Israel Matzav

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Walt and Mearsheimer featued at anti-AIPAC conference

While supporters of Israel gather in one part of Washington in late May, supporters of terror will gather in another part - presumably to cheer on the terror flotilla that is scheduled to attempt to breach Israel's Gaza blockade at the same time.

AIPAC's policy conference will take place in Washington May 22-24, while across town a conference of terror supporters and their academic godfathers will attempt to introduce 'new policies' in the Middle East.

From May 21 to 24, 2011, in Washington DC, join CODEPINK, the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation and a coalition of over 80 organizations at an historic gathering "Move Over AIPAC: Building a New US Middle East Policy."

It is timed to coincide with the annual policy meeting of AIPAC, which will feature Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, members of the Obama administration and hundreds of members of Congress. The Move Over AIPAC gathering will expose AIPAC’s negative influence on U.S. foreign policy and promote an alternative approach that respects the rights of all people in the region.

The impressive list of speakers includes The Israel Lobby authors John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt, Holocaust survivor Hedy Epstein, writer Alice Walker, consumer advocate Ralph Nader, authors Nadia Hijab and Phyllis Bennis, Palestinian blogger Laila El Haddad, Jewish Voice for Peace Director Rebecca Vilkomerson, peacemakers Cindy and Craig Corrie, Israeli researcher Dalit Baum, human rights lawyer Noura Erakat, clown doctor Patch Adams, Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb, union organizer Bill Fletcher, US Campaign to End the Israel Occupation national organizer and human rights advocate Anna Baltzer, Janet McMahon from the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs and many more!

There will be trainings, workshops, press conferences, book signings, cultural events, and culminate with peaceful, creative protests outside the AIPAC convention itself.

I'm almost surprised that Samantha Power isn't on the speakers' list.

But actually, this conference is the perfect metaphor for the 'Palestinian' side. It's not a conference about something 'positive' - for example, how to prepare for a 'state of Palestine.' It's a conference that's about something negative, a conference that defines itself as being against someone else's (in this case AIPAC's) narrative. Just like the 'Palestinian nationalist' movement isn't about creating 'Palestine' - it's about destroying Israel.

What could go wrong?

By the way, I know I have some readers in Oregon. If any of you could explain to me why the 'Salem News' is reporting a promotional item for this 'conference' as a news story, I'd much appreciate it.

Labels: anti-AIPAC conference, john Mearsheimer, Salem News, Stephen Walt