AIPAC 2013 Policy Conference

American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is a lobby whose stated mission is to "strengthen the ties between the United States and its ally Israel to the mutual benefit of both nations".  This week they held their annual policy conference, where speakers included U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

AIPAC website: Interesting to look over, includes pages on ' Why Israel Matters', 'Israel and the U.S.', 'Issues'. Read more>>

Watch the speeches from the conference: Speeches at the conference included Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, Israeli Minister of Defence Ehud Barak, and U.S. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor. View speeches here>>

News Articles

AIPAC Policy Conference Opens: The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) began its annual policy conference this morning with an appearance by Israel’s ambassador, Michael Oren, and a panel with former Middle East adviser Dennis Ross and former deputy national security adviser Elliott Abrams. Both were interviewed by former CNN anchor Frank Sesno. Read more>>

AIPAC Conference 2013: U.S., Israeli Policies Towards Iran Differ: The annual American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) Policy Conference seems to be one of the few events that see bipartisan support in Washington. This alone is a sign of the major role it plays in America’s foreign policy. But for all its power, it is not the sole driver of U.S.-Israel relations. Speaking in the stead of President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden’s address to AIPAC highlights the difference between American and Israeli hawks. Read more>>

PM to AIPAC: Israel can't wait much longer on Iran: Netanyahu vows he will never "let my people live in the shadow of annihilation," says Israel has waited years for sanctions to work. Read more>>

At AIPAC, Pledges of 'No Daylight', But Worries About The Gaps: VP Biden and others vow unyielding support for Israel, but would U.S. take military action against Iran? Read more>>

Israel-Turkey Relations

Israel And Turkey Make Nice: 26 Feb 2013 - Israel has agreed to deliver (after a three year delay) $25 million of electronics needed to complete four Turkish AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control) aircraft. The delay was caused by increasing hostility between the Islamic politicians in Turkey and Israel. This led to a sharp decline in Israeli military equipment sales to Turkey. Read more>> 

Israel 'seeks to repair ties with Turkey': 27 Feb 2013 - Israel is reported to have sent messages to the Turkish government in recent days saying it's interested in restoring "a more positive dynamic" in badly strained relations with its onetime strategic ally. Read more>>

Turkish PM Labels Zionism ‘Crime Against Humanity’ at UN Event: 28 Feb 2013 - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has once again verbally attacked Israel in a public forum, this time at a United Nations conference in Vienna. Read more>>

Israel, Turkey row over Zionism deepens rift between ex-allies: 28 Feb 2013 - Israel's prime minister accused his Turkish counterpart on Thursday of making "dark and false" statements by calling Zionism a crime against humanity - comments likely to hit efforts to repair ties between the two former allies. Read more>>

Netanyahu Condemns Erdogan's Statements on Zionism: 1 March 2013 - Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu sharply condemned on Thursday evening Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's statement about Zionism and its comparison to fascism.  Read more>>

U.S. Finds Erdogan Comments on Zionism ‘Offensive,’ Official Says: 1 March 2013 - Secretary of State John Kerry said on Friday the United States found a comment by Turkey's prime minister, likening Zionism to crimes against humanity, "objectionable", overshadowing their talks on the crisis in neighboring Syria. Read more>>