38 April 4 • 2019
jn

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

