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Message: <br /><br /> If you are having trouble reading this email, you may view this article online at: http://www.jweekly.com/18973/full/18973/america-israel-in-same-war-aipac-head-says-here/ <br /><br /> <b>America, Israel in same war, AIPAC head says here</b> <br /> Friday, December 13, 2002 | by <p>JOE ESKENAZI </p> <br /><br /><p>Howard Kohr says he can work with Democrats, Republicans or what have you—so long as they stay in office.<br /><br /> "Our greatest challenge [isn't] parties shifting but more the sheer turnover taking place in Congress. Since the 1994 elections, there has been close to a 75 percent turnover in the House of Representatives," said Kohr, the executive director of the pro-Israel lobby, who was in the Bay Area this week to speak at four AIPAC membership events.<br /><br /> "More than half the Senate was elected in the past 10 years. New people come in, you establish a relationship and they're gone. And you start again."<br /><br /> On the other hand, Kohr pointed out, it's not as if members of Congress come into office as unknown entities. Every single candidate in a close race wrote a position paper on U.S.-Israel relations this election cycle.<br /><br /> Kohr, who works out of the nation's capital, has headed the American Israel Public Affairs Committee since 1996 and has served the organization for 14 years. Fortune magazine has ranked his organization the second-most influential interest group in Washington for two consecutive years. While here, he spoke at AIPAC events in San Francisco, Sacramento, Oakland and San Jose.<br /><br /> During an interview at the Bulletin, Kohr wouldn't say if the U.S. government has ever been more unabashedly pro-Israel than it is now, but he does feel the United States "has shown tremendous support at this very difficult time."<br /><br /> The American people have learned that the United States and Israel are fighting the same war against terrorism, and, as the al-Qaida attack in Kenya has proven, the same enemies, he said.<br /><br /> "This is something that's really easy for Americans to understand. Hezbollah has killed Americans in various places and they threaten Israel now. The situation in Kenya with al-Qaida demonstrates that not only are they going after Americans but Israeli and Jewish targets as well.<br /><br /> "The fact they used a missile in an attempt to take down a civilian airliner sent a shudder through virtually every domestic carrier," he added. "Now we have to think what steps we need to take to make sure that doesn't happen. Even in Israel they need to think more seriously."<br /><br /> As a sign of Israel's trust of America, the necessity of a U.S.-led war in Iraq is "an issue of consensus" among Israeli leaders, despite the obvious risks posed to Israel.<br /><br /> With no end to Israel's woes in sight, pro-Israel Americans have to do everything they can to help, said Kohr. Boycotting a store that refuses to stock Israeli products isn't enough, he says. One should actively seek out Israeli products to purchase—preferably in Israel.<br /><br /> "If you're not going to go to Israel, which we argue you should be doing, then the least you can do is buy Israeli products," he said.<br /><br /> "No grocery chain in America doesn't have Israeli products, from jellies to crackers."<br /><br /> There are other ways to stand up for Israel than with one's pocketbook, however. Kohr claims pro-Israeli students have seized the high ground in the campus battles over the Mideast.<br /><br /> When asked if pro-Palestinians were making progress, he answered "A year ago, I'd have said, 'Jesus, you're absolutely right.' But what happened last year, and certainly the beginning of this year is this thing has been stopped in its tracks."<br /><br /> At every university that sprouted a major divestment movement, a larger anti-divestment movement has countered it—though "this is not as interesting to the general reporter as students attacking Israel."<br /><br /> And while divestment seekers have grabbed headlines, Kohr contends they've made little real progress.<br /><br /> "Who will succeed? Will universities divest themselves or not? Are we going to persuade radical students on campus to be less radical? I don't' think so. We will make sure divestment never happens," he said.<br /><br /> "We're clearly on the offensive here. Divestment is not happening and many universities are looking to add more business in Israel. There's always been anti-Israel sentiment…but the good news is it remains, by and large, on the fringes of campus and political life. It is not something most Americans are sympathetic to."</p> <p> </p>

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