on America as “good” for Israel, stated, “I know what America is. America is a thing you can move very easily, move it in the right direction.” The lobby in charge of moving America is vast and powerful. It will raise and spend another estimated $4.1 billion in 2016 charitable contributions to indirectly subsidize Israeli institutions such as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), finance U.S. Israel advocacy, lobby local, state and federal officials, and support Israel-centric “education” programs. Some of this “education” supports pro-Israel programs in schools, colleges and universities. It also covers training federal and local law enforcement officials to focus on American Muslim and Arab communities as potential terrorist and “violent extremist” threats. History reveals that Israel and its lobby are most influential when they can point to—or, in the case of the Iran nuclear threat, manufacture—an existential crisis that allegedly threatens Israel or the U.S. What could the U.S. do differently without the constant influence of Israel and its advocacy campaigns? What actions can Americans take, especially leading up to the ballot box? In 2012, delegates to the Democratic National Convention opposed by voice vote a plank naming Jerusalem the “undivided capital of Israel”—though party bosses eventually passed the measure. Key constituents who are younger, more ethnically diverse, and focused on justice reject the party’s traditionally unconditional support for Israel. On the Republican side, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu enjoys higher approval ratings than the American president. In polls, many Republicans would side with Israel even if it meant siding against their own country. Yet some powerful conservative forces are rallying against elite US foreign policy consensus. They reject the neoconservative principle of "primacy" and unquestioned alliances which are "all cost and no benefit." What do these seismic shifts portend for Israel? “Israel’s Influence: Good or Bad for America?” (See the YouTube informational conference video at https://youtu.be/LJBianooq0A) will take place two days before the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the lobbying umbrella for Israel, holds its annual policy conference in the nation’s capital. According to Steve Rosen, AIPAC’s former director of foreign policy, “AIPAC spent 10 years” trying to torpedo any nuclear agreement with Iran. What will be the lobby’s next target during the coming decade and how will that affect Americans? For speaker and program updates, follow us on Twitter @IsraelInfluence <https://twitter.com/israelinfluence> or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/914716598565894/ *Lunch/breaks/evening reception* All attendees will receive a box lunch with beverage and coffee/tea/water during breaks. Attendees are invited to stay and attend a post-conference networking reception from 5pm until 7pm. All ticketholders will receive one complimentary reception beverage ticket and may purchase additional beverages at the professionally-staffed bar located between the Holeman Lounge and Ballroom. Location The National Press Club building is located at 529 14th St. NW, Washington DC, 20045. The Ballroom is located on the 13th floor. Elevator banks are located at the 14th St. entry. Nearby Metro stops within three to four blocks include Metro Center (Blue, Orange, Silver and Red lines), McPherson Square (Blue, Orange and Silver lines) and Federal Triangle (Blue, Orange and Silver lines). Program 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. REGISTRATION, EXHIBITION HALL OPEN 9:00 a.m. WELCOMING REMARKS DALE SPRUSANSKY 9:00 – 10:20 a.m. ISRAEL’S INFLUENCE ON CONGRESS AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES—Grant F. Smith, moderator *Grant F. Smith:* “Ten ways the Israel lobby ‘moves’ America.” An analysis of the history, size, scope and activities of Israel affinity organizations and their increasingly negative—but little known—impact on all Americans. *Dr. Roger Mattson:* “Did Israel steal U.S. weapons-grade uranium, and did it have help from U.S. citizens?” How Israel, with the help of its American supporters, diverted U.S. weapons-grade uranium to Dimona in the 1960s, and why the U.S. government never did anything about it. *Prof. Kirk J. Beattie:* “How Congress shapes Middle East policy, and how the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) shapes Congress.” An analysis of how the AIPAC creates incredibly strong support for Israel in the U.S. Congress. Based on more than 150 interviews with Hill staffers and dozens more with Middle East policy lobbyists and activists. Q/A 10:25 – 11:05 a.m. KEYNOTE: *Gideon Levy: *“What I would tell a visiting congressional delegation.” What politicians,members of Congress and media elites visiting Israel should know about the situation on the ground—as opposed to what they are told on hundreds of junkets organized by AIPAC. What harm is the relationship doing to the U.S.? Q/A 11:05 – 11:20 a.m. MORNING BREAK, EXHIBITION HALL 11:25 a.m. – 12:40 p.m. ISRAEL’S INFLUENCE ON U.S. FOREIGN POLICY—Dale Sprusansky, moderator *Col. Lawrence Wilkerson:* “Israeli influence on U.S. foreign policy.” Secretary of State Colin Powell’s former chief of staff explores how Israel’s influence over the U.S. has affected America’s strategic approach toward the Middle East. *Jim Lobe:* “American neoconservatives: a history and overview.” Review of the rise of neoconservatives, their role in promoting the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and the doctrinal centrality of Israel. *Justin Raimondo: *“Israel and foreign policy issues in the presidential campaign.” Is America’s unconditional support for Israel finally becoming a political issue? Will Americans soon have a choice at the voting booth beyond neoconservative and liberal pro-Israel Middle East doctrine? Q/A 12:40 – 1:20 p.m. LUNCH/ EXHIBITION HALL/NETWORKING 1:25 – 3:00 p.m. RESPONDING TO ISRAEL’S INFLUENCE ON CAMPUS AND IN COURT—Janet McMahon, moderator *Tareq Radi:* "The birth of Palestine solidarity activism at George Mason University.” The Key aims of solidarity movements on U.S. college campuses and attempts to thwart growing grassroots activism. *Maria LaHood: *“Concerted attempts to silence criticism of Israel in the U.S.” The case of the Olympia Food Co-op, Professor Steven Salaita, and other attacks on protected speech. *Susan Abulhawa:* “Why we’re suing the U.S. Treasury Department.” Holding U.S. government agencies accountable for the billions of tax-deductible “charitable” funding used ultimately to finance the displacement of the indigenous peoples of Palestine. *Huwaida Arraf: *“Holding Israel accountable for the Gaza flotilla raid.” Overview of a new lawsuit against the State of Israel and its ministries in U.S. federal court over Israeli attacks on a U.S.- flagged vessel in international waters. Q/A 3:00 – 3:20 p.m. AFTERNOON BREAK, EXHIBITION HALL 3:25 – 3:55 p.m. KEYNOTE: *Rula Jebreal: *“Voices prohibited by mainstream media and its role spreading Islamophobia.” An exploration of why lumping all Muslims into one monolithic, extremist-linked bracket is actually a victory for ISIS, as well as how and why the media abrogates its responsibility to cover all sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 3:55 – 4:50 p.m. ISRAEL’S INFLUENCE ON MAINSTREAM MEDIA—Delinda Hanley, moderator *Philip Weiss*: “Mainstream media coverage of Israel and Palestine.” How is it getting better? How is it getting worse? *Catherine Jordan:* The producer shows clips from the upcoming rerelease of “Valentino’s Ghost: Why We Hate Arabs” and answers questions about the film, which documents how the U.S. media and government perpetuate the storylines that create many Americans’ fear and loathing of Arabs, Muslims and Islam. Q/A 4:50 p.m. CLOSING REMARKS GRANT F. SMITH & DELINDA HANLEY 5:00 – 6:50 p.m. NETWORKING RECEPTION _________________________________________________________ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
