Washington, March 3 (RHC)-- The co-founder of CODEPINK, a peace and social justice movement, says hundreds of anti-war protesters called for peace with Iran outside the venue of the annual policy conference of American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) in Washington, DC.

Medea Benjamin, in an interview with Press TV, said: “We are here today outside of the AIPAC policy conference in Washington DC. There are several hundred people protesting the AIPAC policy conference. We are calling for peace with Iran and also justice to Palestinians."

AIPAC, the most powerful pro-Israel lobby group in the United States, is pressing the administration of President Barack Obama to adopt harsher polices against Iran during the three-day conference which began on March 2nd. AIPAC lobbyists have been circulating letters urging Obama to pursue a restrictive approach to Iran's nuclear program.

Medea Benjamin added that the anti-war group has been staging similar protests in an annual basis in past several years because they “are sick of AIPAC having a stranglehold over U.S. foreign policies.” The group has also been spearheading a boycott campaign against companies which have been collaborating with Israel including boycotting Elbit Systems, a company that manufactures drones for the Israeli army.

The CODEPINK organizer said that her group's campaign to boycott Israel has been “taking off especially among young people.” Benjamin expressed hope that through its boycott movement, the group can force Tel Aviv “to comply with international law.”