US presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders is the only candidate for the country’s top post who has decided to not take part in next week’s conference for the pro-Israel lobbying group AIPAC. In a letter to Robert Cohen, the chief of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, on Friday, he expressed regret that he could not conduct a speech at the event due to his busy campaign schedule. “Obviously, issues impacting Israel and the Middle East are of utmost importance to me, to our country and to the world,” he said. “Unfortunately, I am going to be travelling throughout the West and the campaign schedule that we have prevents me from attending.” Sander’s decision came after more than 18,000 people signed petitions calling for Sanders to turn down AIPAC’s invitation to join the conference. More here.