Israel's lobby in the United States Congress, AIPAC (The American Israel Public Affairs Committee), has refused to invite opponents of Prime Minister Sharon's disengagement plan to address its annual Policy Conference. The three-day affair is underway in the Washington Hotel in Washington, D.C.
The AIPAC event, scheduled to conclude tomorrow, includes addresses by U.S. President George W. Bush, Sen. Joe Lieberman, House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, and Israeli Cabinet Ministers Ehud Olmert (Likud), Yosef Lapid (Shinui), and Meir Sheetrit (Likud). Notably absent, however, are speakers representing the view of the ruling Likud party's referendum results - namely, those opposed to a unilateral withdrawal from Gaza.
"The diversity of speakers participating in AIPAC's Policy Conference illustrates the universal appeal of our message," said AIPAC President Amy Friedkin. "At a time of unprecedented difficulty for America's democratic ally in the Middle East, the deep and abiding support for Israel in all quarters of American society is truly exemplified by this year's conference," she said.
This 'universal appeal,' however, apparently did not extend to Ministers Effie Eitam (NRP), Uzi Landau (Likud) and Natan Sharansky (Likud) - all of whom campaigned against the withdrawal plan and were specifically not invited to address the AIPAC conference. Sharansky had asked for an invitation, while Eitam and Landau merely "let it be known" that they would like to participate.
Several Knesset Members of Israel's government coalition sent a letter to the AIPAC leadership, noting that the Likud party had voted down the disengagement plan, and that the government had not yet voted on it. "We, therefore, kindly request that you do not take any stand on this issue," the MKs wrote, and "we ask that you invite at least one Governmental Minister who reflects the views of those who disagree with this plan." The letter was signed by eight MKs, including Prof. Aryeh Eldad, Gila Gamliel, Uri Ariel, Nissan Slomiansky, and Ehud Yatom.
AIPAC's response was that it was customary to invite the Prime Minister or ministers who support his policies, as well as one representative of the opposition.
Opponents of the withdrawal plan note that official government policy at present does not approve of a unilateral withdrawal, as no decision to the contrary has been made. Moreover, they maintain, Prime Minister Sharon promised before the vote to uphold the decision of the Likud membership in the referendum. They have organized a campaign to express their opposition to the AIPAC decision, in the form of faxes to Executive-Director Howard Kohr, at (202) 232-0438.
The AIPAC event, scheduled to conclude tomorrow, includes addresses by U.S. President George W. Bush, Sen. Joe Lieberman, House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, and Israeli Cabinet Ministers Ehud Olmert (Likud), Yosef Lapid (Shinui), and Meir Sheetrit (Likud). Notably absent, however, are speakers representing the view of the ruling Likud party's referendum results - namely, those opposed to a unilateral withdrawal from Gaza.
"The diversity of speakers participating in AIPAC's Policy Conference illustrates the universal appeal of our message," said AIPAC President Amy Friedkin. "At a time of unprecedented difficulty for America's democratic ally in the Middle East, the deep and abiding support for Israel in all quarters of American society is truly exemplified by this year's conference," she said.
This 'universal appeal,' however, apparently did not extend to Ministers Effie Eitam (NRP), Uzi Landau (Likud) and Natan Sharansky (Likud) - all of whom campaigned against the withdrawal plan and were specifically not invited to address the AIPAC conference. Sharansky had asked for an invitation, while Eitam and Landau merely "let it be known" that they would like to participate.
Several Knesset Members of Israel's government coalition sent a letter to the AIPAC leadership, noting that the Likud party had voted down the disengagement plan, and that the government had not yet voted on it. "We, therefore, kindly request that you do not take any stand on this issue," the MKs wrote, and "we ask that you invite at least one Governmental Minister who reflects the views of those who disagree with this plan." The letter was signed by eight MKs, including Prof. Aryeh Eldad, Gila Gamliel, Uri Ariel, Nissan Slomiansky, and Ehud Yatom.
AIPAC's response was that it was customary to invite the Prime Minister or ministers who support his policies, as well as one representative of the opposition.
Opponents of the withdrawal plan note that official government policy at present does not approve of a unilateral withdrawal, as no decision to the contrary has been made. Moreover, they maintain, Prime Minister Sharon promised before the vote to uphold the decision of the Likud membership in the referendum. They have organized a campaign to express their opposition to the AIPAC decision, in the form of faxes to Executive-Director Howard Kohr, at (202) 232-0438.