Message From AIPAC: Drum Beat Heard Around the World

Last week, Palladian View was media-credentialed for the annual AIPAC conference in Washington, DC. AIPAC, the America Israel Public Affairs Committee, is a 64-year-old organization that is dedicated to strengthening relationships between the two countries. The 13,000 delegates to the conference heard high-level government officials from both the United States and Israel, culminating in speeches by U.S. President Barack Obama, Israeli President Shimon Peres and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Upon hearing the speeches, the mainstream media quickly accused AIPAC of “beating the drums of war.” Of course, “beating the drums of war” could be exactly what is needed. The general consensus among AIPAC attendees was that a very strong, cohesive and unified message from the US and Israel could ensure that the sanctions against Iran actually work and cause Iran to abandon their nuclear weapons program ambitions without going to war. AIPAC speakers made it clear that a nuclear-capable Iran would not be tolerated, that all options were on the table and that containment was not a viable option.

Israeli President Peres said that “if Israel is forced to fight, we will prevail.”

Prime Minister Netanyahu reminded the conference that Israel had been patiently waiting through diplomacy and sanctions, and that “Israel can’t afford to wait much longer.” He affirmed that he would “never let my people live in the shadow of annihilation.” 

President Obama asked for more patience from Israel to let heightened sanctions and diplomacy work, but added that “containment is not an option and all options are on the table.”  While both countries have the same goal—an Iran that is not nuclear-capable—the pathway to that goal and the length of time remaining to achieve it are not as clear.

What was clear throughout the conference is that both the US and Israel would prefer a peaceable solution; the international community desires that result as well. However, according to Netanyahu, the peaceable solution will not come at the cost of “gambling with Israel’s security.”  

The United States and Israel standing firm together to stand down the rogue state of Iran, currently the largest state-sponsor of terrorism, would send a clear message to a very volatile region that a nuclear armaments race is not in their future, and the ability to sell those same armaments to other terror organizations is not in their interest.

The resolve of Israel to defend itself along with the bipartisan support of the Administration and Congress to stand with Israel in its right to defend itself and the actions of Congress giving the Administration the tools necessary to force Iran to abandon its pursuit of nuclear armament could lead to a peaceable solution.

The real question for now is whether Iran heard a “beating drum” of very strong, unified and cohesive resolve from both countries.