AIPAC changes its tune, will sing Hatikva at policy conference

WASHINGTON - The 4,500 participants at the annual AIPAC policy conference, which begins next week, will be singing both "Hatikvah" and "The Star Spangled Banner." The Israeli national anthem was not sung at the conference last year, provoking criticism of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee from all sides.

U.S. Vice-President Richard Cheney will be the keynote speaker at this year's conference, which will be held in the shadow of what the pro-Israel lobby organization perceives as the twin threats to the country - Hamas and Iran's nuclear program.

Last year's decision to skip "Hatikvah" has been linked to the investigation at the time into senior AIPAC officials and a desire to avoid any suspicion of dual loyalties.

The tradition of singing the Israeli national anthem at AIPAC gatherings began many years ago, and it was upheld at a large convention of the organization's activists held in Los Angeles a few months ago.

No major Israeli politicians will be attending next week's conference because of the proximity to the Israeli elections. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was at last year's conference.

In addition to Cheney, the conference will feature senior members of Congress such as the new House majority leader, John Boehner of Ohio; the majority and minority whips, Roy Blunt and Steny Hoyer, respectively; Senators Even Bayh and Susan Collins; former senator and former vice-presidential candidate John Edwards; and the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton.

National Security Council chairman Giora Eiland and Israel's ambassador to the UN, Dan Gillerman, will be Israel's most senior representatives at the conference.