Sanders is the focus of the AIPAC conference, despite his absence

Mohammed Al-Minshawi-Washington

The American Israel Public Relations Committee (AIPAC) states that its primary mission is to "strengthen, protect, and promote American-Israeli relations that support the security of the United States and Israel", but many experts believe that the organization has deviated from its goals in recent years to come closer to Israeli right-wing currents, and from the party Republican.

The absence of Senator Bernie Sanders, the most prominent Democratic candidate for the US presidential elections, from AIPAC this year was an exciting event, after he refused an official invitation to speak before the largest political gathering in the American capital annually, with 18,000 people taking part this year.

Sanders' position was not limited to rejecting AIPAC's invitation, but rather accused her of allowing fanatic speakers to attack the Palestinians, as many right-wing voices hostile to everything Arab or Muslim participate in the conference's four-day sessions that will end tomorrow, Wednesday, Wednesday.

During an election debate before the Nevada state election, Sanders said he might review the decision to move the US embassy to Jerusalem as soon as he arrives at the White House, and described Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a "racist" person.

"The Israeli people have the right to live in peace and security, as well as the Palestinian people," Sanders said. "And I remain concerned about the platform that AIPAC offers to leaders who demonstrate intolerance and oppose basic Palestinian rights, so I will not attend their conference."

Aipac responded angrily to Sanders' statements, and issued a statement attacking him, saying, "Senator Sanders offends his colleagues, and the millions of Americans who stand with Israel. This is truly a shame."

deviation
Many experts in the United States believe that AIPAC's claim to represent American Jews is no longer a realistic proposition, as right-wing supporters kidnapped it for years, through contributions from the symbols of that current, and no longer represent the majority of American Jews.

The American diplomat David Mack said, "Senator Sanders has a long history of independence away from AIPAC and other Israeli lobby organizations, and he is proud of being a Jew of religion, a New Yorker in the full sense of the word, even his accent as a Brooklyn Jew dialect" (Brooklyn is a New York neighborhood full of dangerous, gay, and ultra-Orthodox Jews) The hardcore ").

"Sanders have the right to say that he is a supporter of Israel and at the same time that he is opposed to its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and that he opposes the building of settlements, like half of the Israelis," said Mac.

As for Charles Dunn, a researcher at the Middle East Institute, he believes that Sanders "is trying to combine his progressive policies with the reality on the ground, regarding the conflict between Palestinians and Israelis. These positions include human rights for the Palestinians, and the need for a just and mutually acceptable solution to end this long conflict."

Dan said, in an interview with Al Jazeera Net, that AIPAC "risks the emergence as an organization close to Trump and the Republican Party, and that would upset many American Jews, especially the young among them, many of whom have already turned to alternative organizations such as G Street, which adopt a more position Moderation. "

Ambassador Mac said that "AIPAC adopts Netanyahu's point of view on various issues, whether related to Iran to West Bank settlements, in addition to the apparent closeness to the Trump administration, distancing the organization from the positions of most American Jews."

Mack does not believe that American Jews will vote for Sanders because he is a Jew, and he said, "The American Jewish voter is more educated in most of the ordinary American voters, and they generally do not favor President Trump, except for the hard-line minority that is close to the right wing among Protestant evangelists."

An American Jewish woman living in the northwest of Washington, DC, told Al-Jazeera Net that "American Jews are the least disturbed by the so-called Senator Sanders that his socialist inclinations will have negative effects on economic conditions. A socialist word does not alienate Jews around her, Israel has been built On socialist grounds. "

Mack stresses that American Jews, "just like other Americans, vote according to their position on internal issues. They also support Israel, but they have increased doubts that Netanyahu's government policies and the unprecedented and unconditional support of the Trump administration serves Israel's interests in the long run."

Dan agrees with this argument, stressing that "most American Jews welcome Sanders' progressive policies, and Sanders will get the majority of their votes, especially since Israel is no longer an issue on the basis of which American Jews vote in the presidential elections."

"Traditionally, most American Jews vote for the Democratic candidate, and that voting pattern will continue in the upcoming elections, whether for Sanders or anyone else," said Mac.