Several declared 2020 Democratic presidential candidates confirmed on March 21 that they will not be attending the March 24-26 AIPAC [American Israel Public Affairs Committee] conference, the same day a progressive group called for a boycott of the conference.
The Jerusalem Post reports that Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) as well as former Rep. Robert Francis “Beto” O’Rourke all confirmed on March 21 that they will not be attending the conference. Harris spoke at the March 2017 AIPAC conference. Other declared Democratic presidential candidates such as Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) have all spoken at prior AIPAC conferences but have not said if they are attending the upcoming conference.
MoveOn.org, a self-described “social justice” organization, called for Democratic presidential candidates to boycott the upcoming AIPAC conference on March 21.
“It’s no secret that AIPAC has worked to hinder diplomatic efforts like the Iran deal, is undermining Palestinian self-determination, and inviting figures actively involved in human rights violations to its stage,” Iram Ali, MoveOn Political Action’s campaign director, said in a statement to Politico.
Ali also told NBC News, “You cannot be a progressive and support AIPAC because of the policies that they’ve supported.” However, he told NBC that attending the AIPAC conference will be only one of several “benchmarks” they would be using when they decide to endorse a candidate.
Politico noted that “MoveOn’s move may be largely symbolic, as there is no evidence candidates planned to attend” the upcoming conference.
“In past political cycles, presidential candidates have tended to appear at the annual conference during election years rather than off years,” the Politico report states. “Hillary Clinton appeared at the 2016 conference, and both she and Barack Obama appeared at the 2008 conference.
Halie Soifer, executive director of the Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA), said in a March 21 podcast with National Journal’s Josh Kraushaar, “We disagree with [MoveOn’s] approach, just as we disagree with boycotts of Israel.”
“Even if you disagree with the policies of any one organization, I think that by excluding yourself and urging others to not have a seat at the table, you can’t expect your voice to be heard,” Soifer said. “So I think it’s important for all organizations to participate.”
She added that support for “the U.S.-Israel relationship should remain bipartisan.”
The Progressive Zionists of the California Democratic Party said in a statement sent to the Journal, “We’re disappointed but not surprised at the call to boycott AIPAC. While we think it’s important to note the majority of Democratic candidates were not scheduled to attend in the first place, we firmly believe it is more necessary than ever to engage with institutions like AIPAC to ensure our voices are represented and heard in the United States and in Israel.”
There are currently zero declared Democratic presidential candidates speaking at the conference.
