After AIPAC and J Street, Israel's third lobby: ZPAC?

On March 2, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to leave for the United States for his traditional standing ovation performance before the delegates of AIPAC's annual conference. But he is also headed for a more daunting mission, to wit, his seasonal meeting with a much less sympathetic partner — US President Barack Obama. We will touch on this crucial meeting later, but first there is a story relating to the AIPAC conference. While the idea is still embryonic and has yet to become operative, it is nevertheless out there. The overtures are under way, donors are lining up and plans are being spun: America's right-wing Jewry is talking about establishing its own AIPAC, a counterweight to J Street. The temporary name is ZPAC, a jest of sorts, something like, "If they are A, then we are Z."

A right-wing Jewish attorney from Florida by the name of Joseph Sabag is said to be at the front of this nascent venture, yet behind this front are much more prominent names, some of whom are past — and maybe also present — donors to Netanyahu. This is an interesting idea, which, if materialized, could rock American Jewry to an extent.