Spotlight: AIPAC

By Alan H. Stein

Among the plethora of acronyms that represent the various vital Jewish organizations, including ADL, AIPAC, AJC, CAJE, CLAL, COEJL, CRC, HIAS, JCCA, JCPA, JDC, JTA, JWV, NCOEJ, NCSJ, UJC, WJC, WUJS, ZOA (to list just a few), the one which is, according to the New York Times, "the most important organization affecting America's relationship with Israel" has the acronym AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

AIPAC held its annual Policy Conference May 22-24, 2005, attracting a record five thousand delegates from across the country and the world, including nine hundred college students and a hundred student body presidents attending AIPAC's Israel On Campus program, to attend three days of forums, speeches, exhibits, dinners and a banquet attracting more than half the members of Congress, culminating in an address by the Israeli prime minister and an afternoon of lobbying Congress about the three issues before Congress AIPAC believes are the most important for the American-Israeli relationship: the threat of a nuclear Iran, support for the foreign aid bill including $2.52 billion for Israel, and a successful implementation of the planned disengagement from Gaza and portions of the West Bank, with an emphasis on the need for the Palestinian Authority to prove that it is able and willing to establish a civil society there and dismantle the terrorist infrastructure.

The most noteworthy among many excellent and fascinating speakers, were Natan Sharansky, Condoleezza Rice, Hillary Clinton and Ariel Sharon.

Natan Sharansky, the former refusenik whose struggle was an important catalyst in the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War, brought a message of optimism, averring "those changes which are happening [in the Arab world] are historic and will one day reach the Palestinians."

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice spoke about America making the wrong choices for sixty years when confronted with a decision to work for freedom or for stability, saying that America "has a new policy" and the "best method to fight an ideology that uses terrorism as a weapon is to spread freedom and democracy." She feels that "disengagement creates an unprecedented and incredibly delicate opportunity for peace," but it's imperative that Mahmoud Abbas backs up his talk with concrete action.

The speakers on the last morning, before five thousand activists went to the Capitol to lobby, were New York Senator Hillary Clinton and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

Clinton stated "Israel is a beacon for what democracy is and should be." Expressing some optimism for the prospects for peace between Israel and the Palestinian Arabs, she emphasized the need for the Palestinian Authority to change direction from its past, insisting "we must demand that the Palestinian leadership dismantle the terrorist infrastructure" that it built up and (referring to Abbas and a possible reformed Palestinian Authority) that leaders in a democracy must be held accountable. She expressed satisfaction that the Palestinian Authority has finally removed the "Protocols of the Elders of Zion" from its web site, but rhetorically asked "what was it doing there in the first place?"

Sharon attributed great importance to the relationship between America and Israel, saying "clearly, the relations between our two countries are stronger than ever before" and "we see eye to eye on strategic issues." He spoke a great deal about the disengagement plan, saying its implementation brings the "possibility of leading to the road map," with the parties still being in the "pre-roadmap stage." According to Sharon, "Israel doesn't intend to lose this opportunity," but he made it clear the onus was on Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian Arabs, whose "statements must be translated into real actions on the ground." He said "we [Israel] are willing to help Abbas as much as we can as long as we don't risk our security -- that is the red line."

Sharon also made note of the large number of young people at the conference and displayed a sense of humor as he subtly made his point that they were needed in Israel, saying "my dear friends, start the preparations."

AIPAC is the only American organization whose principal mission is to lobby the United States government about legislation that strengthens the relationship between the United States and Israel.

Connecticut is part of AIPAC's New England Region, represented at the Policy Conference by approximately 150 delegates, including JFACT (another acronym, standing for the Jewish Federation Association of Connecticut) Executive Director Bob Fishman. Jewish Communities of Western Connecticut was represented by Alan Stein (former Federation president) and Marsha Stein (former Associate Director for the Connecticut office of ADL). The delegates from Connecticut had several opportunities to get together, including a New England dinner the night before the conference opened, a state delegation breakfast at which plans were made for Congressional meetings, a regional reception and a banquet at which delegates sat with their own Congressional representatives; half the Senate and more than half the House attended that banquet!

The Steins, along with Helene and Stuart Korchin and their sons Mark and Jack, and Jack Cohen, a student from Connecticut attending the University of Pennsylvania, went from Sharon's speech to "The Hill" to meet with Congresswoman Nancy Johnson and discuss the three key issues of disengagement, foreign aid and the nuclear threat from Iran. Although their appointment was scheduled to last a half hour, they spent forty minutes discussing these issues with Mrs. Johnson, who is once again going to vote for the foreign aid bill, agreed to co-sign a letter to President Bush, along with many of her colleagues, concerning the disengagement, and agreed with the critical importance of averting a nuclear Iran.

Although the Policy Conference is the single largest concentrated effort put forth by AIPAC, that important organization works all year to build the relationship between America and Israel. It depends on the support of thousands of members and volunteers. More information can be obtained from the AIPAC web site, www.aipac.org, speaking with one of the area participants in the Policy Conference, or contacting one of the AIPAC professionals responsible for the New England Region. Jillian Levovitz, the Area Coordinator, may be reached at 617-457-8714 or jlevovitz@aipac.org. Eric Giesser, the New England Regional Director, may be reached at 617-457-8715 or egiesser@aipac.org.