AIPAC condemns

AIPAC condemns Trump attack on Obama

'We take great offense to those that are levied against the United States of America from our stage,' AIPAC's president says on Tuesday.

By SARAH WHEATON

The leaders of the largest American pro-Israel lobby distanced themselves on Tuesday morning from Donald Trump’s attacks on President Barack Obama at their policy conference.

Trump addressed the annual Washington gathering of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee on Monday night, and some of his biggest applause lines were his characteristically blunt critiques of Obama, who he said “may be the worst thing to ever happen to Israel, believe me, believe me.”

AIPAC president Lillian Pinkus read a statement from the stage on Tuesday to disavow Trump’s remarks.

“We say unequivocally that we do not countenance ad hominem attacks, and we take great offense to those that are levied against the United States of America from our stage,” Pinkus said. “While we may have policy differences, we deeply respect the office of the president of the United States and our president, Barack Obama.”

She also castigated attendees who responded positively to Trump’s comments.

“There are people in our AIPAC family who were deeply hurt last night, and for that, we are deeply sorry,” Pinkus said. “We are disappointed that so many people applauded a sentiment that we neither agree with or condone.”

In his remarks, Trump attacked the Iran deal, as well as Obama and Hillary Clinton. Both, he said, “have treated Israel very, very badly.”

Trump’s speech at AIPAC put the group in an awkward position for many reasons. His harsh rhetoric has prompted consternation among American Jews, many of whom see echoes of Holocaust-era anti-Semitism in his attacks on Muslims and immigrants. Ahead of the conference, supporters of Israel were concerned about his previously stated plans to take a neutral position in negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians.

At the same time, Trump’s skill at channeling anger was once again on display at AIPAC. While the American Jewish community tends to skew Democratic on most issues, Israel has become a growing point of contention, and Obama has fought perceptions that he’s insufficiently supportive of the Jewish state. AIPAC had lobbied against his signature Iran deal.

Pinkus said that Trump’s comments hurt the group’s efforts to broaden the base of the pro-Israel movement.

“Let us take this moment to pledge to each other that in this divisive and tension-filled political season, we will not allow those who wish to divide our movement from the left or from the right will not succeed in doing so,” she concluded.