Saturday
Mar262005
The AIPAC investigation
Issandr El Amrani
Juan Cole links to an update on the AIPAC investigation. He says:
I would add to that that it is shameful that so many Jewish-Americans allow a small a fanatical group of rightwing devotees of colonial settlerism in the West Bank to speak in their name even when they disagree with them. I know there are movements that oppose AIPAC, but more needs to be done by Jews against AIPAC if a silent majority really does feel it is wrong. Non-Jews will just get called anti-Semites if they speak out, so we really need their help on this one.
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee spy case is heating up again. The FBI clearly believes that AIPAC is at the center of an important political conspiracy, but may not be able to make the whole case in the legal system.
Whatever the outcome of the case, AIPAC should have to register as a foreign agent. It is shameful that a small and fanatical group of rightwing devotees of colonial settlerism in the West Bank should be virtually controlling the foreign policy of the US Congress toward the Middle East-- especially since colonial settlerism in the West Bank causes so many people in the Middle East to hate the United States for supporting it-- and to lash out at us.
I would add to that that it is shameful that so many Jewish-Americans allow a small a fanatical group of rightwing devotees of colonial settlerism in the West Bank to speak in their name even when they disagree with them. I know there are movements that oppose AIPAC, but more needs to be done by Jews against AIPAC if a silent majority really does feel it is wrong. Non-Jews will just get called anti-Semites if they speak out, so we really need their help on this one.
Reader Comments (1)
Thanks for posting again, Leila. I was aware of some of these groups and it's encouraging to see them. I also think that AIPAC is probably only representative of a small part of American Jewish community. Unfortunately, it's a part of the Jewish community with a lot of money and influence and that has worked very hard to set up a network of institutions (NGOs, think tanks, etc.) that support its work and act as an echo chamber for its message. I think that, whether Jewish or Arab or both, the organization or network that can defeat it is also going to need similar resources -- as well as the same kind of ruthlessness and political acumen. That work needs to start now. I don't even live in the US so I can't say I've been as active as you have -- so maybe I shouldn't talk -- but I would love to see that kind of political machine being set up. I can't imagine the money would be that hard to find. The rest might be more difficult.