AIPAC Says U.S.-Israel Ties Are Under Attack [View All]

[seemslikeadream]

Group Denies Wrongdoing Amid Probe

By Robin Wright and Thomas B. Edsall
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, September 8, 2004; Page A10

In a lengthy letter to supporters and allies, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee charged yesterday that the "very essence" of relations between the United States and Israel is under assault as a result of reports that the FBI is investigating whether AIPAC officials passed classified information to Israel.

The e-mail, AIPAC's first detailed comment about the FBI's counterintelligence investigation, strongly denies involvement in criminal activity or receipt of secret intelligence information by the organization or its employees, calling the allegations "false and baseless."

It also appeals to supporters for a "special contribution" to combat the publicity, including a recent full-page ad in the Washington Times that alleges that the United States has turned a blind eye to Israel's violations of international law.

The AIPAC letter comes amid charges from some American Jews that enemies of Israel and of AIPAC are capitalizing on the controversy created by reports of the probe. Some have said their goal is to undermine relations with Israel. Others are concerned about an anti-Semitic undercurrent because many of the U.S. officials that the FBI has mentioned in interviews are Jews in the Pentagon and Vice President Cheney's office.

more
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3677-2004Sep7.html