AIPAC 2017 (continued)

I don't have time or energy for a long post - AIPAC is way more tiring than I imagined. The first session started at 8am and we got back to our apartment around 9:30. But I wanted to write a short report before I forget the first (and second) impressions. It is incredibly interesting, incredibly educational, and in a way reassuring. Many of my convictions and opinions were reaffirmed, others were somewhat shaken and a few shifted significantly, so the time is certainly not wasted. I fell in love several times - with Alan Dershowitz, Stephen Harper (former Canadian prime minister, how could they elect that idiot instead), with the president of Rwanda and foreign minister of the Republic of Togo, and with the Palestinian by the name of Ghaith Al-Omari (this gives some idea of the diversity of the speakers). My latest and greatest passion though is Nikki Haley. She spoke today and received by far the warmest welcome and endless standing ovations. She said that she knew about the anti-Israel bias at the UN of course, but did not realize how utterly ridiculous it was till she witnessed it first hand. After one of the standing ovations (the poor lady hardly had a chance to speak), she said that she is very grateful for all the love and warm welcome, but (and this is practically the exact quote) we have to understand that all she did was speak the truth. A very well known character in a very well known book said that правду говорить легко и приятно but in real life more often than not it comes as a rare breath of fresh air after being stuck in a stuffy room for a long long time. This is how several speakers referred to Nikky. An amazing woman. Trump gets a lot of brownie points for appointing her.

Tomorrow we are going to lobby on the Capitol Hill. Will meet with John Kennedy, Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren. A member of our delegation said that congressmen really pay attention to the number of people who show up, so I really encourage everyone who is remotely interested to attend next year. I am definitely coming back and bringing the kids.