AIPAC Conference
Invigorates
Huge attendance shows American Jews are revved up
about ensuring U.S. support of Israel.
DON COHEN
Special to the Jewish News
and almost one-third of the House of Representatives,
along with many Bush administration officials.
Michigan attendees included Senators Carl Levin, D-
Mich., and Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., along with
Reps. Dale Kildee, D-Flint; Joe Knollenberg, R-
Bloomfield Hills; Sander Levin, D-SoLithfield; Mike
Rogers, R-Brighton; and Bart Stupak, D-Menominee.
Congressional candidates David Fink of West
Bloomfield and Macomb County Prosecutor Carl
Marlinga also attended.
"Before coming here, I felt like I couldn't do any-
thing about what is going on, but the conference gave
me focus about getting active writing letters, promot-
Washin on, D. C
he strength of American support for Israel,
the Jewish commitment to the belea-
guered state and the clout of the American
Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC)
were on display in our nation's capital this past week.
On April 15, more than 100,000 Jews and other sup-
porters of Israel descended on Washington, D.C., for a
hastily called rally, touted as the largest pro-Israel gath-
ering in American history. And then, less than a week
later, AIPAC brought
more than 3,500
activists to Washington 13,
— double last year's
attendance — for its
annual policy confer-
ence.
Participants came to
0
hear American and
Israeli political leaders,
to launch new legislative
and advocacy efforts, to
get energized and to
blitz Capital Hill with a
powerful and impas-
sioned pro-Israel mes-
sage. The high atten-
dance could indicate
that American Jews are
revved up in the fight to
ensure that the U.S.
government stands
Students rally for Israel at a meeting with former Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin
behind Israel.
Netanyahu at the AIPAC conference 'this week in Washington.
Jennifer Gonik, 17, of
West Bloomfield attend-
ed the conference with her father, Charles, after she
ing Israel's position in the community, and finding new
learned about the event on the Internet. The size of the ways to help," Charles Gonik said.
Michigan delegation approached 100 people, including
He also found it exciting that three former Israel
sizeable delegations of college students from Michigan
prime ministers — Shimon Peres, Ehud Barak and
State University, the University of Michigan and
Binyamin Netanyahu — all addressed the gathering in
Wayne State University as well as six metro-Detroit
person, with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon speaking by
rabbis.
satellite.
"It's really exciting," Jennnifer Gonik said. "It was
Legislative Initiatives
nice to be able to express our views and know that
important people were there to listen to us, especially at Timed to coincide with the conference, U.S. lawmak-
this time. Knowing that Congress is supporting Israel
ers have introduced several pieces of legislation to dis-
makes me feel better. ),
play support for Israel in Congress and combat what is
Her father agreed, citing the impressive turnout for
viewed as increasing pressure on the Bush administra-
Monday night's dinner attended by 50 U.S. senators
tion's Middle East policy from Europe, Arab states and
O
the United Nations.
The bills, all introduced last week at the urging of
AIPAC, seek:
• additional aid for Israel to combat its war on terror-
ism;
• sanctions against the Palestinian Authority and its
leader, Yasser Arafat; and
• the inclusion of Syria in the president's "axis of evil"
and the leveling of sanctions for their harboring terror-
ist groups.
The mere introduction in Congress of these bills,
which AIPAC executive director Howard Kohr called
"the firewall for Israel," is expected to show the Arab
world the possible consequences of continued support
for terrorism.
"What we do is the crux of our representative
democracy," noted David Victor of Bloomfield Hills,
who led the Michigan delegation and serves on
AIPAC's Leadership Cabinet. "It only . works when the
representatives know the views of those they represent.
We bring 3,000 people to Capitol Hill at the same
time, with the same message. We get heard."
For Moe Freedman, 26, of Oak Park, it was his first
experience at group lobbying. "I've always been pas-
sionate about issues, especially Israel, and especially
now But I've never been involved in an organization's
lobbying efforts. It is clear that our government officials
take AIPAC seriously."
Sen. Levin blasted Palestinian terrorism in his session
with the Michigan delegation.
"We must make it clear that terrorism as a tactic is
inherently illegitimate in peace time or war time. Even
wars have rules," he said, noting his role as head of the
Senate Armed Services Committee. "And targeting
civilians is against the rules of war. If this tactic works,
civilization is in even more trouble than we are today."
Sen. Stabenow agreed with a recur-rent theme at the
conference that "it is in Israel's interest to see the
Palestinians develop and prosper." Noting that she con-
sidered Yasser Arafat a terrorist who doesn't want peace,
she said that while she doesn't find much support for
Arafat in her meetings with various pro-Palestinian del-
egations, they do "look for a form of self-determination
and economic development."
"I grieve for all the victims of terrorism and vio-
lence," she added. "There has to be a wish, a goal, and
a hope for peace for all of us."
Word Of Support; Expressions Of Despair
While the conference featured many rousing support-
ive speeches by top national leaders like Senate
Majority Leader Tom Daschle, House Majority Whip
Tom DeLay, Sen. John McCain and White House
Chief of Staff Andrew Card, there were also sobering
moments that underscored the gravity of the current
situation.
Videos of terrorist attacks and testimonials from vic-
tims of terrorism and their families shown on an over-
sized screen gave searing evidence of the human and
economic cost of terrorism. Meanwhile, an ongoing
film, "Strategic Tour: The War on Terror," focused on
terrorist groups and their supporters, incitement, the
tools of terrorists and the military means needed to win
the fight.
Participants in a panel discussion, including William
Kristol, editor of the Weekly Standard, and former CIA
AIPAC on page 19
4/26
2002
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