washington | New twists and turns in the case of alleged wrongdoing by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee have left many in the Jewish community baffled.

A week after allegations first broke suggesting that AIPAC was involved in the exchange of classified information from the Pentagon to Israeli officials, new reports suggest FBI investigators have been monitoring the pro-Israel lobby for more than two years.

The first question many in the Jewish community are asking is, “Why?”

“We’re pitching in the dark,” said Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. “We haven’t seen a shred of evidence.”

Much remains unknown about the origins of the investigation, hurting Jewish groups’ ability to respond and defend one of the most prominent organizations in the community.

While they work to exonerate AIPAC in the public eye, Jewish leaders say they also must make sure the issue won’t affect the way they do business. Groups worry that they, too, could be targeted for investigation or left to deal with potentially changed perceptions of the organized American Jewish community. In addition, the case reinforces the need to play by the rules on security matters.

Jewish leaders said talks are ongoing in regard to new ways to defend AIPAC and the Jewish community in both public and private contexts.

Quietly, there is deep concern in Jewish circles about the effect the investigation will have, no matter how it plays out, on Jewish groups’ ability to function.

“It really has done a considerable amount of harm, no matter what the outcome is,” said Barry Jacobs, director of strategic studies at the American Jewish Committee. “It’s going to circumscribe our ability to do what any nonprofit does, which is obtain information and exchange views.”

Chief among the concerns is whether other Jewish entities might be under investigation without their knowledge, or are being monitored in relation to this case.

“If they are watching AIPAC, how many other Jewish organizations are they watching as well?” asked Tom Neumann, executive director of the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs.

Congressional officials say they’ll take a wait-and-see approach toward AIPAC, but are skeptical about the investigation. One Democratic congressional aide said if the issue under scrutiny was a policy discussion about Iran, as has been reported, the line between legal and illegal dialogue is pretty thin.

Publicly, Jewish leaders remain solidly behind AIPAC. Several Jewish organizations have released statements supporting the work AIPAC has done over the years, and most others have expressed similar thoughts when asked by reporters.

AIPAC is one of the best-known Jewish organizations in the country, respected for its strong ties to government officials, especially members of Congress. While some Jewish groups resent AIPAC’s ability to set the Jewish community’s agenda on Middle East matters, or don’t always agree with its tactics, there is strong sentiment that any negative attention for AIPAC will hurt all Jewish groups’ efforts.

Jewish leaders now are minimizing the investigation, suggesting it can’t be of real merit because it has been going on for two years without arrests.

AIPAC is hoping to weather the storm by proving its strength as an organization. In an appeal to contributors Tuesday, Sept. 7, AIPAC leaders said decision-makers in Washington will look at AIPAC’s financial strength to gauge its overall viability.

“We cannot abide any suggestion that American citizens should be perceived as being involved in illegal activities simply for seeking to participate in the decisions of their elected leaders, or the officials who work for them,” read the letter, signed by AIPAC’s president, Bernice Manocherian, and executive director, Howard Kohr.

“That is our right as citizens of the greatest democracy in the history of mankind. That is a right we will proudly exercise. That is a right we will staunchly defend.’