38 April 4 • 2019
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2019 AIPAC Policy Conference
Editor’
s Note: Mark Jacobs provided
daily coverage of the annual AIPAC
Policy Conference (March 24-26) for
the Jewish News on its website,
thejewishnews.com. Below is a
summary of his dispatches.
T
he 2019 AIPAC Policy
Conference kicked off March
24 amid a new wave of crit-
icism and controversy against the
organization and a momentous Israeli
election on April 9.
More than 600
speakers from 21
countries were sched-
uled to appear, includ-
ing Vice President
Michael Pence, Sen.
Mitch McConnell,
Speaker of the House
Nancy Pelosi and Sen.
Chuck Shumer. Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu and his lead-
ing political rivals Benny Gantz and
Naftali Bennett were also to address
the conference. More than 18,000
were expected to attend, including
about 6,000 first-timers and 3,600 col-
lege students.
MARCH 24
Whether you were a first-timer or a
veteran attendee, there’
s no denying
that this is one heck of a production.
The mere scale and professionalism
are grand and polished. There may be
a swirl of controversy about AIPAC
and Israel outside of the Washington
Convention Center, but inside these
walls, the enthusiasm for the U.S.-
Israel relationship is giddy, unified
and thunderous.
Security was, as expected, out in
full force, from the armored trucks
blocking the streets outside to the
bomb-sniffing dogs as you entered the
building. Once inside, the atmosphere
felt calm, safe and festive. The opening
moments of the conference are always
touching, as the event begins with the
playing of the “Star-Spangled Banner,”
followed by Israel’
s national anthem,
“Hatikvah” — sung by a former IDF
tank commander.
The opening session included a
diverse group of pro-Israel activists,
people from different age groups,
faiths and ethnicities, all introducing
themselves and then proudly declar-
ing, “I stand with AIPAC.” Howard
Kohr, AIPAC’
s CEO, then delivered
his annual address, but with a tone
that seemed more ominous than pre-
vious years: “We’
re being challenged
in a way,” he warned, “that is new and
far more aggressive.” The intent of our
critics and enemies, he added, “is not
meant to inform, but to demonize us.”
The large crowd was then treat-
ed to a massive sing-along led by
“Koolalum,” an Israeli social mo
ve-
ment that produces international cho-
ruses of participants from all different
backgrounds, often Arabs and Jews.
After a few rehearsals, suddenly the
massive screens cut to a live audience
in Jerusalem of thousands of people at
the Tower of David singing and sway-
ing simultaneously with the AIPAC
crowd: “Sing out loud — together we’
ll
come through.” It was an incredibly
touching and uplifting moment.
We then heard from a number of
“progressive” pro-Israel Democrats,
and all were warmly and politely
embraced by the crowd. A leader of
the new “Democratic Majority for
Israel” presented, as did a member of
the Knesset from the Labor Party who
was surprisingly and sharply critical of
the government. (“We are stuck in this
conflict; we need a two-state solution
with equal rights and opportunities
for Jews and Arabs.”)
Rabbi Dan Gordis, the esteemed
scholar/writer from Israel, delivered
a positive and comforting message.
He reminded the group that despite
all the enormous problems the Jewish
people face, “We’
re doing great! When
have we ever been in better shape than
now? These are the greatest days of
the Jewish people in 2,000 years.”
MARCH 25
A hard, sad reality hit the conference,
just as it does to Israel from time to
time. News arrived that Hamas rock-
ets had landed deep into Israel. A
house near Tel Aviv was struck and
seven people were injured. Was this
merely an isolated occurrence? Might
a larger conflict be imminent? Would
Hezbollah in the north also strike?
Another day of violence, fear and sad-
ness in Israel.
Just hours earlier, Prime Minister
Netanyahu’
s chief political rival,
Benny Gantz, had addressed the group
and boasted of his military bona fides.
“I am a soldier,” he said. “That’
s who I
am. That’
s what I do.”
Gantz made clear that he “would
not hesitate to use force when need-
ed.” His words seemed more prophetic
as developments from Israel came in
throughout the day.
The day also included a segment
highlighting the incredible story of
Israel’
s space mission to the moon.
The head of NASA told the crowd that
this will make Israel only the fourth
nation ever to achieve such a feat. The
NASA chief brought the crowd to a
thunderous ovation by proclaiming,
“Israel — small country. Big dreams.”
Vice President Pence then addressed
the crowd. He cited the administra-
tion’
s support for Israel, punctuated
with frequent applause lines, and
shared that President Donald Trump
formally announced U.S. recogni-
tion of the Golan Heights as part of
Israel. He ended by declaring that
the administration and the pro-Israel
community are mishpachah (which
eretz
Mark Jacobs
Linda and Mark Jacobs enjoy a light moment at the AIPAC Policy Conference.
A former IDF commander sang “Hatikvah.”
PHOTOS COURTESY OF MARK JACOBS