Donald Trump to address divided AIPAC, as Bernie Sanders skips pro-Israel forum

Donald Trump addresses the Republican Jewish Coalition

(Image credit: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images)

published 21 March 2016

Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump is speaking at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee's (AIPAC) annual policy conference on Monday, and not all AIPAC members are thrilled about it. Some rabbis plan to walk out when Trump takes the stage, but a lot of other attendees at the influential pro-Israel lobbying group's meeting are wary, for a variety of reasons, The New York Times reports.

Some AIPAC members don't trust that Trump is sufficiently supportive of Israel, citing his recent statement that he'd be a "neutral" negotiator between Israel and the Palestinians; others say they are disturbed by his waffling on white supremacists and his singling out of Muslims for barred entry and possible forced registration. Supporters point out that Trump has a long and amicable relationship with Jews and that his daughter Ivanka is a convert to Orthodox Judaism, the religion of her husband.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.

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