Targeting AIPAC: "Ending Military Aid
to Israel" - Confronting AIPAC
24 Jan 2012By Stephen Lendman
On January 23, Occupy AIPAC announced plans to
confront the powerful Israeli Lobby in Washington from
March 2 - 6. More on what's planned below.
Since last September, OWS inspired affiliate groups.
Among others they include Occupy Together, Occupy
Everything, Occupy Arrests, Occupy Police, Occupy
Marines, Occupy Veterans, Occupy Writers, Occupy
Filmakers, Occupy Schools, Occupy the World Wide Web,
Occupy Freedom, Occupy NATO, Occupy Congress, Occupy
the White House, and Occupy Your State Capital
America.
Many communicate online through social networks like
Facebook. They spread information globally and
hopefully inspire others to join a worldwide movement
for change.
From March 4 - 6, AIPAC will hold its annual
Washington conference. Deferentially, politicians,
presidents, their hangers-on, media scoundrels and
others show up to pay homage to its influence and the
government it represents.
AIPAC's an unregistered foreign agent. Calling itself
"America's Pro-Israel Lobby," it's represented Israeli
interests since founded in 1953. In 1963, it was
incorporated as a division of the American Zionist
Council (AZC), its precursor.
Virtually no one in Congress confronts it. Doing so is
a career-ender. Notably, it has virtual veto power
over war and peace, trade and investment,
multi-billion dollar arms sales, enormous handouts to
Israel, and all Middle East policies affecting the
Jewish state under Democrat and Republican
administrations alike.
It's a weapon of mass destruction, fronting for
Israeli crimes. Among other tactics, it spuriously
rails against Syria, Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah.
It calls Iran "the world's leading state sponsor of
terrorism and is racing toward a nuclear weapons
capability."
It calls Hizbollah, Hamas, as well as Iraq and
Afghanistan "Insurgents" its "proxy armies."
It falsely accuses Syria of "brutally crush(ing) the
growing protest movement (while) maintaining its
support for terrorist groups." It says Assad "undermin(es)
peace and security."
It calls Hamas, Palestine's legitimate government, a
"terrorist group....with the self proclaimed goal of
the destruction of Israel."
It calls Hezbollah (part of Lebanon's ruling coalition
government) "an Iranian-backed terrorist network that
poses a direct threat to American interests and
Israel, (and) has killed more Americans than any
terrorist group other than al-Qaeda...."
Since inception, AIPAC lacked credibility. It spews
lies and hate. It viciously attacks opponents. It
should be banned for not registering as a foreign
agent and prosecuted for libel.
Instead, by intimidating Congress, it gets free
reign to do what it pleases and attracts political
Washington en masse to its annual conference.
Confronting AIPAC
Move over AIPAC now calls itself Occupy AIPAC. Over
120 organizations endorse it.
They include American Jews for a Just Peace,
American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, Artists
Against Apartheid, CODEPINK, Christians for
Palestinian Rights, Citizens for Palestinian
Self-Determination, Friends of Palestine, Global
Exchange, If Americans Knew, International Solidarity
Movement, Rachael Corrie Foundation, Stop AIPAC,
United for Peace and Justice, US Boat to Gaza,
Veterans for Peace, and many others.
The pro-Israeli Commentary magazine attacked the
initiative. On January 20, Jonathan Tobin headlined,
"Occupy AIPAC Next Step for Leftist Group," saying:
"Many Jewish liberals have been in denial about the
anti-Israel and often anti-Semitic tone of much of the
Occupy Wall Street movement since its inception."
In other words, when hard truths can't be denied, it
call those supporting them "anti-Semites." Commentary
fronts for Israel. The US Campaign to End the
Occupation's Josh Ruebner calls it a "neo-con rag."
It's that and much more. It backs Israel's worst
crimes, and organizations like AIPAC, promoting war
and violence. Why else would activists for peace,
justice, and Palestinian rights plan confronting them
in March.
Ruebner says, "So, yeah, Commentary, we'll be there
protesting AIPAC's agenda and all your silly
accusations about who we are and what we stand for
won't stop us."
Occupy AIPAC
In May 2011, during AIPAC's conference, it organized
an initiative called "Move over AIPAC: Building a New
US Middle East Policy."
Then and now, it aims "to wean US policy away from
AIPAC's grip towards an even-handed position that
respects international law and the human rights of all
people in the region."
From March 2 - 6, it's coming back and asks others to
join it. It's agenda includes teach-ins, cultural
performances, protests, creative direct actions,
educational panels on Iran, Palestine, the Arab
uprisings, and OWS, and a preview of the forthcoming
film, "Roadmap to Apartheid."
Panel discussions and workshops include:
"Preventing War, Promoting Peace: Shifting US Policy
Toward Real Diplomacy with Iran"
"From the Arab Uprisings to the Occupy Movement:
Freedom & Justice vs. the Right-Wing Israel Lobby"
"Palestine, Israel & the US - Changing Discourse,
Challenging Policy"
"Poets, Comedians and Musicians - Tears and Laughter
for Palestine"
"Boycott, Divestment & Sanctions"
"Injustice Anywhere is a Threat to Justice Everywhere:
Palestine and the African American Experience"
"Ending Military Aid to Israel"
March 6 is called Lobbying Day - Lobbying Congress for
a just peace in the Middle East. This and more is
planned throughout the March 2 - 6 gathering.
Occupy AIPAC calls it "a mandatory 'occupy target.' "
Now's the time to oppose "the stranglehold the Israel
lobby continues to hold over our government."
It's essential to confront it actively with sustained
pressure. Showing up in Washington is step one.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached
at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. Also visit his blog
site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to
cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on
the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive
Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and
Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are
archived for easy listening.
http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour/.
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