The World
The AIPAC Conundrum
And Sense Of Purpose
JAMES D. BESSER
Washington Correspondent
T
his year's American Israel
Public Affairs Committee
policy conference, which
begins Sunday, will take
place against a more dramatic back-
drop than usual: a looming crisis in
U.S.-Israel relations, an administra-
tion squeeze on Israel and tumult in
the American Jewish community over
how to respond.
As usual, the pro-Israel lobbying
giant is in the thick of the action,
earning mixed reviews from Jewish
leaders who still turn to AIPAC when
the going gets tough, but worry the
group has unnecessarily used con-
frontational tactics against an admin-
istration most American Jews still
trust to do the right thing for Israel.
Journalists routinely mark the
annual conference with stories about
internal dissent at AIPAC, or alleging
its lost sense of mission. But the facts
on the ground tell a different story:
at least in its ability to move Con-
gress, AIPAC is as powerful as ever.
But recent U.S.-Israel friction
highlights longstanding problems
that could ultimately undercut the
muscular lobby group. AIPAC's
aggressive style derives from a time
when Israel's cause was championed
by few in Washington. It's not clear
yet whether it has adjusted to a new
environment in which support for
the Jewish state is a given.
And AIPAC, which once spoke for
a Jewish community united by a few
Middle East articles of faith, now
advocates Israeli policies that have
deeply divided American Jewry.
Those divisions will be a sub-
theme at next week's policy confer-
ence, an annual set piece showcasing
the clout of a group that can still
attract scores of senators, House
members, administration officials and
political wannabes.
The intensifying skirmishes over
the Clinton administration's peace
policies illustrate AIPAC at its best,
while at the same time pointing to a
group that critics say is losing touch
,
5/15
1998
42
ultimatum demanding that Prime
with the American Jewish center.
Minister Binyamin Netanyahu accept
For months, AIPAC lobbyists and
a series of administration proposals.
lay leaders, following the lead of the
"AIPAC has been extraordinarily
Netanyahu government, have mobi-
effective in recent weeks, and their
lized the Republican-led Congress to
concern about the change in adminis-
pre-empt what many saw as an
tration policy is not unfounded," said
impending administration squeeze on
the disgruntled director of another
Israel.
major Jewish group. "But there are
Earlier in the month, the group
many who think they've been effec-
in only
convinced 81 senators
tive in the wrong
four days, a tri-
way — going to
umph of effective .1
the barricades,
lobbying — to 0
when
quiet per-
sign a letter criti-
suasion
with our
cizing adminis-
friends in the
tration policy
administration is
and demanding it"
called for."
not advance pro- g
But this leader
posals considered
conceded that the
objectionable by
administration
the Netanyahu
could eventually
government.
cross
the fuzzy
The Confer-
line separating
ence of Presi-
prodding from
dents of Major
arm twisting.
American Jewish
Indeed, after
Organizations,
refusing to pub-
representing lead-
licly back
ers of every
AIPAC's tough
major Jewish
line last week, the
group, gave the
Presidents Con-
letter-writing
ference on Mon-
effort only tepid
day seemed to
approval, and
embrace AIPAC's
some complained
harsher view of
that AIPAC had
the administra-
steered the pro-
tion ultimatum.
Israel community
And if a con-
into an unneces-
does
frontation
sary confronta-
develop,
this
tion.
source said,
But an angry,
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu
AIPAC will be
worried adminis-
leaves the meeting with British Prime
the only effective
tration took note
Minister
Tony Blair, the results of which barrier against
of AIPAC's
were criticized by AIPAC.
policy changes
achievement,
that could threat-
which left Presi-
en
Israel's
security.
dent Clinton significantly less
That reflects the essential dilemma
maneuvering room as he tried to
for a Jewish community that has des-
break the 14-month Israeli-Palestin-
ignated AIPAC its Capitol Hill voice
ian impasse.
on matters involving U.S. Middle
The pattern was repeated last
East policy.
week, when AIPAC helped mobilize
The lobby group grew into a
hard-hitting congressional criticism
Washington
powerhouse — Fortune
of the London peace talks, which
magazine
recently
rated it the second
ended with what amounted to an
most powerful lobby in the capital —
at a time when the top Middle East
issues were ones on which there was
almost universal consensus in the
Jewish community: the protection of
Israel's U.S. aid and the fight against
arms sales to hostile Arab nations.
But consensus is now elusive, and
broad-based groups like the Presi-
dents Conference, which includes
organizations as diverse as the Zionist
Organization of America and Ameri-
cans for Peace Now, are increasingly
muted because their own members
disagree about fundamental peace
process issues.
AIPAC suffers no such restrictions
As a result, it can act quickly and
forcefully. In recent weeks, there's li
tle question AIPAC has been doing
exactly what the Likud government
in Jerusalem wants, and doing it well.
But does that reflect the views of
the American Jewish community?
The polls are contradictory, but man
Jewish leaders say no: the community
continues to trust Bill Clinton even
after last week's ultimatum, accordi
to an Israel Policy Forum poll, and'
many Jewish leaders oppose an
aggressive congressional strategy.
An AIPAC that operated by con-
sensus would be crippled as a lobby,
especially today, with deep division
prevalent among Jews. But freed fro
the need to reflect diversifying Jewish
views, there's a danger AIPAC's lob-
bying will lose the backing of the
community it claims to represent.
There's also the question of
AIPAC's status as the only pro-Israel
group sanctioned by the.community
to lobby on Capitol Hill. That pre-
eminence, critics say, made sense
when the Jewish community was able
to put aside its differences to push a
few issues of overarching importance.
But what about today, when the
community's views are all over the
field?
Many Jewish leaders are uneasy
about AIPAC, but they also depend
on it as much as ever; that, more
than anything else, could be the sub-
text to this week's Washington policy
conference. ❑
.