Former Israeli army chief Benny Gantz, a top contender for the premiership in Israel's upcoming national elections, is set to take the stage at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) policy conference on Monday in what will be seen as the first major test of his international stature.
Gantz, who polls project may lead his bloc of parties to become largest faction in the Knesset and possibly unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel's April 9 national election, is expected to use the platform to address the security situation currently brewing on the Gaza border after a rocket launched from the Palestinian enclave struck a home in central Israel, injuring seven people.
"Netanyahu has lost his grip on Israel security and Israeli citizens are again experiencing sirens and a direct hit on a house," Gantz said in a statement from Washington.
"There is a security bankruptcy and Netanyahu needs to pack up immediately and go back to Israel to deal with this serious escalation."
Netanyahu, who had been expected to address the confab on Tuesday, cancelled his appearance in order to return to Israel to oversee its response to the rocket attack.
Gantz's address comes on the second day of the pro-Israel lobby's annual policy conference, which brings together a crowd of some 18,000 participants and hundreds of international officials for three days of discussions and debates on advancing the US-Israel relationship.
Also addressing the conference Monday morning will be U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, former US envoy to the U.N. Nikki Haley and New York Mayor Bill de Blasio.
Monday's evening session will see addresses by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo as well as top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer and Republican House leader Kevin McCarthy.
WATCH A LIVE STREAM OF THE AIPAC CONFERENCE HERE
Speakers on Tuesday will include US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi.
While support for Israel in US politics has historically always been bipartisan, a new wave of young progressive Democrats vocally critical of Israel's policies have raised concern of a growing divide in support for the Jewish state.
Speaking at the opening of the conference on Sunday, AIPAC CEO Howard Kohr hit back at critics of the powerful lobby, accusing them of seeking to isolate Israel on the international stage.
The influence of the powerful pro-Israel lobby became a matter of debate in the US last month after freshman Minnesota congresswoman Ilhan Omar -- one of only two women in Congress -- insinuated money is the reason US lawmakers support Israel.
Those remarks, along with later comments in which Omar suggested pro-Israel activists and lawmakers have "allegiance to a foreign country", were widely condemned as playing into anti-Semitic tropes and sparked acrimonious debate about the rhetoric employed in criticizing Israel policy.
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