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 The recent AIPAC Policy Conference, which concluded last Tuesday, was attended by over 10,000 ardent supporters of the Israel-America alliance. It was exhilarating to be in the midst of a gathering of this magnitude with the sole purpose of showing its support for Israel. People of all political persuasions, religious traditions and ethnic backgrounds were in attendance. In this era of hyper partisanship, it was gratifying to see that the vast majority of Americans are united in their support of the State of Israel.
The slogan of this year's conference was "Israel and America: Better Together." That theme was repeatedly expressed by some of American's most important leaders, including President Barack Obama, Speaker of the House John Boehner, Leader of the Senate Harry Reed, Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, and South Dakota Senator John Thune. Christian leaders, including the Rev. Tony Crisp, Executive Director of the Holy land Studies at TennesseeTempleUniversity, spoke of their love for the Jewish people and their uncompromising support for the Jewish state. Also in attendance were more than 250 student body presidents throughout the United States. And, of course, at the gala dinner on Monday night Prime Minister Netanyahu addressed the conference and with historical precision and moral clarity, he laid out the case for Israel.
He made clear that Israel's struggle with its enemies is a struggle for freedom, democracy, and human dignity, not only for Israel but for the entire free world. Israel is on the front lines of a struggle against the dark forces of religious extremism that spawns hatred and violence wherever it can.Netanyahu pointed to a fact that the whole world knows well: Israel would be the primary target of a nuclear-armed Iran. But make no mistake; the rest of the world is also threatened by the fanatical regime in Teheran. Imagine a world in which Iran possesses nuclear weapons. Imagine a world in which Iran controls access to 60% of the world's oil supply. Imagine a world in which terrorists would have a nuclear umbrella under which to operate - perhaps even access to nuclear materials. Imagine a world in which Iran could destroy Europe with nuclear-armed missiles. Know that Israel's fight is not hers alone, it's fight for America, and it's a fight on behalf of the free world. Unfortunately, most of the nations of the world have not awakened to this reality.
Change is taking place rapidly in many countries in the Middle East. The so-called "Arab Spring" is happening in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Syria, Bahrain and Yemen. We all hope that democracy will take root in these countries and that, finally, citizens throughout the Arab world will enjoy the same freedoms we take for granted. But no one can predict with any certainty what will happen and there are some ominous signs. In Egypt the only organized political entity is the Moslem Brotherhood, a radical Islamic group. A couple of weeks ago Egypt, for the first time in decades, allowed an Iranian warship to sail through the Suez Canal. Yemen teeters on the brink of becoming a failed state and a haven for international terrorists.
There were discussions during the conference about whether America can still afford military aid for Israel. These are difficult economic times at home. We have a deficit that must come down, yet we still have vital interests in the Middle East. In other regions of the world, the US has boots on the ground - troops in harms way. The $3.07 billion in military aid for Israel in the upcoming Federal budget is a bargain in that in a budget of more than $3 trillion, Israel's aid share is less than one tenth of one percent. Furthermore, Israel will spend more than 75% of that allocation on American-made weapons systems. This could be considered a jobs program for American workers.
Prime Minister Netanyahu also spoke eloquently about the peace process. He has been trying for two years to get the Palestinian Authority back to the negotiating table. What are the stumbling blocks? Mahmud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority, insists on three conditions before negotiations can begin: 1) Israel must return to the pre-1967 War borders 2) Jerusalem must become the capitol of the PalestinianState 3) The right of return for all Palestinians and their descendants who fled Israel in 1948.
Prime Minister Netanyahu made it perfectly clear why those conditions are unacceptable. 1) The 1967 borders are indefensible. A stretch along Israel's coastline is only eight miles wide, making it possible for an invading army to cut the country in two within minutes. Furthermore, there have been demographic changes on the ground during the last forty years that have to be taken into consideration. 2) Jerusalem is now the undivided capitol of Israel and must remain so. 3) And we have to realize that the demand for the right of Palestinians to return to Israeli territory is a basically a rejection of the two state solution, which calls for a Jewish state and a Palestinian state. The Arabs would become the majority in Israel in short order if that demand was met.
Even with these powerful words, Prime Minister Netanyahu positioned himself as the foremost pursuer of peace in the region. He stated that Israel is willing to make painful decisions in order to reach a peace accord with the Palestinians. With tears in his eyes he said that the Jewish people were not foreign invaders in Samaria and Judah, which are part of the historic homeland of the Jewish people. "We are not the Belgians in the Congo. We are not the British in India," he said. He promised that even though it would be difficult for him and many Israelis, Israel would vacate most of the territory in the West Bank it had occupied during the 1967 War. He added that many of the existing settlements would undoubtedly become part of areas not incorporated into Israel. However, settlements in and around municipal Tel Aviv and Jerusalem would be part of Israel. He promised that Israel would be very generous to the Palestinians.
The Prime Minister addressed two other important issues: the recent rapprochement between Fatah and Hamas, and the Palestinian Authority's intention of asking the UN General Assembly to recognize Palestine. He asked how can you expect Israel to negotiate with any government that includes a terrorist organization whose sole stated purpose it is to destroy Israel. He called on President Abbas to rip up his agreement with Hamas and return to the negotiating table. He also pointed out that UN recognition of Palestine would be meaningless without a negotiated settlement with Israel. The UN cannot determine the border between Israel and Palestine, the status of Jerusalem or any other important unresolved issue. Those issues can only be resolved by the Palestinians and Israelis. UN recognition would be an obstacle to Palestinian statehood. Yet there is a very good chance that such a resolution will pass sometime this fall. President Obama has promised to veto it in the Security Council. The European nations are, predictably, wavering on this issue.
During the AIPAC conference there was much talk of the incredible technological and scientific co-operation between Israel and the US. A special bandage developed in Israel is credited with saving Congresswoman Gabrielle Gifford's life. That bandage in now standard equipment for medics in all branches of the US military. American tanks and armored vehicles are now protected with special tiles developed in Israel. At the conference there was an American soldier who said that that Israeli technology saved his life in Afghanistan. An Israeli company is working on the world's largest solar energy facility in the Mojave Desert, a project that will supply power to 140,000 households in Southern California. Israel is also leading the world in the development of the electric car and in the desalination of sea water. Israeli innovations in the fields of medicine, agriculture and information technology are staggering.
This is what I came back with from the AIPAC policy conference. We have to stand beside Israel and defend the Israel-America alliance. It's good not only for Israel, it's good for America. Israel and America need each other now more than ever. We share common values and interests. Israel and America: better together. |
