Some facts and figures from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s annual policy conference, held May 22-24 in Washington, D.C.:
• With more than 10,000 people in attendance, it was AIPAC’s largest conference ever. A decade ago, the conference fit into a single hotel ballroom; this week, Washington’s largest convention center, the downtown Washington Convention Center, could barely fit everyone.
• With so many attendees, college students who were there were put in a separate banquet hall downstairs but linked to the main hall by video.
• The list of those who spoke included: President Barack Obama, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Sen. Robert Casey (D-Pa.), Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.), House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), former CIA director Jim Woolsey and former Ambassador to Israel Martin Indyk.
• Sixty-seven senators and 286 members of the House of Representatives attended the gala dinner May 23. Also, there were some Obama administration officials, Knesset members and diplomats from around the world. Former NBA All-Star Allan Houston helped emcee the evening.
• The dinner marked the world’s largest, single kosher meal. Stuffed Cornish hen was the main course.
• Newt Gingrich, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) hosted after-parties in conference rooms, with kosher brownies and chocolate chip cookies. Much of the buzz? About the next presidential election.
• On May 24, thousands of AIPAC activists headed to Capitol Hill for lobbying, with meetings in all 100 Senate offices and 426 out of 435 House offices. One of the main things on their plate: tightening Iran sanctions. — jta