Thanking Israel's powerful friend

WASHINGTON - Last Thursday, in the beautiful lobby of the Riggs Library at Georgetown University, Prof. Avi Ben Zvi got up to speak. He is the Israeli visiting professor at the university, thanks to the donation of the Goldman family, and this is his last semester, after two years in Washington. The subject of his talk: "Crossing the Rubicon: John F. Kennedy and the Sale of Weapons to Israel."

Ben Zvi stated that in the early 1960s Kennedy was guided by primarily strategic considerations - less by politics than is generally thought - when he chose to respond to Israel's request to acquire the Hawk missile system. In any case, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the pro-Israel lobby, was only in its infancy at the time - it had only been established in the late 1950s - and it was relatively weak. Ben Zvi has been researching the Hawk deal for years, and has not found any signs of a significant contribution to it by the organization.

Today it is difficult to imagine such a transaction without AIPAC involvement. The organization has not always succeeded in achieving what it lobbied for, and its activities have not always been a source of pride for everyone. Many recall the failure of the attempt to torpedo the sale of the AWACS reconnaissance planes to Saudi Arabia during the term of Ronald Reagan. Others, who are not fans of the organization, blame it for not making a sufficient effort to assist the peace process. Some are experiencing schadenfreude during the current investigation of two of its former senior executives, who are accused of transferring secret information to unofficial bodies. The organization has been going through difficult years and the decisions it made during those years are controversial, and sometimes surprising.

Even among the many donors to the organization, there are some who are surprised at its decision not to pay the lobbyists who are standing trial. And of course, there are some who differ with its decisions in the area of policy. For example, is it a good idea to support the tough law now being proposed against the Palestinian Authority? AIPAC is working to have it passed, even at a time when many people in the know believe that the legislation is too vengeful and too right-wing, and that it doesn't leave any hope for rapprochement with the PA under Hamas leadership.

Tomorrow, in the context of AIPAC's annual conference, its activists will go up to Congress and each one will meet individually with the representative of his or her state or district. Many of the activists know their representatives personally. That is the secret of AIPAC's power: the close, direct contact of citizens with their elected officials.

Thus, a few years ago, an AIPAC lobbyist's activities developed ties to an anonymous candidate from a remote state, which has almost no Jews, until the latter reached one of the highest offices in the Senate, and was able to have a real influence in Israel's favor. Thus, last week, the adviser to a senator from a southern state, which also has few Jews, explained: "We have an excellent relationship with the Jewish community. We would never do anything related to Israel without first explaining to Israel what we are doing." He did not say that the community would dictate the vote, he did not say that AIPAC would say the word and the senator would do its bidding. But he did not deny the obligation to explain and not to spring an unpleasant surprise. And in any case, in votes related to Israel, you will usually find this senator in the "plus" column. Just like most of the others.

Nor will they refuse an offer to attend the AIPAC conference. To judge by the list of speakers that the organization has succeeded in enlisting even this year, it retains its power. They include the vice president, Congressional leaders, and past and future candidates for president. Even on Capitol Hill some are secretly grumbling: AIPAC is too strong, too aggressive, too strongly committed to its goals. But openly, it is difficult for one to come out against it. It has a great deal of power in bringing about political moves, as well as the power to cause damage; at least that is what many people believe.

And how fortunate Israel is, that this organization is on its side. In a city that understands mainly power, one can be disgusted by it, be ashamed of it, make derogatory noises occasionally - but one cannot make light of it. The activists of this organization, large numbers of Jews who really want to be of use, deserve recognition by Israel.

It is true that not every gift gives pleasure to its recipients - and it is possible, and even desirable, to debate AIPAC's goals, its politics, its policy. One can hope that its leadership will be replaced, that its direction will change, that it will become more moderate. Of course, there are also those who want a change in the opposite direction.

But once a year, we can take a time out from all that. To say "thank you" to the tens of thousands of Americans - Americans! - who devote their time and their money to do what they believe is best. The best thing possible for Israel.

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