Elderly Holocaust survivor takes on AIPAC

AIPAC is variously described as either the largest and strongest lobby group in the USA - or the second, after the gun lobby.

Either way it's influence in lobbying for Israel - the organisation is virtually joined at the hip to whatever Israel does, good, bad or even indifferent - knows few parallels or strength. Congressmen and Senators fear the organisation's influence in their re-election.

Now, here comes an elderly Holocaust survivor to take on AIPAC - and invite others to join her.

"At the end of one of my first journeys to the Israeli-occupied West Bank in 2004, I endured a shocking experience at Ben-Gurion Airport. I never imagined that Israeli security forces would abuse a 79-year-old Holocaust survivor, but they held me for five hours, and strip-searched and cavity-searched every part of my naked body. The only shame these security officials expressed was to turn their badges around so that their names were invisible."

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"The vicious discrimination brought to bear against Palestinians in the occupied territories deserves no applause from members of Congress attending the AIPAC conference. Instead, they should raise basic questions with Israeli officials about decades of inferior rights endured by Palestinians both inside Israel and the occupied territories. As for me, I will be across the road at an alternative convention called Move Over AIPAC. To sign up and join me, visit www.MoveOverAIPAC.org.

Take action by attending Move Over AIPAC, a gathering in Washington DC from May 21-24, 2011, to expose AIPAC and build the vision for a new US foreign policy in the Middle East! More information can be found at www.MoveOverAIPAC.org."

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