AIPAC pres. discusses Israel

Last night, over 40 members of Penn's community turned out at the Hillel Auditorium to hear Lonny Kaplan, president of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee -- the pro-Israel lobby in Washington, D.C. -- speak about important issues facing the pro-Israeli community. The event, sponsored by Penn's Israel Public Affairs Committee, offered a "great opportunity" for Penn students to learn, said College junior Imri Eisner, president of PennPac. Because of his work in Washington, Kaplan was able to offer an "insider's view" on issues, Eisner said. Kaplan explained that the recently signed Wye Plantation Agreement -- which obligates Israel to withdraw from more of the West Bank in exchange for Palestinian pledges to adopt stricter measures designed to protect the Jewish State's security -- was a step in the direction toward peace. But, he warned, the peace process still "has challenges for the U.S. and pro-Israeli community." He stressed the importance of preventing a "unilateral declaration of independence" by the Palestinians because of the consequences it would have for Israel. Among these, Kaplan said, is that if the Palestinians declared themselves independent, Israel would have to then worry about protecting itself against the new nation. AIPAC, Kaplan explained, has also been lobbying Congress over the past 18 months to set up an even greater defense system with Israel to defend against possible missile attacks by Iran. Such attacks, he said, would pose a "danger to all allies in the Middle East." Financially, U.S. economic aid to Israel has long been essential to the country. particularly when it was hampered by an Arab economic boycott, he said. Since 1996, however, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been phasing out this aid, since the nation has begun to financially support itself. All three of these issues can be connected, Kaplan explained, because together they "all provide for a more secure Israel and stronger America." U.S. elections also affect the Middle East, he said. Elections which reduce the number of pro-Israel lawmakers, for example, are of concern to AIPAC. One of the most important issues Kaplan discussed was the current situation in Iraq, and the possibility of another U.S.-Iraqi war. This war, compared to the Gulf War in 1990, would be "substantial and sustained," and would also pose a serious threat to Israel. Kaplan ended the evening by taking questions from students. He stressed the importance of speaking at Penn because "a lot of what AIPAC does relates to student programs," referring to the importance of student groups increasing awareness about issues concerning Israel. He also praised Penn's "active, committed group of students." Last night's speech made a strong impression on the students. College senior Lisa Sandell said she attended because she was "very interested in Israeli politics and Israeli-American relations," and found that Kaplan offered a "lot of insight." College sophomore Adam Magnus agreed that the speech was "very informative," and he believed that "AIPAC is a good voice" and a "necessity for the Jewish population of America." On December 7, PennPac will host a speech on the future of Jerusalem by Ehud Olmert, the city's mayor.