The question is: what does "pro-Israel" mean today?

Some try to intimidate Americans - Jews and non-Jews, elected officials and the general population - into believing that only hardline, hawkish positions are pro-Israel, and that all other positions are therefore "anti-Israel." Some try to use Israel-related issues to score partisan political points. These cynical tactics harm both the U.S. and Israel.

The most pro-Israel Americans are not those who try to constantly outflank everyone else with dogmatically hawkish positions and on Israel and the Middle East. Rather, the most pro-Israel Americans- the greatest friends of Israel - are those who understand that Israeli-Arab peace is essential to Israel's security, well-being, and viability as a Jewish state and a democracy. They are the ones who recognize and embrace this fact: sustained, credible U.S. efforts to achieve Israeli-Arab peace are an essential element of U.S. support for Israel.

Israel's first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion (quoted by Ehud Olmert on November 27, 2006) said, "I would consider it a great sin, not only towards our generation but towards future generations as well...if future generations had cause to blame the Government of Israel of missing an opportunity for peace." Pro-Israel means recognizing the tragic costs, now and for future generations, of failing to make peace.

APN believes that pro-Israel credentials are not measured in hawkish positions or anti-Arab grandstanding, but rather in support for policies that promote Israel's security, stability, and viability as a Jewish, democratic state, which requires a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. APN urges American policy makers to back policies that advance the two-state solution.

(Feb. 2011)