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In Defense Of AIPAC — From A Liberal
I
to present themselves to its members (in
voted for Obama. Twice. I also voted
2016 Bernie Sanders declined the invita-
for Hillary and her husband (twice).
tion).
I support, financially and otherwise,
President Obama spoke at Policy
Democratic candidates, and I receive
daily updates from the Democratic Party. Conference in 2012 and proudly
announced that “America
And I support AIPAC, passion-
stands shoulder to shoulder
ately and wholeheartedly.
when it comes to Israel’s secu-
As I see it, it’s very simple.
rity.” Sen. Lindsay Graham,
AIPAC is indispensable to Israel’s
R-Kentucky, told the crowd in
survival. My logic is, to me, irre-
2011 that it’s “good to celebrate
futable: Israel doesn’t exist with-
something we all agree on and
out U.S. aid (about $3.7 billion
that’s our support for Israel.”
annually), and U.S. Congressional
When candidate Donald
support doesn’t exist without
Trump criticized Obama at the
AIPAC. So, without AIPAC, I hon- Mark Jacobs
Policy Conference podium in
estly believe Israel’s very survival
2016, the very next morning
is in peril. I recognize that many
AIPAC President Lillian Pinkus
people — including lots of Jews
made an unannounced appear-
— will disagree with me, but I
ance and distanced the organization
think they’re wrong.
from Trump’s remarks. Each year at the
So why is it that so many Jews, espe-
conference, an impressive and eloquent
cially young and liberal ones, are unin-
array of bipartisan leaders — from ultra-
volved and sometimes even hostile to
liberal to ultra-conservative — praise
AIPAC, an organization that exists solely
to strengthen U.S./Israel relations? Is that AIPAC for its extraordinary work in gar-
nering broad support in such a divisive
based on some thoughtful analysis or
political world.
just a failure to take the time to under-
AIPAC frequently sponsors biparti-
stand what AIPAC really does?
san trips to Israel, including the recent
As one of AIPAC’s “lay leaders,” I
“Bipartisan Allies Mission” involving
often have people tell me that they lost
the leadership of College Democrats of
interest in AIPAC when it “became so
America and the College Republican
Republican.” They saw the political lean-
National Committee. These young men
ings of many of its members and con-
cluded that the organization doesn’t rep- and women saw firsthand how bipar-
tisan AIPAC is, and they learned how
resent their values, and so they stopped
essential that strategy is to AIPAC’s abil-
listening.
ity to succeed.
But if they were to take a closer look,
AIPAC’s sister group, the American
they just might see that they’re missing
Israel Education Foundation (AIEF), has
the larger picture. The political whims
brought 50 percent of Congress members
of AIPAC’s members have always shifted
from both parties to Israel. These trips
over time, but that’s actually irrelevant
do wonders in creating real and lasting
because the organization itself is fiercely
bonds and friendships among people
bipartisan. These aren’t mere words.
with vastly different political views.
AIPAC really does walk the bipartisan
walk; it’s actually the group’s most endur-
ing principle.
AIPAC’S EDUCATION EFFORTS
From an educational standpoint, AIPAC
Yet, the misconceptions about AIPAC
provides its members with mountains
continue and, sadly, many good, bright
of information. Members get exposed to
pro-Israel people have bought into a
regular lectures, conferences ( featuring
false narrative and walked away. So, it’s
both Democratic and Republican speak-
especially important to enlighten people
ers), articles, breaking news, updates and
about AIPAC, starting by separating fact
analyses. Many AIPAC members, I would
from fiction.
say, are thoroughly versed on Israel
THE FACTS ON AIPAC
issues. Leaders of the organization, in my
AIPAC, most people don’t know, openly
experiences, are walking encyclopedias
declares its support for a two-state solu-
on Israel and the Middle East. It’s actually
tion. “The two-state solution,” said a
quite impressive.
senior AIPAC official recently, “has been
I believe that too few people — includ-
and continues to be the goal that we
ing Jews — fully understand the true
aspire to.”
crisis in which Israel finds itself. The
The organization does not endorse
Webster Dictionary defines “war” as
prime ministers in Israel or presidential
“a state of usually open and declared
armed hostile conflict between states or
candidates in America. Every year at
nations.” Israel is, by any account, in such
Policy Conference in Washington, D.C.,
a situation today — at this very moment.
major leaders from both parties speak.
It is under regular missile attacks (in
Each presidential election year, the orga-
both the north and the south); it is sub-
nization routinely invites all candidates
8
February 22 • 2018
jn
jected to constant shootings, stabbings
and bombings; and is targeted for boy-
cotts, divestiture and sanctions.
Its enemies mince no words in their
declared intentions, openly stating
their goal is to “wipe Israel off the map”
(anti-Israel protesters in Iran last sum-
mer unveiled a digital countdown clock
showing 8,411 days until the “destruction
of Israel”). Sad to say, but let’s be real,
Israel is literally at war — and has been
every day since it was founded in 1948.
In 2014, approximately 4,600 rockets
were launched toward Israel. Israel’s
Iron Dome missile defense system (with
strong support from President Obama)
intercepted about 90 percent of these
rockets. But the enemy’s rockets now,
according to all reports, are far more
advanced. Many “zigzag” closer to the
ground to evade detection. In response,
Israel has developed the next generation
of missile defense known as “David’s
Sling,” which appears to be effective but
( fortunately) has not been tested in any
massive air attack.
A real-life weaponry race is being
played out in the Middle East, pitting
Israel against a potential onslaught of
missile attacks from all sides. Israel’s
future just might depend on the outcome
of this race. Will the missiles penetrate
Israel and threaten its existence or will
Israel’s defense system successfully inter-
cept them?
FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL
That’s exactly the kind of issue AIPAC is
focused on. Israel needs that $3.7 billion
a year to defend itself, and that aid is
hardly assured forever. Every two years,
AIPAC must educate and persuade a new
class of Congress members to support
Israel, many of whom have little knowl-
edge or affinity for the Jewish state and
often with a constituency that wouldn’t
think twice to eliminate all aid to Israel.
We hear that all the time at AIPAC,
especially recently. But AIPAC doggedly
makes the case for congressional sup-
port, an enormously difficult task.
Its detractors will sometimes dismiss
this by suggesting that America will
always support Israel, so it’s really no big
deal. Nothing could be further from the
truth. That’s actually an extraordinarily
naïve and dangerous position and Jews,
of all people, should know better based
on their history of going from acceptance
to persecution in multiple countries
around the world.
The reality is that getting (and then
keeping) congressional support for
Israel is a very heavy lift, requiring an
inexhaustible amount of time and effort.
The AIPAC staff, only about 300 people
nationwide, diligently does its job with
a sober grasp of what’s on the line. They
have to always think long-term, constant-
ly nurturing relationships that will hope-
fully prove helpful one day in the future,
perhaps as long as 10 or 20 years away.
Each day they tirelessly make their case
to lawmakers and staff from both sides
of the aisle. Democrats and Republicans
can’t agree on most things, but many of
them sing the praises of AIPAC, who deal
with them in a serious, fact-based and
respectful manner at all times.
NEVER COMPLACENT
AIPAC has its flaws, of course, and
doesn’t shy away from criticism. When
a group’s goal is something as mindbog-
glingly difficult as safeguarding Israel.
then naturally there are going to be mis-
steps and regrets. This is tough stuff.
There’s no how-to manual for exactly
how best to execute this work, and
AIPAC always seeks participation and
debate from a wide range of diverse
people, including African Americans,
Latinos, veterans, LGBT groups, evangeli-
cals and others, many of whom are active
in the organization and regularly attend
the annual Policy Conference in huge
numbers.
The Israeli national anthem,
“Hatikvah,” literally means “the hope.”
That hope, according to the lyrics, is for
the Jewish people to “be a free people in
their own land.” It’s a beautiful song with
a haunting melody that tugs at the hearts
of most Jews throughout the world. The
song is played at the kickoff of AIPAC’s
Policy Conference, alongside the “Star-
Spangled Banner.” It’s a powerfully emo-
tional moment to behold: the two flags
standing side by side, symbolizing an
alliance that — one would hope — is and
will remain rock solid.
But as AIPAC honors that alliance, it
knows it cannot ever become compla-
cent. It knows all too well what too few
people fail to realize: It must work its tail
off to keep as many of those 535 congres-
sional seats pro-Israel, and it doesn’t give
a damn whether those seats are blue or
red.
So, to people — especially self-
described liberals and young people
— who have walked away from AIPAC
out of some misperceived view that the
organization doesn’t speak for them, I
urge you to re-familiarize yourselves with
what AIPAC really is and what it really
does. Stay at the table, listen to your fel-
low pro-Israel supporters, and lend your
voice and your talent to what you think
is right. You just might discover that your
views and AIPAC’s are a lot more aligned
than you ever possibly imagined. •
Mark Jacobs is a member of the Michigan AIPAC
Council and the Michigan Director for African-
American Outreach.