Progressive advocacy group MoveOn is calling on 2020 Democratic presidential candidates to skip this year’s American Israel Public Affairs Committee policy conference.
In a series of tweets on Wednesday, the group cited four reasons for Democrats not to attend, including the conference’s links to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the millions of dollars AIPAC spent to defeat the Iran nuclear deal, its peddling of “anti-Muslim and anti-Arabic rhetoric,” and its refusal “to condemn the anti-Semitism of Republicans.”
“It’s time for progressives to recognize where their base stands––which means upholding progressive principles on domestic AND foreign policy,” MoveOn wrote.
MoveOn is calling on 2020 presidential candidates to not attend the AIPAC conference.
Here are 4 reasons why:
— MoveOn (@MoveOn) March 20, 2019
#2
AIPAC has been known to peddle anti-Muslim and anti-Arab rhetoric while giving platforms to those involved in human rights abuses.Source: https://t.co/Jt7uah6leC
— MoveOn (@MoveOn) March 20, 2019
#3
AIPAC conference is headlined by Benjamin Netanyahu––under whose leadership Israel may have committed war crimes.Source: https://t.co/CPx6Rew6Zu
— MoveOn (@MoveOn) March 20, 2019
#4
AIPAC has refused to condemn the anti-Semitism of Republicans, such as Trump’s friend and adviser Steve Bannon.Source: https://t.co/P7RpU5xELC
— MoveOn (@MoveOn) March 20, 2019
The ask comes after widespread condemnation of Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., who was accused of being anti-Semitic after making comments critical of supporters of Israel.
It’s unclear how many, if any, Democratic presidential candidates plan to attend the conference of the pro-Israel lobbying group, which takes place Sunday through Tuesday in Washington, D.C.
Hillary Clinton attended the conference in 2016, before she was named the Democratic nominee. She and former President Barack Obama appeared at the 2008 conference.
Dozens of U.S. members of Congress are slated to speak at the conference this year.
AIPAC, a bipartisan lobbying group, says its mission is “to strengthen, protect and promote the U.S.-Israel relationship in ways that enhance the security of the United States and Israel.”
