Standing together. Bypassing partisan politics in support of common goals. Supporting Israel and the U.S.-Israel relationship. These have always been the hallmarks of the annual AIPAC Policy Conference. In 2020, with the U.S. election season fully underway and apparent threats to that relationship looming, speakers from both sides of the aisle in both countries took pains to ensure that the 18,000-strong assemblage understood that those themes are forever.
Today, tomorrow, together: with that message at its core, the conference, again held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, began with remarks from Rabbi Jacob J. Schacter, who urged attendees to remember that this year is the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. He called upon the few survivors in the audience to “stand, if you are able,” which they did, to thunderous applause and not a few tears. “You are our heroes, thank you,” he said.
The many descendants of survivors were called out next, followed by the very few liberators of the camps, each dressed in full regalia, who stood, some with obvious difficulty, to more applause and tears.
Rabbi Schacter introduced Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau, chief rabbi of Israel. Rabbi Lau, now 82, spoke of his liberation from Buchenwald by Rabbi Schacter’s father, then-U.S. Army Chaplain Rabbi Herschel Schacter, z”l.
Howard Kohr, AIPAC CEO, followed. “Today, I’m going to sound an alarm,” he began, addressing the “emerging threat to our friendship with Israel.” He discussed the current “movement” in this country that “says they support Israel’s right to exist. They say Israel has the right to defend herself,” adding, “We exist, and every time Israel defends herself, they condemn Israel.”
“Israel cannot afford false friends,” he said. “Any leader who demonizes Israel to support this base is not a friend of Israel,” adding that U.S. support of Israel should never be a bargaining chip.
It seemed another theme was emerging, one of deep concern regarding the future of the U.S.-Israel relationship given the current political climate. This year’s policy conference coincided with both Israel’s third round of elections and Super Tuesday in the U.S., heightening apprehension about continued sincere ties between the nations. Many speakers, which included U.S. Democrats who seemingly had something to prove in that regard, were determined to establish the stability of those ties.
Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz, head of the Blue and White Party, spoke live via satellite, offering a pre-election speech in which he thanked “AIPAC, 18,000 proud Americans who stand with Israel,” emphasizing, “As prime minister…I will make sure Israel remains secure, Jewish and democratic.”
Teaneck’s Dr. Mort Fridman, AIPAC’s chairman of the board, introduced Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who also spoke live via satellite. “Greetings from Jerusalem, the united capital of Israel that will never be divided again,” he began. Netanyahu subtly called out Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders for his recent remarks, saying, “This year AIPAC was accused of providing a platform for bigotry…you send a message to all those who seek to weaken our great alliance, that they will fail.”
In true Bibi fashion, he quipped, “I’d like to be there to speak to you in person, but as some of you might have heard, we’re having a little election here tomorrow,” and went on as if the election’s outcome was a foregone conclusion, noting, “The best days of the U.S.-Israel alliance are to come.”
Former Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden spoke via video message, opening, like Bibi, with a nod to the realities outside of the convention center. “Sorry I can’t be here. I’m on the campaign trail.”
Biden spoke of the things that “have never changed” between the United States and Israel, and he made a few promises: “I will always call out anti-Semitism, I will always stand for a Jewish State of Israel…And I will never boycott you.”
He continued, “Israel must be able to defend itself. This is not just critical for Israel’s security; I believe it is critical for America’s security. We cannot fully safeguard Israel without peace, real peace.” Biden believes peace must include a two-state solution to ensure a safe future for the State of Israel.
“You don’t have to be anti-Palestinian to be pro-Israeli,” he noted, adding, “There is nothing we cannot achieve when Israel and the United States stand together.”
Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD-5), House majority leader, stated, “We cannot allow Israel’s fortunes to ebb and flow with any given election in either country.” Taking veiled aim at Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) for recent remarks made against AIPAC, Hoyer said, “When someone accuses American supporters of Israel of dual loyalty, I say ‘accuse me.’”
Former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg was the first to call out another by name. He said, “Senator Sanders has spent 30 years boycotting this event…he called AIPAC a racist platform… Well, he’s dead wrong… The reality is: AIPAC doesn’t fuel hatred. AIPAC works to combat it.”
Vice President Mike Pence spoke sincerely and powerfully, invoking President Trump’s name and administration multiple times to tremendous applause and standing ovations.
Pence opened with a nod to the young people in the room. “It is especially great to be here with so many college students from around the country… If you get in trouble for skipping class, tell your professors that you were protesting. But tell them you were not protesting against Israel. You were protesting in our nation’s capital for Israel.” People nearly fell over themselves jumping to their feet after that.
Pence, too, singled out Senator Sanders. “Those who side with Israel’s enemies must never be allowed to call themselves friends of Israel.”
The loudest cheers of the morning came when Pence stated, “Let me be clear about one point: It is the position of the United States government that anti-Zionism is anti-Semitism.”
The AIPAC Policy Conference is known for its speakers, supporters of the U.S.-Israel relationship from both sides of the aisle, and this year did not disappoint. From David Friedman, U.S. ambassador to Israel; to Mike Pompeo, U.S. Secretary of State; to Ron Dermer, Israeli ambassador to the United States; to Rep Nita Lowey (D-NY), chair, House appropriations committee; to Sen. Mitch McConnell, Senate majority leader; to Rep Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), House minority chair; to Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senate minority leader; to UK Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis and other international leaders; political and lay leaders took the stage, one after the other, all affirming their support for Israel, and many highlighting the need to keep Iran from ever obtaining nuclear weapons.
This year, many speakers used their time to praise President Trump for his pro-Israel policies and accomplishments, and were not afraid to bypass the usual bipartisan rhetoric to do so.
Pompeo stated, “The harm to the relationship between the United States and Israel is in denying that the Palestinians have been the real obstacle to peace.”
Friedman added, “Hating Donald Trump is not an Israel policy. If the only reason you don’t like our policy is because you don’t like our president, then regretfully you will miss a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
McConnell continued, “…Our nation’s friendship with Israel is not negotiable… Our goal should be returning support for Israel to a fully bipartisan basis.”
McCarthy stated, “The United States is on the cusp of an anti-Israel movement that is gaining real power,” and called out Omar and Sanders as dangerous forces behind this movement.
Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) closed out the conference, as he has done in the past, with firm support for AIPAC, Israel and the U.S.-Israel relationship. “This organization does not support bigotry. On the contrary, this organization has worked painstakingly for years against it… If anyone thinks otherwise, they should take the time to come here themselves,” in a not-so-subtle reference to Sanders’ comments.
Menendez spoke of the shared values that make the U.S.-Israel relationship strong, values “which have withstood multiple presidents and changes in governments in both countries.”
At the conclusion of the conference, as delegates headed to Capitol Hill to lobby their congressmen and women using specific talking points, New Jerseyans were given the opportunity to hear privately from Booker and Sarah Arkin, deputy staff director for Menendez. Several of the delegates were given the opportunity to ask questions, which included Livingston’s Jeremy Halpern asking if Menendez will support funding to Israel without conditions; East Brunswick’s Steven Bier inquiring about the senator’s support for Res. 509, regarding the United Nations renewing its embargo on Iran’s ability to buy and sell weapons; and Teaneck’s Phil Goldschmiedt asking if Menendez will sign a letter to Secretary of State Pompeo against the International Criminal Court charging Israel with war crimes. According to Arkin, Menendez’ position on all matters is in line with those of the delegates in the room.
Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) spoke next, noting that the delegation from New Jersey accounted for 10% of the 2020 AIPAC attendees, which garnered cheers and a standing ovation. He, too, said there must be no conditions to aid to Israel, and promised to support Res. 509, saying, “My fellow Democrats are firmly committed to the State of Israel.”
Even as the results of both the Israeli election and America’s own Super Tuesday remained in question, and partisan politics entered the formerly bipartisan AIPAC arena, one thing seemed clear: AIPAC’s support of Israel and the U.S.-Israel relationship will, and must, endure.
By Jill Kirsch
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