Occupy AIPAC

Call on Obama to Reject Netanyahu’s Hostile Policy Proposal

During Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the United States and meeting with President Obama and Congress, Jewishgroups and individuals are joining the “Move Over AIPAC” gathering to expose the role of AIPAC in distorting U.S. foreign policy towards the Middle East.

Over 100 peace and justice organizations, including many Jewish groups, (full list available: http://bit.ly/lXrWo7) have cosponsored “Move Over AIPAC”, a conference and series of actions timed to coincide with the annual AIPAC Policy Conference in Washington, DC, May 21-24. The Move Over AIPAC Conference will discuss the divisive tactics used by the Israel lobby and what concerned citizens can do to push for a more peaceful and just American policy.

The Israel lobby, spearheaded by AIPAC, conflates legitimate criticism of Israel’s human rights violations with anti-Semitism and American Jews are seeking to highlight the difference by participating in this alternative event.

Scheduled speakers include: Holocaust survivor Hedy Epstein, Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb, Jewish Voice for Peace Director Rebecca Vilkomerson, co-author of The Israel Lobby Dr. John Mearsheimer, human rights advocate Anna Baltzer, policy analyst Phyllis Bennis, Mondoweiss blogger and author Phil Weiss, Israeli cofounder of “Who Profits?” Dalit Baum, and others (full schedule available: http://bit.ly/lMTtNC).

Call Powerful Israel Lobby AIPAC a Barrier to Peace

Protests and Events Planned Throughout Week

Washington, DC – CODEPINK, along with a coalition of over 100 peace activist groups, plan to protest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, when he visits the nation’s capital later this week. The groups are calling on President Obama to respect Palestinian human rights and the recent unity agreement and not to stand in the way of the vote on the PLO’s request for full member status for Palestine. Netanyahu has blasted the Palestinian unity deal and has been visiting other countries for the last two weeks on his way to the U.S., asking them not to support Palestine’s wishes for sovereign status.

“The Palestinian people have demanded that their leaders stop the in-fighting, which they did, and are calling for their right to self-determination. Palestinians deserve the same democratic rights that people all over the Arab world are fighting for,” says CODEPINK cofounder Medea Benjamin. “Netanyahu and the Israel lobby, spearheaded by AIPAC, represent a one-sided policy of ‘Israel right or wrong’ that is no longer tenable. We are asking our lawmakers to be on our side: the side of peace and justice.”