Sanders Skipping AIPAC Conference of No Consequence

by Stephen Lendman

AIPAC calls its annual policy conferences "the largest gathering of the pro-Israel movement" - a rogue's gallery of attendees supporting the policies of a ruthless rogue state.

All US presidential aspirants were invited. Clinton, Trump, Cruz and Kasich are attending. Showing fealty to Israel is a longstanding US political tradition, notably through public AIPAC addresses.

In a letter to its president Robert Cohen, Sanders tried having it both ways. He won't be attending in person, very much in spirit, saying:

"…I would very much have enjoyed speaking at the AIPAC conference. Obviously, issues impacting Israel and the Middle East are of the utmost importance to me, to our country and to the world."

He declined to attend next week's  conference, claiming campaign travel prevents it. Instead, he's "send(ing) a copy of the remarks (he) would have given if…able to attend" in person - so it can be published and distributed to participants and the press.

Sanders one-sidedly supports Israel, including its genocidal wars, mindless of international law, uncaring about fundamental Palestinian rights and well-being.

AIPAC opponents calling Sanders' move bold is nonsense. Noted Israeli critic Max Blumenthal, sponsor of a petition urging he stay away, said he "think(s) Sanders recognized that sharing a stage with bigots at AIPAC and apartheid lobbyists would be anathema to his hardcore base of support."

Maybe so, though Blumenthal failed to explain he'll be there in spirit. Expect his published remarks when available to show fealty to Israel like others addressing the conference.

It's a 30-year Sanders political tradition, one-sidedly supporting Israel at the expense of regional peace and justice for long-suffering Palestinians.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. 

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com. 

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