World Affairs: Israel Holds the USA firmly in its grip

The power Israel’s lobby group AIPAC exerts on  politicians undermines democracy and is costing American  citizens dearly.

Among all informed sources there is little doubt that Israel through its powerful lobby group AIPAC controls American  policy in relation to Israel so who or what is AIPAC

What is AIPAC ?

After the Israeli army’s 1953 massacre of dozens of Palestinians, most of them children and women, in the West Bank village of Qibya. The American Zionist Committee for Public Affairs, which was founded by a lobbyist for the Israeli government realised going forward they would need to control the narrative and manage political fallout abroad.

The organisation was renamed AIPAC The American Israel Public Affairs Committee in 1959, and has since grown to become the powerful  lobby group it is today. Put simply AIPAC uses its power to influence America to do its bidding so Israeli policy becomes American policy

AIPAC’s primary mission is to strengthen and deepen the political, military, and economic ties between the United States and Israel by educating and mobilizing American policymakers and citizens. Put simply AIPAC uses its power to influence America to do its bidding so Israeli policy becomes American policy .

What AIPAC Does to achieve its aims

- Lobbying and advocacy: AIPAC works directly with members of Congress and the executive branch to promote policies it sees as beneficial to American Israeli cooperation, including robust security assistance for Israel, joint military and intelligence cooperation, and trade and technology partnerships.

The organization  also organizes constituent outreach to lawmakers, encouraging supporters to contact their representatives and participate in local events. AIPAC’s network includes individual activists, student groups, and local community leaders. It also offers training programs to cultivate future leaders and advocates. 

- Annual Policy Conference: AIPAC’s Washington policy conference is a major political event that draws thousands of attendees, including members of Congress, administration officials, and foreign dignitaries. The conference serves as a highprofile venue for policy speeches and networking.

Controversies and Criticisms

- Influence on U.S. policy: Critics argue AIPAC exerts outsized influence over U.S. foreign policy, potentially limiting open debate on policy toward Israel.

- Alignment with specific Israeli governments: Some contend AIPAC has at times been too closely aligned with particular Israeli administrations or policies, President Trumps unwavering support of Netanyahu’s policies (genocide lets be honest, that’s what it is ) in Gaza is a prime example of AIPAC’S influence. 

Impact on domestic politics

Critics  accuse the organization of stifling dissenting views on Israel within U.S. politics. In the 2022 midterm elections AIPAC used millions of dollars from loyal donors, among them Republican billionaires and mega donors to former President Donald Trump and embraced a new strategy. It  used this war chest to oust progressive members of Congress who had criticized human rights abuses by Israel and the country’s receipt of billions of taxpayers dollars in military funding. 
The size of AIPAC’s war chest means it can pick and choose the races in which it is most likely to succeed — boosting its image as a kingmaker and its influence among candidates and members, while simultaneously raising the cost of criticizing U.S. policies towards Israel

Many shy away from criticising Israel while others embrace the  AIPAC campaign dollars to remain in power

Many members of the senate and congress who know their careers are at stake shy away from criticising Israel while others embrace the  AIPAC campaign dollars to remain in power such is the sad state of US politics where lobby group dollars are often more important than integrity.

Accused Israel of  “having has some sort of incredible influence and control over nearly every single one of my colleagues,” 

When diehard republican and former Trump loyalist Marjorie Taylor Greene  became the first Republican lawmaker to publicly describe the situation in Gaza as a “genocide,” and criticising AIPAC you know it’s getting out of control
She accused Israel of  “having has some sort of incredible influence and control over nearly every single one of my colleagues,” 

She added that AIPAC 

“takes every single … freshman member of Congress their first year” on “a very special trip to Israel in August,” which is Congress’ recess and month-long district work period. “I don't know what they do there, but they take them on tours, like the pictures we've seen recently of the (House) Speaker (Mike Johnson) and other members (of) Congress at the Wailing Wall … They wear the kippah … They're not Jewish, but yet they're adorning Jewish attire, and they're at these Jewish religious sites,” Greene said. 

One has to asked how can these politicians be objective regarding Israel’s genocidal policies in Gaza. Greene last month attempted to strip $500 million in US funding for Israel’s Iron Dome defence system, criticizing the bombing of Gaza’s only Catholic church and the “wiping out” of the civilian population. Her effort failed in a 422-6 vote in the House of Representatives.

Greene because of her actions has suffered the inevitable backlash and criticism from Israel’s AIPAC and FOX TV  influential host Mark Levine she responded by saying

“Ever since I called for a recorded vote on my amendments to defund U.S. taxpayer money to Israel and other foreign countries/foreign aid, Mark Levin has rabidly been attacking me and then the attacks started from AIPAC. Do you see the pattern?”
Ireland too has faced AIPAC inspired criticism over its Occupied territories bill with Ireland appearing closer to passing a bill that will ban trade with illegal Israeli settlements in occupied territories in the West Bank,  Sixteen representatives of congress  signed a petition calling for Ireland to be added to Israel boycott list, if the bill is passed, it could have serious consequences for Ireland’s economy .

This was followed by this  derogatory and unbecoming statement from US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee  a Christian Zionist (who has written that, "the Jews have a God-given right to reclaim land given to their ancestors and taken away from them.") accusing Ireland of “diplomatic intoxication”.

“Did the Irish fall into a vat of Guinness & propose something so stupid that it would be attributed to act of diplomatic intoxication? It will harm Arabs as much as Israelis. Sober up Ireland!,” Huckabee said in a post on X.
It is hard to understand how America has let  a lobby group like AIPAC who act for Israel exert so much influence that it has  become  immune to the genocide of so many innocents. That it has done,  is sad reflection of how knowledgeable the average American is of what is happening in his country. Given the control and censorship exerted by media and financial moguls with

Israeli ties who support AIPAC and Israel  it is hardly surprising. AIPAC has done its job well and while Israel’s murderous leadership continues to prosper  real Americans hand over their hard earned tax dollars, worry about underfunded health care and watch the soap opera that is American politics unfold from the comfort of their recliners while on the other side of the world hundreds of  innocent children are slaughtered daily, by bombs and missiles paid for by U.S. citizens unaware  their country is being played by a tiny but powerful minority of its populace.