More impressively, he gave real attention to this movement. Rather
than attempting to simply de-legitimatize it with charges of
anti-Semitism, he recognized its true motivation: “This is more than
the simple spewing of hatred. This is a conscious campaign to shift
policy, to transform the way Israel is treated by its friends to a
state that deserves not our support, but our contempt; not our
protection, but pressured to change its essential nature.” And even
more, he knows the movement is building steam:

No
longer is this campaign confined to the ravings of the political far
left or far right, but increasingly it is entering the American
mainstream: an ordinary political discourse on our T.V. and radio talk
shows; in the pages of our major newspapers and in countless blogs, in
town hall meetings, on campuses and city squares . . .

And I
want to be clearly understood here. I’m not saying that these
allegations have become accepted. But they have become acceptable. More
and more they are invading the mainstream discourse, becoming part of
the constant and unrelenting drumbeat against Israel. These voices are
laying the predicate for a abandonment.

Finally, Kohr threw down the gauntlet:

There
is a battle for basic perception underway, a fight to focus the lens
through which our policy makers will receive and perceive all events in
Israel and the broader Middle East. And the stakes in that battle are
nothing less than the survival of Israel, linked inexorably to the
relationship between Israel and the United States. In this battle we
are the firewall, the last rampart.

Kohr said, “in
the moment – we find our mission.” And in many ways the threat Kohr
identified was an undercurrent throughout the conference. This was seen
in the effort by AIPAC to co-opt the divestment mantle by pushing
divestment from Iran. Not only is this a focus in Congress, but on
campuses and in municipalities as well. After Kohr’s speech it was
difficult to see these as anything but a diversionary tactic to keep
attention on the real movement for divestment Kohr outlined growing
across the world. 

As with almost everything at the AIPAC
convention, Kohr’s speech was one part theater, one part policy. I do
think his presentation was a bit overblown in an effort to light a fire
under his troops as they headed into battle. But he could have chosen
many other topics to do that with. Kohr understands that the fight is
over themes and frames and that regardless of the millions put into the
AIPAC convention or the thousands of lobbyists that head off for the
Hill, once the discourse shifts and Israel is a pariah, the battle is
lost. He explained to the crowd:

You
know, we’ve all heard many times Israel accused of being a Western
outpost in the Middle East. To those who make that accusation I say you
are right. Israel is the only democratic country in the region that
looks West, that looks to the values and the vision we share of what
our society, our country should aim at and aspire to. If that
foundation of shared values is shaken, the  rationale for the policies
we pursue today will be stripped away. The reasons the United States
would continue to invest nearly $3 billion in Israel’s security; the
willingness to stand with Israel, even alone if need be; the readiness
to defend Israel’s very existence,all are undermined and undone if
Israel is seen to be unjust and unworthy. . .

Yes, we must lobby
for the particulars –Iran sanctions, peace process principles, foreign
aid –but our mission now is to do more than work our talking points.
We must add context and foundational arguments that help America’s
leaders understand the rightness of our cause. 

That
is the fight at hand, and it’s a fight that AIPAC and others have been
incredibly good at fighting. But Kohr can see the ground is shifting.
And in the end, the influence AIPAC holds over the US policy towards
Israel/Palestine may end up disintegrating as the myth of shared values
is revealed, and more people realize that funding a “Western outpost in
the Middle East” is not only no longer in our interest, but is not in
the interests of Israelis and Palestinians as well.