Don't get me wrong, I can't wait to head to DC to cover the upcoming AIPAC policy conference. It's being promoted as "three of the most important days affecting Israel's future" and I'm looking forward to it. But only two weeks away, they seem to be having a hard time holding on to speakers.
The Jerusalem Post is reporting that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not coming to DC for the conference. Evidently once President Obama made it clear he would not meet with Netanyahu on this visit, he decided to cancel. He is trying to foist it off on President Shimon Peres (the Israeli presidency is a mostly ceremonial position) and even Peres has "not yet decided whether to accept the invitation." Strange. Sending Avigdor Lieberman seems to be out of the question, so it looks like we'll have to make sure with a video-taped message.
Now questions are being raised whether AIPAC is going to lose another speaker. Spencer Ackerman has asked whether Rep. Jane Harman will still speak at the conference now that she is embroiled in an the quickly unfolding espionage wiretapping scandal? He points out that she is slated to “explore the myriad foreign policy challenges facing the United States, Israel and the world.” Could be an awkward conversation as the scandal unfolds to say the least.
Not to fear. Phil has been pushing AIPAC to invite Walt and Mearshimer to the conference to discuss their work. I agree it would be great – it's not too late to send out the invites!
