“What cognitive bypass enables them to recognize the potential fascism of Trump, but not the existing tyranny of Israel’s rule over the Palestinians, under the decade-long leadership of Netanyahu?” asked Isacowitz.
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The Republican front-runner dropped out of a scheduled primary debate, which has since been canceled altogether, in order to make an appearance at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s annual policy conference in Washington Monday evening.
Though most American Jews are Democrats, It doesn’t help Trump’s case with conservative Jews that he said he would be “neutral” in peace negotiations between Israel and Palestine.
Several Jewish leaders have spoken out against Trump’s rhetoric regarding Muslims and Latinos but have faced criticism for their silence on the far-right in Israel. Virtually all Jews in Israel say one of these terms describes their religious category.
“Upon hearing that Donald Trump along with other presidential candidates will be speaking at AIPAC Policy Conference, we come together as Rabbis, Cantors, Jewish Professionals and members of the Jewish community to repudiate the ugliness that Mr Trump espouses”. Trump’s remaining Republican rivals, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and Ohio Governor John Kasich, will address the group as well.
The Union for Reform Judaism, representing the largest Jewish denomination in America, put out a statement slamming Trump.
Trump, however, declined to define what such a deal would include or how he meant to address the matter in his Monday speech.
“We should be able to get that speech to you on Monday”, said Sanders, who has been petitioned by AIPAC critics not to attend the conference.
“As the main arm of the pro-Israel lobby in the United States, AIPAC has sworn to promote the racist, militaristic, and anti-democratic policies of the most right-wing government in Israel’s history”, Blumenthal wrote in a description accompanying the petition. Paskin said he has 300 people ready to protest with him either by not attending the meeting at all or by walking out silently when Trump is introduced.
AIPAC used its opening plenary session Sunday night both to request a civil reception for controversial speaker Donald Trump, and to subtle criticize Trump’s message – and all without mentioning him by name even once. Yet the organization has delved into highly partisan political debates over issues of interest to Israel, most recently and notably the Iran nuclear deal, which it vehemently opposed. And instead of lambasting protestors who interrupt his speeches and recommending that their faces be smashed, Trump will have to exhibit uncharacteristic patience and restraint. Acknowledging the rift, AIPAC’s slogan for this year’s conference is “Come Together”.
Citing in part Trump’s statements on immigrants, women and refugees, another Israel advocacy group, J Street, said Thursday that “these factors in our view render Trump unfit to be president of the US”.
For example, he initially dodged a question on the possibility of moving the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, and while he ultimately said he would, should he become president he more likely would take advantage of the waiver in the Jerusalem Embassy Act to avoid doing so, as Presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama have done.
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Will the Donald Be Trumped by Rabbis?
