AIPAC (American Israeli Public Affairs Committee) Conference
From May 3-5, AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, held the country’s largest annual gathering of activists, students and political leaders dedicated to “supporting Israel.”
Gingrich called for military action against Iran and a “wait and see” approach to the two-state solution — while Biden pressed for tough, principled diplomacy with Iran and argued that a two-state solution is in the essential interests of Israel and the United States.
Biden also spoke from the heart (as he tends to do!) about the politics of this issue during his speech, saying “you’re not going to like this” before challenging Israel on the issues of settlements and the two-state solution. He rightly didn’t let the Palestinians off the hook either – pressing them to end terror and incitement against Israel.
I don’t know about you – but I liked what Vice President Biden said. We need to show the Administration the depth of the political support in our community for their approach on Iran and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict – and that we reject the worn-out Gingrich / Bush / Cheney approach to the Middle East.
“While I was being tackled by security guards at Washington’s Convention Center during the AIPAC conference for unfurling a banner that asked “What about Gaza?,” my heart was aching. I wasn’t bothered so much by the burly guards who were yanking my arms behind by back and dragging me-along with 5 other CODEPINK members-out of the hall. They were doing their job.
What made my heart ache was the hatred I felt from the AIPAC staff who tore up the banner and slammed their hands across my mouth as I tried to yell out: “What about Gaza? What about the children?”
“Shut the f— up. Shut the f— up.” one staffer yelled, red-faced and sweating as he ran beside me. “This is not the place to be saying that shit. Get the f— out of here.”
What makes my heart ache is thinking about the traumatized children I met on my recent trip to Gaza, and how their suffering is denied by the 6,000 AIPAC conventioneers who are living in a bubble-a bubble where Israel is the victim and all critics are anti-Semitic, terrorist lovers or, as in my case, self-hating Jews.”