Speaking Truth To AIPAC's Power

[Purveyor]

There are several organizations that American Jewry widely believes to be too cute, cuddly and unequivocally well intentioned to be held accountable for their actions. The iconic blue donation boxes in synagogues across the United States suggest the Jewish National Fund (JNF) is one of them. Two years ago, a JNF board member publicly severed all ties with the organization in protest of its role in the eviction of an East Jerusalem Palestinian family. That served as a wakeup call for some American Jews, but most have yet to receive one. I am writing to you as your alarm clock, because another beloved organization has recently betrayed your trust.

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) claims to “strongly support a two-state solution and work tirelessly to bring peace to the region,” yet it officially blames the intractability of the conflict on Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for “refusing to meet with his counterpart.”

So where is AIPAC when Abbas finally came to the table to join Prime Minister Netanyahu in direct negotiations? Why have they not publicly applauded the Palestinian president and come out in uninhibited support of the new round of peace talks?

I contacted AIPAC’s press office for a statement; it is a proponent of the right to self-defense, after all. Spokesman Marshall Whittman relayed to me that AIPAC, in fact, did put out a statement the day of Kerry’s announcement “welcom[ing] the resumption of direct talks between Israelis and Palestinians.” Curiously, the statement didn’t make it into the mainstream media, which AIPAC – had it been interested – could have easily corrected. Evidently, AIPAC is keeping its support for peace talks under wraps – but why?

The short answer involves two enduring forces: time and money. Although AIPAC was technically brought to life in 1951, its expansion from a blip on the radar to one of the country’s most powerful lobbies began with Israel’s victory in the 1967 Six-Day War. It is no coincidence that – with the capture of the Golan Heights, the West Bank, Gaza and the Sinai Peninsula – the Six-Day War also simultaneously indulged the Jewish fantasy of a Greater Israel in the entirety of British Mandate Palestine. With the coming of the settlement movement, one could say AIPAC originally woke up on the ‘Right’ side of the bed.

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http://972mag.com/speaking-truth-to-aipacs-power/77124/

[oberliner]

1. What a weird article

First, he asks:

So where is AIPAC when Abbas finally came to the table to join Prime Minister Netanyahu in direct negotiations? Why have they not publicly applauded the Palestinian president and come out in uninhibited support of the new round of peace talks?

Then he notes that AIPAC did in fact make a statement in support of the new round of peace talks.

And so the complaint is:

“Curiously, the statement didn’t make it into the mainstream media, which AIPAC – had it been interested – could have easily corrected.”

How exactly could AIPAC have "easily corrected" the lack of MSM coverage of its statement supporting the peace talks?

Bizarre all around. It's a recent college grad writing the article, so I guess he should be cut some slack, but still.

Incidentally, here is the AIPAC statement:

“AIPAC welcomes the resumption of direct talks between Israelis and Palestinians. AIPAC has been supportive of Secretary Kerry’s efforts to achieve direct bilateral talks, and we commend his determined hard work and commitment. We hope that these discussions will lead to successful negotiations.”

Seems pretty supportive, no?

[azurnoir]

2. Incidentally exactly what mainstream media did you pluck that from

can you give us a link to the minstream media site?

Or did you get it from AIPAC's site here

http://www.aipac.org/en/resources/aipac-publications/publication?pubpath=PolicyPolitics/Press/AIPAC%20Statements/2013/07/Statement%20on%20Secretary%20Kerrys%20Announcement%20of%20Talks

[delrem]

3. But then what did this fellow think the JNF was about??? When he joined in.

"Two years ago, a JNF board member publicly severed all ties with the organization in protest of its role in the eviction of an East Jerusalem Palestinian family."

The JNF is all about purchasing land for the exclusive use of Jews.
Cough.