Lobbying group hopes to rally more support for Israel

Friday, May 3, 2002 | 9:25 a.m.

The head of the lobbying arm of Americans in support of Israel hopes his visit next week to Las Vegas will bring about more unity in the Jewish community to support the Middle Eastern nation.

But an official of the Jewish Federation of Las Vegas says that while his group supports the efforts and concerns of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the local Jewish community already is "100 percent unified" behind Israel.

Still, the Jewish Federation, an umbrella organization for local Jewish groups, says it will listen intently as AIPAC Executive Director Howard Kohr outlines his organization's plan of attack Monday at the Venetian, federation Executive Vice President Meyer Bodoff said.

Kohr said his speech will be a rallying cry.

"We need to organize -- get people motivated. We need greater unity nationwide. We all must get together to get things done in support of Israel," he said in a phone interview.

"Nevada is important because it is getting another congressional seat and because Las Vegas has the fastest growing Jewish community in the United States."

AIPAC is not a political action committee, raising money to contribute to politicians. It has, however, been called one of the more influential groups on Middle Eastern issues on Capitol Hill in recent years. The New York Times has labeled AIPAC the most important organization affecting America's relationship with Israel.

Kohr, who joined AIPAC in 1987 as a lobbyist and has served as executive director since 1996, has helped navigate several bills successfully through Congress, including significant foreign aid money for Israel. He also has helped develop sanctions against states that sponsor terrorism.

"As targets of terrorism, the United States and Israel share strong common bonds and must work together," Kohr said, noting that Israel was among the first countries to sympathize with and express an outpouring of support for the United States following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

In recent months, as hostilities have heightened along the West Bank, Palestinian suicide bombers have targeted civilian areas of major Israeli cities. AIPAC, in turn, has stepped up its efforts to lobby American leaders.

Kohr speaks highly of President Bush's "steadfast support" of Israel, even though Bush has called on Israel to withdraw from Palestinian territory.

"I think he (Bush) has done a remarkable job holding firm under extensive pressure by (factions in) Europe and the Middle East who want him to distance himself from Israel," Kohr said.

A recent Gallup/CBS News Poll shows that 50 percent of Americans sympathize with Israel, while 15 percent side with the Palestinians. However, that same poll found that 67 percent of Americans believe Israel's military reactions to terrorist attacks were justified.

"Israel has a right to exist with secure borders," Kohr said. "Israel cannot accept a peace that will result in its destruction.

"Those of us who engage in these issues believe that a day will come when Israel and its neighbors will live in peace. But that is up to the leadership on the other side. And the way it looks now, that peace won't come soon."