All posts tagged American Israel Public Affairs Committee
Full Text Israel Political Brief March 20, 2016: Vice President Joe Biden’s Speech to the 2016 AIPAC Policy Conference
Posted by bonniekgoodman on March 20, 2016
https://togetherwithisrael.wordpress.com/2016/03/20/full-text-israel-political-brief-march-20-2016-vice-president-joe-bidens-speech-to-the-2016-aipac-policy-conference/
Israel Political Brief March 20-22, 2016: 2016 AIPAC Policy Conference Schedule
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General Sessions
Source: AIPAC
Sunday Evening, March 20
Joe Biden
Vice President of the United States
Watch live stream starting at 7 p.m. ET.
Monday Morning, March 21
Hillary Clinton
Democratic Presidential Candidate
Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA)
House Majority Leader
Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD)
House Democratic Whip
Isaac Herzog
Chairman of Zionist Union and Leader of the Opposition
Israeli Knesset
Monday Evening, March 21
Ted Cruz
Republican Presidential Candidate
John Kasich
Republican Presidential Candidate
Donald Trump
Republican Presidential Candidate
Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI)
Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives
Tuesday Morning, March 22
Benjamin Netanyahu
Prime Minister of Israel
(Address via Satellite)
Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ)
Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Posted by bonniekgoodman on March 20, 2016
https://togetherwithisrael.wordpress.com/2016/03/20/israel-political-brief-march-20-22-2016-2016-aipac-policy-conference-schedule/
Israel Political Brief March 4, 2014: PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s Speech to 2014 AIPAC Policy Conference: Netanyahu: Israel prepared to make peace, but Abbas must recognize Jewish state
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Netanyahu: Israel prepared to make peace, but Abbas must recognize Jewish state
Source: Haaretz, 3-4-14
Israel, U.S. stand on the ‘right side of the moral divide and of history,’ prime minister tells AIPAC conference….READ MORE
Posted by bonniekgoodman on March 4, 2014
https://togetherwithisrael.wordpress.com/2014/03/04/israel-political-brief-march-4-2014-pm-benjamin-netanyahus-speech-to-2014-aipac-policy-conference-netanyahu-israel-prepared-to-make-peace-but-abbas-must-recognize-jewish-state/
Full Text Israel Political Brief March 3, 2014: Senator John McCain Remarks at 2014 AIPAC Policy Conference
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Senator McCain Remarks at AIPAC Conference
Source: C-SPAN, 3-3-14
Senator John McCain (R-AZ) spoke at the annual American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) conference…..READ MORE
Posted by bonniekgoodman on March 3, 2014
https://togetherwithisrael.wordpress.com/2014/03/03/full-text-israel-political-brief-march-3-2014-senator-john-mccain-remarks-at-2014-aipac-policy-conference/
Full Text Israel Political Brief March 3, 2014: Senator John McCain’s Speech / Remarks at AIPAC Conference
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Senator McCain Remarks at AIPAC Conference
Source: C-SPAN, 3-3-14
Senator John McCain (R-AZ) spoke at the annual American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) conference…..READ MORE
Posted by bonniekgoodman on March 3, 2014
https://togetherwithisrael.wordpress.com/2014/03/03/full-text-israel-political-brief-march-3-2014-senator-john-mccains-speech-remarks-at-aipac-conference/
Israel Political Brief March 5, 2013: AIPAC heads to the Hill: The diplomacy trap
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AIPAC heads to the Hill: The diplomacy trap
Source: Washington Post (blog), 3-5-13
In concluding the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s annual policy conference Tuesday, executive director Howard Kohr announced that committee representatives would call upon every Senate and House member….READ MORE
Posted by bonniekgoodman on March 5, 2013
https://togetherwithisrael.wordpress.com/2013/03/05/israel-political-brief-march-5-2013-aipac-heads-to-the-hill-the-diplomacy-trap/
Israel Political Brief March 4, 2013: VP Joe Biden & PM Benjamin Netanyahu Stress Points of Unity in Speeches at AIPAC 2013
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Biden and Netanyahu Stress Points of Unity in Speeches to Pro-Israel Group
Source: NYT, 3-4-13
Michael Reynolds/European Pressphoto Agency
Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., right, with Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s annual policy conference in Washington on Monday.
The thundering ovations, slickly produced videos and legions of lawmakers were the same as ever. But something was missing as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee convened here this week for its annual conference: tension….READ MORE
Posted by bonniekgoodman on March 4, 2013
https://togetherwithisrael.wordpress.com/2013/03/04/israel-political-brief-march-4-2013-vp-joe-biden-pm-benjamin-netanyahu-stress-points-of-unity-in-speeches-at-aipac-2013/
Full Text Israel Political Brief March 4, 2013: House Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s Speech at AIPAC Policy Conference 2013
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Text of Leader Cantor’s AIPAC Speech
Source: Newsroom America Feeds, 3-4-13
Thank you, it is an honor to be here at AIPAC’s policy conference. And, it’s an honor to be here with my good friend, one of Congress’ strongest pro-Israel allies Steny Hoyer.
Tonight, we celebrate a friendship between two countries. Simple in concept, but mighty in force. This friendship is centered on commitment to community and dedication to faith. It values education, human progress, and the guarantee of opportunity for all. With this friendship, the world is a better place.
The alliance between the United States and Israel is often tested, but never shaken. We’ve helped protect each other. We’ve help protect our friends, and we’ve helped protect humanity.
If there is a tsunami, our military and aid ships are the first to set sail. If disease is ravaging a nation, or as is the case of AIDS in Africa, an entire continent, we send help. And we save lives. Israel shares our moral compass. When massive earthquakes struck Haiti and Turkey, Israel was among the first to offer assistance. And hundreds of Israeli rescue workers responded to the deadly terrorist attacks in East Africa, saving the lives of Africans injured in the attacks on America’s embassies.
For those of us who have visited Israel, you know what a special place it is. You have walked down the Tayelet in Tel Aviv on a Thursday afternoon and you’ve seen the people leisurely lingering in cafes as the waves of the Mediterranean crash in the background.
But for many Americans, the only images of Israel that they see are of blown out clubs and cafes, missiles firing, death and tragedy. That in itself is a tragedy.
These news stories often miss the beauty and the human element of why our nations care so much for one another. But, these stories do serve as a constant reminder of the threat Israel faces, and why Israel needs our friendship.
Asher Afriat needs no reminders. Asher is a friend to many of us, and he’s here tonight. He owns a travel company in Israel, and leads many of the AIPAC tours. Several months ago, when rockets were flying over Israel, Asher sent me an email. He was up early in Tel Aviv, on his way to pick up some tourists. He saw some young reservists with packed military bags waiting to be picked up. He yearned to drop everything and jump in the truck with them. As he drove, his favorite radio station was interrupted by Code Red Alerts.
“A somber mood took over,” he wrote. But a few minutes later, Asher passed the entrance to the Ben Shimon Forest, a magnet for mountain bikers from across the country and one of his favorite riding places. The parking lot was jam packed with cars and hundreds of bikers ready to “shred” the countryside. Despite rockets flying, they all came. Asher could barely stand the urge to pull over and get his own bike out. But he pressed on, now with a big smile on his face. In his email he observed: “How surreal is this moment, how incomprehensible is the reality we live in”
Yet for me, that moment of Asher’s reflected the true essence of Israel with all its pain and beauty.
We are here together tonight, people of all faiths to support Israel and the US-Israel relationship. So, to all our Christian brothers and sisters who are with us, we salute you and we thank you for standing with Israel.
Thank you for standing with us to defend the gift that is Israel. Israel is a gift to all free loving people around the world. The Jewish people know and realize this gift better than anyone. The creation of the modern state of Israel had a special effect on what it means to be a Jew. Before 1948, we Jews often had difficulty defining ourselves publicly, and instead we were defined by stereotypes.
The craven hook nose man counting money behind closed doors. Secretive. Untrustworthy. The caricatures were ugly, and unfortunately some still linger.
But after Israel was created, people around the world began to see something else. They saw farmers, and warriors, and creative souls. They saw innovators, scientists and chemists giving back to the world and saving lives. The survival of Israel and what it says about its Jewish and Arab citizens is a bulwark against ever returning to the days of being the eternal outsider – the wandering Jew.
Throughout my entire political life, I have never known a time where I have questioned America’s resolve and support for Israel. I have never questioned America’s historic support for the little guy against the bully. I have never questioned the role we play as protectors of liberty and defenders of justice. Until now.
It is only recently where I have begun to worry. I worry that some of our nation’s leaders are complacent. I worry that some in Washington think we must retreat to our domestic politics and reduce focus overseas. I worry that in the pursuit of comity with Israel’s foes, some will seek distance. I worry that they indeed overlook the gift that is Israel.
And I worry that Israelis worry. And these worries are not unfounded. Israel’s under attack.
A while back, I received a briefing in Israel from one of the engineers of the Iron Dome system. His name was Avi Sacher. Avi’s presentation was impressive. He demonstrated through slides and video the precision and agility of the anti-rocket defense system.
Avi beamed with pride as he explained how countless lives were saved by the Iron Dome technology. How families were spared despite deadly rockets aimed at their home, and how mothers were relieved to see their children safe while sirens wailed at terrorists’ rockets overhead.
Five days later, still in Israel, I met with Avi again. His enthusiasm was gone and there was pain in his eyes. He spoke with great emotion as he told us of the one rocket that had gotten through. It somehow slipped past the defense system, hitting the town of Be’er Sheva, and killing an innocent Israeli. He was tortured by that experience. And Avi went back to work, determined to perfect the system that had already saved countless lives.
The importance of the Iron Dome’s capability was driven home again recently during the conflict in Gaza. The Iron Dome has to be right 100 percent of the time, or Israelis die.
As important as they are, defensive systems like Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and the Arrow are not panaceas. True peace will require an end to Iranian backed weapons smuggled into Gaza. It will also require a recognition by Hamas and the Palestinians that violence does not help, but hurts their cause. Only when Palestinians lay down their arms, can we hope to achieve peace.
My message to you tonight is this: Our enemies know that if they divide the United States from Israel, they will defeat Israel. And they will be one step closer to defeating America. That is their goal. That is their mission. And we must not ever, ever let them succeed.
Three weeks from tonight, we will be sitting down with our families to celebrate Passover, and the words we will read from the Haggadah seem as relevant today as ever – “In every generation, they rise against us to destroy us.”
Just listen to President Ahmadinejad or Ayatollah Khamenei speak anywhere at any time and their intentions are clear. Iran is a direct and immediate threat to Israel, to our allies in the region and to the civilized world. But, some in Washington hold the view that Iran is all bluster. That Iran can be contained and negotiated with. But that impression is wrong.
We need to be clear-eyed that the nuclear talks with Iran cannot be unending, and that they may fail. We need to recognize that military action against Iran may become necessary to protect America, Israel and our allies.
America must be prepared to lead from the front. And the challenge should not be Israel’s alone to bear.
In Syria, tens of thousands of people have been brutally and relentlessly slaughtered by an evil dictator intent on massacring his people. Our hearts ache as we see mass graves, all too familiar to us Jews.
But, Syria is not just a moral challenge, it’s a strategic challenge.
The United States cannot and should not stand aside and let the chips fall where they may. We’ve got to be on the side of those looking to end Assad’s tyranny.
We cannot guarantee that those who succeed him will be greater friends to our nation or Israel, anymore than Assad was. But without action, we can guarantee that more innocent lives will be lost. We will have failed to shape the outcome of this conflict. And we will guarantee that Syria’s future leaders will not have known the helping hand of America when the Syrian people so desperately needed help.
Beyond just Syria, the entire Middle East is in an epic state of political transition and uncertainty. The stakes could not be higher. When there is no American leadership; there is no leadership.
Bottom line, Israel’s security goes hand in hand with America’s security. And, America’s security depends on freedom and democracy growing and open societies hearing our message. America’s security depends on putting a stop to the bullying on the world playground.
To all of you here tonight at AIPAC, the future depends on your voice. It must be heard on Capitol Hill and it must be heard by this Administration. It must be heard around the world.
We must now and forever stand with Israel, or we risk losing the great promise of America.
Thank you.
Posted by bonniekgoodman on March 4, 2013
https://togetherwithisrael.wordpress.com/2013/03/04/full-text-israel-political-brief-march-4-2013-house-majority-leader-eric-cantors-speech-at-aipac-policy-conference-2013/
Israel Political Brief March 4, 2013: Bill introduced to make Israel ‘major strategic ally’
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Bill introduced to make Israel ‘major strategic ally’
Source: JTA, 3-4-13
“We need to recognize that military action against Iran may become necessary to protect America, Israel and our allies,” Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.), the U.S. House of Representatives majority leader, said in his address Monday night to the AIPAC conference….READ MORE
Posted by bonniekgoodman on March 4, 2013
https://togetherwithisrael.wordpress.com/2013/03/04/israel-political-brief-march-4-2013-bill-introduced-to-make-israel-major-strategic-ally/
Full Text Israel Political Brief March 4, 2013: House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer’s Speech at AIPAC Policy Conference 2013
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Hoyer Remarks at AIPAC Policy Conference
Source: Southern Maryland News Net, 3-4-13
“We gather tonight recognizing that Israel’s existence is testimony that faith and courage can triumph even in a cauldron of enmity, terror, and constant threat.
“Israel’s history is that of a courageous people’s perseverance against injustice from one generation to the next. It is a history Americans understand and look to for inspiration.
“The State of Israel, though besieged by forces of hatred, intolerance, and extremism, has never abandoned its founding principles nor lost sight of its historic mission – to provide freedom and sanctuary in a democracy for the Jewish people in their ancient homeland.
“Some of my proudest moments as a Member of Congress were working with many of you to help Soviet Jews emigrate from behind the Iron Curtain to reach that freedom and security in the land of their ancestors.
“In January, we lost a dear friend and a passionate advocate in Ambassador Max Kampelman, who was instrumental in that effort. I was Chairman of the Helsinki Commission at the time, and Max was leading the negotiations with the Soviet Union on arms reduction and human rights.
“Max may no longer be with us, but his legacy of linking human rights to international security is a practice that can serve us well today. The safety and prosperity of democracies such as Israel, which promote freedom and individual rights, advance America’s national security interests.
“Today, we continue to fight for what Israel represents: an outpost of freedom in a region where democracy struggles to take hold with no guarantee of success. From Tahrir to Tripoli, from Aden to Aleppo, America and Israel will remain vigilant and work to ensure that legitimate yearnings for democracy are not hijacked by extremists.
“And nowhere must we be more united and vigilant than when facing the threat posed by Iran. The stakes have never been higher.
“If there is one lesson we have learned about the Middle East in recent years, it is that nuance is not only not effective but can be dangerous. We must speak with unambiguous clarity: the United States will not accept a nuclear-weapons-capable Iran. They must know our clear intent and firm commitment. America and Israel cannot leave any uncertainty in the minds of those who describe us as their common foes.
“Let there be no doubt that it is in America’s direct interest to keep Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. A nuclear Iran would set off an arms race in the region, pose a clear and present danger to American troops stationed in the Middle East and Europe, and threaten Israel’s very existence.
“As nuclear talks with Iran continue, still without result, Iran’s leaders must understand that these talks cannot go on indefinitely. Let me repeat this point, because it is critically important: the day will come when diplomacy ends. And Iran’s leaders will ultimately decide whether it is because they have willingly dismantled their nuclear weapons program or whether they have compelled the free world to do it for them.
“The threat from Iran comes not only from its nuclear ambitions but from its long history of state-sponsored terrorism across the globe. A nuclear-armed Iran would be even more aggressive in sponsoring its deadly agents of terror – Hamas and Hezbollah – and proliferating its weapons of mass destruction.
“There are some who say that Hamas and Hezbollah are simply politicians. Make no mistake: they are terrorists.
“Those in Europe who think differently ought to listen to the defense of one Hezbollah agent who was arrested in Cyprus scouting areas frequented by Israelis. He said – and I quote: ‘I was just collecting information about Jews. This is what my organization is doing everywhere around the world.’
“The threat Hamas and Hezbollah pose to Israel and to the Jewish people is chillingly clear.
“And so, like any sovereign nation, it is Israel’s right to take such steps as are necessary to defend itself and its people. It is not only international norms that give Israel that right but the hard lessons of Jewish history.
“As my friend Eric Cantor said earlier – later this month, Jews in America and throughout the world will open the Passover Haggadah and remember that history with these perennial words: ‘In every generation there are those who have risen against us.’ And the sentence continues: ‘but the Holy One saves us from their hands.’
“Doing so is not only the work of God but for our generation, which must continue to strengthen and fortify the relationship between Israel and America.
“Thanks to the work AIPAC performs on Capitol Hill and around the country, Congress’s support for Israel has endured and grown stronger each year. The bipartisan nature of Congress’s support makes it ever more clear to those who would do the Jewish State harm that Israel is here to stay – and will never, never stand alone.
“One direct result of America’s commitment to Israel’s security is Iron Dome. I hope you will join me in thanking again the operators of Iron Dome for protecting Israel’s border communities.
“But America’s ties with Israel run far deeper than matters of security and statecraft. The United States, a young nation, and Israel, heir to an ancient birthright, were founded on the same values. These are the principles of human dignity and basic justice first laid out in the Torah and embraced by America’s Founders. A line connects the wisdom of our shared scripture to the hearts and minds of those who wrote the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and our Bill of Rights.
“Jewish history is and always will be intertwined with American history. And from helping to draw back an Iron Curtain to constructing an Iron Dome, it has been the privilege of my life to work with you to shape that history.
“And, with clarity in our common cause, with the courage to pursue our common commitment, we must face our shared challenges with an iron resolve. Such is AIPAC’s legacy and our enduring mission: to ensure the survival and success of Israel – and the safety and security of its people – in our generation and for every generation yet to come.
Posted by bonniekgoodman on March 4, 2013
https://togetherwithisrael.wordpress.com/2013/03/04/full-text-israel-political-brief-march-4-2013-house-democratic-whip-steny-h-hoyers-speech-at-aipac-policy-conference-2013/
Israel Political Brief March 3, 2013: Senate Minority Whip John Cornyn Praises Israeli Democracy in Speech at AIPAC Policy Conference 2013
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At AIPAC Conference, Senate Minority Whip Praises Israeli Democracy
Source: Algemeiner, 3-3-13
Senate Minority Whip John Cornyn (R-TX) addressing the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) Policy Conference on Sunday…..
The fact that Israel, as a democracy unlike its Arab neighbors, “remains a country where Arabs can serve in parliament” and heckle the prime minister is at the heart of why an “overwhelming bipartisan consensus” is maintained in Congress in favor of a strong U.S.-Israel relationship, in contrast to the “political football” played with other issues, according to Cornyn. Americans feel a “special kinship” with Israel because of shared values such as liberty and human rights, he said….READ MORE
Posted by bonniekgoodman on March 4, 2013
https://togetherwithisrael.wordpress.com/2013/03/04/israel-political-brief-march-3-2013-senate-minority-whip-john-cornyn-praises-israeli-democracy-in-speech-at-aipac-policy-conference-2013/
Israel Political Brief March 4, 2013: What’s missing from this year’s AIPAC conference?
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What’s missing from this year’s AIPAC conference?
Source: JTA, 3-4-13
This week’s annual AIPAC policy conference in Washington may be as notable for what – and who – is missing as what’s planned….READ MORE
Posted by bonniekgoodman on March 4, 2013
https://togetherwithisrael.wordpress.com/2013/03/04/israel-political-brief-march-4-2013-whats-missing-from-this-years-aipac-conference/
Israel Political Brief March 4, 2013: AIPAC’s got troubles
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AIPAC’s got troubles
Source: WaPo, 3-4-13
At big conferences candor is rarely on the main stage. The American Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is no different. If you mill around, you see a crowd of mixed of ages, races (African American attendance seems bigger than in past years), ethnicities and religious observance. And you also see some of AIPAC’s challenges.
Given the decline in support for Israel among Democrats, some Jewish leaders are aiming for leaders of the future. But it will be a long wait until such leaders reach political maturity….READ MORE
Posted by bonniekgoodman on March 4, 2013
https://togetherwithisrael.wordpress.com/2013/03/04/israel-political-brief-march-4-2013-aipacs-got-troubles/
Israel Political Brief March 3, 2013: AIPAC President Michael Kassen’s Speech: AIPAC head’s ‘adapt or die’ warning: isolationism ‘extremely dangerous’ for Israel
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AIPAC head’s ‘adapt or die’ warning: isolationism ‘extremely dangerous’ for Israel
Source: Haaretz, 3-3-13
The “growing allure of isolationism” in American politics threatens U.S.-Israeli relations and is “extremely dangerous” for Israel’s security and wellbeing – this was the stark message delivered Sunday by AIPAC President Michael Kassen on the first day….READ MORE
Posted by bonniekgoodman on March 3, 2013
https://togetherwithisrael.wordpress.com/2013/03/03/israel-political-brief-march-3-2013-aipac-president-michael-kassens-speech-aipac-heads-adapt-or-die-warning-isolationism-extremely-dangerous-for-israel/