During the Israeli Prime Minister’s broadcasted address to AIPAC, Netanyahu voiced his deep appreciation of the ‘American Israel Public Affairs Committee’, which continually lobbies for bi-partisan support of the alliance between Washington and Jerusalem. The Israeli Prime Minister said: “Thank you for working year after year, decade after decade to strengthen the remarkable alliance between our two countries. And I can tell you that alliance has never been stronger.” / “Thank you for working to strengthen support for Israel on both sides of the aisle, Democrats and Republicans alike. That is how it has always been and that’s how it should always be.”
The Israeli leader also took the opportunity to respond to remarks made by an Islamist member of the Democratic party, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, who accused AIPAC of using its financial power to influence the leadership in Washington. According to Netanyahu: “Those who seek to defame this great organization AIPAC, those who seek to undermine American support for Israel, they must be confronted. Despite what they claim, they do not merely criticize the policies of Israel’s government. G-d I’m used to that. That happens every five minutes. They do something else. They spew venom that has long been directed at the Jewish people. Again, the Jews are cast as a force for evil. Again, the Jews are charged with disloyalty. Again, the Jews are said to have too much influence, too much power, too much money. Ladies and gentlemen, you know what the best way to respond to this kind of hatred is? We read it. We read it just a few days ago in the Book of Esther when Mordechai confronted Haman of Persia. The best way to respond to those who hate the Jews is not to bow down to them. It’s to stand up to them.”
Among the senior officials addressing the conference was U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who affirmed that Ironclad bi-partisan support of Israel will always prevail, despite the emergence of deep disagreements with her Republican counterparts on the topic. In Pelosi’s words, “From Israel’s founding to our present day, our pledge remains the same: Israel and America are connected now and forever. We will never allow anyone to make Israel a wedge issue. That pledge is proudly honored in this Congress where support for Israel remains ironclad and bipartisan.”