WASHINGTON — Hillary Rodham Clinton is the first confirmed presidential candidate to speak at AIPAC’s annual conference.
“AIPAC has extended invitations to all of the active presidential candidates of both parties, and we will inform you as others confirm their participation in this year’s conference,” the American Israel Public Affairs Committee said Wednesday in a statement.
The pro-Israel lobby’s conference takes place March 20-22.
Clinton, the former secretary of state running for the Democratic nomination for president, has long had close relations with the lobby.
Her rival, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., this week called for a more even-handed U.S. posture in brokering peace between Israel and the Palestinians, while campaigning among Arab Americans in Michigan.
On the Republican side, Donald Trump, the billionaire real estate developer who is the front-runner, has said that he will be neutral when he approaches the conflict, although he otherwise says he is pro-Israel.
Trump’s rivals – Ohio Gov. John Kasich, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz – all have forged close ties to pro-Israel Republicans.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was to have addressed the conference in person, but in recent days announced that he will speak from Israel via satellite feed.
Photo: Marc Nozell Flickr
