To: 2020 Democratic Presidential Candidates
2020 Candidates: Skip AIPAC conference
AIPAC has worked to hinder diplomatic efforts like the Iran deal, is undermining Palestinian self-determination, and inviting figures actively involved in human rights violations to its stage while growing more and more partisan. Skip the AIPAC conference.
Why is this important?
Any progressive vying to be the Democratic nominee for president should skip the AIPAC conference.
Here are four reasons why:
#1. AIPAC spent tens millions of dollars in 2015 to defeat the Iran nuclear deal negotiated by President Obama along with our European and international allies––a historic diplomatic agreement that Trump has tried to derail since taking office.
#2. This year's AIPAC conference is headlined by Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, under whose leadership, according to the U.N., Israel may have committed war crimes in attacks on Gaza. Netanyahu has also been indicted on bribery and fraud charges, and he recently made a deal to bring the "Israeli KKK" ultra-racist party into the next government.
#3. AIPAC has been known to peddle anti-Muslim and anti-Arab rhetoric while giving platforms to Islamophobes.
#4. AIPAC has refused to condemn the antisemitism of Republicans, such as Trump’s friend and advisor Steve Bannon. Bannon’s wife reported that he had their kids removed from a school because of “the number of Jews that attend”, and that “he didn’t want the girls going to school with Jews. While many groups condemned Bannon, Politico reported that AIPAC “declined to weigh in."
Many candidates have now confirmed they are not attending the conference. And it is time for others to join them!
Here are four reasons why:
#1. AIPAC spent tens millions of dollars in 2015 to defeat the Iran nuclear deal negotiated by President Obama along with our European and international allies––a historic diplomatic agreement that Trump has tried to derail since taking office.
#2. This year's AIPAC conference is headlined by Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, under whose leadership, according to the U.N., Israel may have committed war crimes in attacks on Gaza. Netanyahu has also been indicted on bribery and fraud charges, and he recently made a deal to bring the "Israeli KKK" ultra-racist party into the next government.
#3. AIPAC has been known to peddle anti-Muslim and anti-Arab rhetoric while giving platforms to Islamophobes.
#4. AIPAC has refused to condemn the antisemitism of Republicans, such as Trump’s friend and advisor Steve Bannon. Bannon’s wife reported that he had their kids removed from a school because of “the number of Jews that attend”, and that “he didn’t want the girls going to school with Jews. While many groups condemned Bannon, Politico reported that AIPAC “declined to weigh in."
Many candidates have now confirmed they are not attending the conference. And it is time for others to join them!