In what may be the largest pro-Israel gathering in the world (Israel included), 5,000 pro-Israel activists from all 50 states will descend on Washington this weekend for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee's (AIPAC) annual policy conference and to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the pro-Israel lobbying organization.

When I traveled with then-Vice President Al Gore to this meeting in 2000, he was met with thunderous applause and a standing ovation, especially when he chastised the Bush Senior administration for promoting “linkage,” the use of loan guarantees to pressure Israel to make concessions to the Palestinians.