Tag Archives: AIPAC

According to a story that went up on JTA [Jewish Telegrapic Agency], the AIPAC  [Political Action Committee] (PAC) is what we would expect from a lobbying group whose stated mission is “to encourage and persuade the U.S. government to enact specific policies that create a strong, enduring and mutually beneficial …

Notwithstanding AIPAC’s discomfort over the Omar-Tlaib case, there is more that hint of hypocrisy in its joining the general assault on Israel. The brouhaha over the ruckus that erupted last Thursday between the Netanyahu government and the two radical, anti-Israeli Congresswomen, Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), refuses to …

Comparing the damage from what did and didn’t happen. The recent controversial non-visit by US Reps. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib provided many people with a platform to discuss the implications of what happened.  But what if these two would-be visitors had come?  Would we be as insightful on that …

“We”? I am speaking of Jews:  The Jews here in Israel, certainly.  And some percentage of American Jews. I’ve been tracking the growing antisemitism in the US – including in the halls of Congress — with alarm and anger.  But, focused on events here, I have not written about it …

In pursuit of bipartisanship AIPAC should strive to persuade “progressives”, not pander to them”; to convert them, not co-opt them.  The progressive narrative for Israel is just as compelling and critical as the conservative one – AIPAC PresidentMort Fridman, March 5, 2018. Almost two weeks have passed since the last …

The conversation has changed. Almost counter-intuitively, barring an actual indictment or some unexpected event, Prime Minister Netanyahu is so dominant in terms of personality and policy that no other Israeli leader or politician is all that relevant on almost any matter. In some ways Netanyahu has never been stronger and …

My regular readers know that I am basically an upbeat person.  I am not a Pollyanna: I face the bad news.  But I also seek out the promise and hold fast to the blessings.  And so I think I may surprise many of you, when I speak now of how …

It’s AIPAC time again. A year ago about 18,000 members of American Jewry’s prime pro-Israel advocacy organisation was trying to work out whether and how to welcome Donald Trump to its annual conference. And let’s be clear, since Israel is now unfortunately struggling to retain general American bipartisan support, that …

What a week or two. The AIPAC Conference in the United States followed by Purim.  In terms of masks and fancy dress, hard to tell them apart. In fact the whole United States election process seems like an extended Purim spiel. And we Jews, whether in the USA or here …

Vice President Joe Biden addressed the AIPAC Policy Conference in Washington, D.C. on March 20, 2016. He spoke passionately about the importance of the security of Israel and America’s commitment to defend Israel. At roughly the 29 minute mark of the speech, he said that “One thing is certain: the …

This past Shabbat, the Shabbat before Purim, was Shabbat Zahor, which means “remember.” Everyone is obligated to come to synagogue to hear the Torah reading, which ends with Devarim (Deuteronomy) 25:17-19: “You shall remember what Amalek did to you. How he happened upon you on the way and cut off …

Weekly Israel Advocacy Update. 7th. March 2014 – Written by Gabrielle ‘Gabsy’ Debinski. Media and Advocacy Director . This week we have to say shalom to ‘Gabsy’ as she leaves us to further her university studies and to welcome back Emil Gian from maternity leave. It has been an absolute …

Written and submitted by Arlene Kushner. Truth be told, I had expected Prime Minister Netanyahu to focus on Iran in his AIPAC talk yesterday.  I had been planning to use his speech as a kick-off point for a discussion about Iran.  Instead, yesterday, I went in various other directions.  And …

Written and submitted by Arlene Kushner. There are few things more insane than Arabs throwing large rocks at cars, and thereby causing lethal injury to children. But this is what I begin with today. It is a year ago that Adva Biton was driving in her car with other members …