ZOA’s Microscope on AIPAC
Mort Klein, president of ZOA, recently issued a diatribe against AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) that ended with a quote from British statesman Winston Churchill: “Those who appease the crocodile will simply be eaten last.” Despite Klein’s short shrift appreciation for their work to defeat Congressional candidates that are hostile to Israel, in a long-winded rant he condemned AIPAC for a variety of faults that he deems to be “Left” of his position and worthy of calling out.
Mr. Klein might consider the wisdom of another well-known Englishman, William Shakespeare. In his play The Tempest (Act 2, Scene 2), written in 1611, we read, “Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows.” The Bard was suggesting that when one is in a difficult situation, he might choose to associate with people that they would normally avoid.
Sure, Mort Klein can find fault with AIPAC’s actions and positions, but best he remembers they are battling “in the arena” as a force lobbying on behalf of a strong American-Israel relationship and promoting worthy candidates. All the financial, intelligence, industrial and diplomatic cooperation so important to the USA and Israel can be credited in large part to AIPAC’s skillful efforts.
We can wonder if Mort Klein appreciates the difficulty navigating within the American two-party system, dealing with conflicting forces and adjusting to a variety of presidents. But he is committing the foolishness of allowing his definition of “great” to be the enemy of a practical, realistic “good.” He is carelessly sniping at AIPAC, the most effective organization that has effectively promoted that strong American-Israel relationship.
Mort Klein’s steady and long held dislike for AIPAC places him in the company of their other haters including progressive Democrats like Sanders, Mamdani, El-Sayed, Ocasio-Cortez, and Omar. It seems he might ideologically break bread with the likes of Republican Thomas Massie and pundit Tucker Carlson. His vitriol for AIPAC places himself and ZOA adjacent to the Israel detracting organizations like J-Street, Jewish Voice for Peace and IfNotNow.
The ZOA disapproval of AIPAC is like the “political horseshoe theory” that observes how the far-left and far-right ideologies are closer to each other with a convergence in their extremist outlooks. It’s what makes Far-Right Carlson and Far-Left Sanders “bedfellows.”
The megatrends confronting the Jewish people and Israel are rife with existential dangers. Antisemitism in America is rampant and is gaining traction worldwide. In America, the election of Islamic radical NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the rise of other DSA extremists are hard to explain. Israel’s fight for survival continues with post October 7th war on seven fronts. While Iran’s nuclear program has been set back, a theocratic drive for death to America and Israel remains central to their goals.
Despite all the menaces, Mort Klein’s ZOA readily lists their AIPAC grievances, including issues regarding Oslo, Two-States, Prime Ministers, the Knesset, and Gaza. Have they missed the forest for the trees? Just whose side is he on? Who does he think is the real enemy?
Many have heard Mort Klein speak in front of a mostly Jewish audience and criticize AIPAC more often and with more enmity than Hamas or Iran. There well might be valid points of difference between AIPAC and ZOA, but the deadliness of Israel’s military and diplomatic enemies ought to warrant his attention and wrath.
Is it ZOA’s mission to be AIPAC’s judge and jury? Mort Klein and ZOA ought to refocus their microscope away for AIPAC and aim at the real malignant foes.
