CNN writes: “Several groups of rabbis and Jewish religious leaders are planning to protest Donald Trump’s speech to a major pro-Israel conference in Washington on Monday, accusing the presidential candidate of encouraging hatred.”
See also: “Bernie’s bold move: Sanders only candidate to skip AIPAC pro-Israel conference,” and “Here are 9 hatemongers — besides Trump — who will be honored guests at this year’s AIPAC summit.”
ABBA SOLOMON, abbasolomon at gmail.com, @Abba_A_Solomon
Solomon is author of The Speech, and Its Context: Jacob Blaustein’s Speech ‘The Meaning of Palestine Partition to American Jews’. He said today: “Donald Trump speaking at AIPAC is a surreal event that really should be welcomed for its clarity. AIPAC fronting for a fictitious Israel of justice and peace-seeking matches rich boy Trump’s ‘tough guy’ persona of champion of the American Everyman.
“Both Trump and AIPAC retail cruelty and misdirection. It’s hard to imagine they will find synergy, but frightening if they do. Becoming enmeshed in U.S. politics is nothing new for AIPAC, but may have consequence for the U.S. Jewish community this time as they are willingly engaging with an unstable avatar of ‘white nationalism.'”
NAOMI DANN, naomi at jewishvoiceforpeace.org, @naomi_dann, @jvplive
Rabbi BRANT ROSEN, ravboaz at comcast.net
Dann is media coordinator at Jewish Voice for Peace, Rabbi Rosen is the co-chair of the group’s Rabbinic Council. The group recently put out a statement, “Trump’s Islamophobic Rhetoric Goes Hand in Hand with AIPAC’s Agenda,” which states: “Many of the most alarming statements and policy proposals Donald Trump has made are already reality in Israel, and supported by AIPAC. Israel already refuses to open its doors to Syrian refugees (many of whom are of Palestinian origin), allows privileged immigration status for one religious group over others, is building highly militarized walls … and allows a demagogue leader to get away with using blatant racism to get votes.” See: “On Israeli election day, Netanyahu warns of Arabs voting ‘in droves.’“