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One of the strongest lobbying groups, especially as a Pro-Israel Lobby, in the United States is the American-Israel Political Action Committee (AIPAC). When I was a college student in Washington, D.C., I had the pleasure of being a student member of the lobby group. It is one that I consider to be extremely important because when it really comes down to it, Israel is the United States main ally in the Middle East and Israel could use a group here in the states to help support its survival in every which way it can.

There are many issues, especially today, that are effecting the relationship between the United States and the State of Israel. One of the main issues is the growing nuclear threat from Iran not only against Israel but against the United States as well. According to AIPAC's website, www.aipac.com, AIPAC is taking action by writing letters to Condoleeza Rice and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and working with them on asking the President of the World Bank to halt guarantee's on foreign investments to the country of Iran. According to the Kirk-Rothman Letter on World Bank Funding of Iran dated January 30, 2008, this is what is said, "Iran stands in breach of two [United Nations Security Council] resolutions and, according to news reports, a third sanctions resolution is near," the letter states. "Meanwhile, the World Bank staff is undermining the Iran policies of the UNSC, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and the United States by giving technical assistance, loans and investment guarantees directly to the government of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad."

AIPAC also is doing what is necessary to support Israel's Peace Initiative. According to the AIPAC website, "More than half of the House and three-quarters of the Senate sent letters to President Bush reinforcing the key principles America should stand by as it works to help Israel achieve peace. The letters reiterate Israel's right to self-defense, call on the U.S. to stand strongly with Israel at the U.N. and urge the president to press the Arab states to do more to support Israeli-Palestinian talks." Congress, acting in bi-partisanship, over the years in the respect for Israel's right to security, has always acted in the best interest in Israel's quest for peace with its Arab neighbors, especially the Palestinians who live within the borders of the Jewish State.

AIPAC has been busy since the 1950's. According to the AIPAC website, AIPAC started as a small grass-roots lobbying group and then over the years grew to over 100,000 members. This shows that the Jewish community in the United States is doing all that it can through AIPAC to assist the Jewish State in its quest for peace, continued defense and security as well as continuing to insist that the United States and Israel continue to share intelligence reports when they are deemed necessary, especially today on the issue of Iran.

Learn more about this author, David Brown.
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