To the Editor:

Re: “Rift between Blacks and Jews” by DeWayne Wickham, August 29th, 2002 . The article clearly demonstrates the overreaching prowess of the Israeli lobby, AIPAC. The Black community has every right to be upset about the deliberate intervention by foreign government lobbies in the local affairs of Black districts. Georgia 's Cynthia McKinney was defeated, just like Earl Hilliard of Alabama before her, because the pro-Israel lobby decided that it must be so. And so it was. What other interests, does a supporter of Israel has in the local issue of Georgia and Alabama to send Millions of dollars to ensure another Black candidate wins the elections there?

And now we have two more politicians who owe not only their elections but also their political careers wholly to a lobby dedicated to promoting first and foremost, and above all else, the interests of a foreign government. Is this healthy for the American political system?

True, it is legal, but is it morally acceptable that Jewish  money would come pouring in from donors who have never heard of the 4th Georgia Congressional district or the 7th Alabama Congressional district and had no familiarity with the issues of importance to those districts or which candidate stands for what? Moreover, could the challengers, hand-picked by AIPAC, and with very little new ideas and solutions, and no legislative experience, have mounted their own campaigns without the massive infusions of money and help from across the country?

McKinney and Hilliard were two voices among a tiny minority in Congress that stood up and dared to courageously question the rubber-stamping role that Congress has come to play on policies regarding Israel and the Middle East .

Except for AIPAC’s zero-tolerance positions, neither McKinney nor Hilliard could be considered anti-Israel by anyone willing to pass honest and fair judgment on their voting

records. They have both repeatedly voted in support of Israel , have reiterated their commitment to the "special relationship" between the United States and Israel and have by and large toed the mainstream line.

But that was not sufficient enough for the " Israel , right or wrong" crowd. Both McKinney and Hilliard dared to demur on a couple of occasions, dared to ask "why?", questioned the wisdom of putting the interests of a foreign government over the interest of America. Worst of all,

they treated Arab and Muslim Americans as fellow citizens, entitled to have someone speak for them and defend their most basic civil rights. And that, sadly, placed them at the fringe of American politics.

AIPAC’s message is loud and clear: Unless you want the kiss of political death, stay clear of any Arabs or Muslims. And so we ask why? Why does AIPAC have a zero tolerance policy on dissent regarding Israel ? Why does it make it its business that a Congresswoman from Georgia and a Congressman from Alabama be defeated for voting 90% rather than 100% in favor of Israel ? The answer is two words: fear and intimidation.

AIPAC can go on butchering lone and courageous voices as it wishes, but with each defeated victim, those who cherish America's political sovereignty and its democratic principles, and the Black leadership will assuredly lead the way, will be reinvigorated and driven to fight for their right to elect officials who have the courage to stand up and say no to policies that are so obviously putting their whole nation in harm's way. Aref Assaf,

Denville , New Jersey