Israeli lawmaker vilified for addressing anti-AIPAC protest

An Israeli lawmaker who was flown into Washington DC by AIPAC to participate in their annual conference has been vilified by the Israeli right for addressing an anti-AIPAC demonstration outside the venue.

Tamar Zandberg, who is a member of the Meretz party, was in the US capital to speak on a panel at the pro-Israeli lobby conference. She has been called “human trash” and ‘filth’ for speaking at a rally organised by the Jewish campaign group IfNotNow who were protesting outside last Sunday.

#ResistAipac: Protestors condemn AIPAC’s annual conference

At the demonstration, protesters carried signs in both English and Hebrew with slogans including “Reject the occupation”, “Reject AIPAC” and “Reject Trump”. Another sign urged “Free Palestine”, reported Haaretz.

IfNotNow describe themselves as “young Jews angered by the overwhelmingly hawkish response of American Jewish institutions”. On its website it states that the group “came together under the banner of IfNotNow to demonstrate their resistance”.  They oppose AIPAC and urge all American Jews to stop supporting the occupation.

Zandberg appeared briefly before the demonstrators and spoke through a megaphone.

“I told them what I also said at the AIPAC panel: Support for Israel means coming out against the occupation,” she told Haaretz.

There is no more patriotic action than opposing the occupation.

Zandberg was the first Meretz member to be invited to AIPAC in a long time. But her participation in the protest sparked criticism in several media outlets as well as denunciations and curses on social media.

Member of Knesset Tamar Zandberg came outside to be with the #JewishResistance. Tamar, thank you for standing with IfNotNow. pic.twitter.com/P9v2xKmgOW

— IfNotNow🔥 (@IfNotNowOrg) March 26, 2017

Army Radio wondered why she had taken AIPAC’s money to attend a demonstration where protesters carried signs against the organisation. To that, Zandberg replied: “I came as a public representative, and AIPAC knows who I represent. What, do you [at Army Radio] think my views can be bought by financing my trip?”