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nuClear threat from Iran.
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Washington and Tel Aviv differ on their assessments ofIran's nuclear weapons development. Israel
considers Iran's nuclear ambitions its No. 1security threat, and the issue is the top priority for AlPAC.
The Bush administration takes the Iran nuclear threat seriously, but its intelligence estimates classify the
danger as less imminent than do the Israeli assessments.
What mystifies those who know AIPAC is how one ofthe savviest~ best-connected lobbying
organizations in Washington has found itselfemrieshed in a spy investigation.
Although never previously implicated in a potential espionage case, AlPAC has frequently been a
subject ofcontroversy. Its close ties to Israeland its aggressive advocacy ofIsraeli government positions
has drawn criticism that it should be registered as an agent ofa foreign country. Others, noting its ability
to organize significant backing for or against candidates running for national office, have demanded th~t
it be classified as a political action committee.
So far the group has avoided both classifications, either ofwhich would impose major restrictions on its
activities.
Three years ago, Fortune magazine ranked AIPAC fourth on its list ofWashington's 25 most powerful
lobbying groups -- ahe~d ofsuch organizations as th~ AFL-CIO and the American Medical Assn.
Times staffwriters Mark Mazzetti and Tyler Marshall in Washington contributed to this report.
CORRECTION-DATE: September 05~ 2004
CORRECTION:
Lobbying group -- An article in Friday's Section A about allegations ofIsraeli spying in the United
States misidentified the American Israel Public Affairs Committ~e, a pro-Israel·lobbying group, as the
American Israel Political Action Committee.
GRAPHIC: PHOTO: DENIAL: Daniel Ayalon, Israeli ambassador to the U.S., says his nation doesn't
spy here. PHOTOGRAPHER: Neal Hamberg Associated Press
LOAD-DATE: September 5, 2004
https://www.nexis.com/reseaichlsearchlsuomitViewTagged 10/6/2004