Israel’s Influential Lobby
by Polly Mann, WAMM

A long-overdue debate over U.S. policy in the Middle East is not occurring because of the influence of the Israeli lobby. The missing debate is not between Americans who want Israel to survive and the marginal minority who want Israel to be destroyed. Rather, the missing debate is about the human rights of the Palestinian people.

While Zionists demand security for Israelis, equal security for the Palestinians is never mentioned. The U.S. should support Israel’s right to exist within internationally recognized borders and to defend itself. At the same time, the U.S. should support the right of Palestinians to live in security on land ceded them by international treaties. But the U.S. enables Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and Gaza with money and weapons. Israel, a nation wealthy enough to provide universal medical care, receives more of the U.S. foreign-aid budget than any other country: $3 billion a year, two-thirds in military grants.

The Israeli lobby, led by the influential American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), is different from most ethnic lobbies. Rather than basing its power on a demographic voting block, the Israeli lobby uses nationwide campaign donations--often funneled through local organizations--to influence members of Congress in areas where there are few pro-Israel voters.

The Israeli lobby continues to gain power within both political parties. In 1997, the deputy political affairs director of AIPAC became finance director of the Democratic National Committee. The previous year the former chairman of AIPAC had become national chairman of the Democratic Party. Clinton appointed Martin Indyk ambassador to Israel shortly after Indyk received his citizenship papers. He is a veteran of a pro-Israel think tank associated with AIPAC.
Members of Congress are reluctant to offend a single-issue lobby. Rep. Cynthia McKinney (Dem., GA), probably the most ethical and outstanding member of the U.S. Congress today, is facing a tough race because she has spoken out for Palestinian self-determination. [Note: Since the writing of this article, McKinney lost her bid for reelection in a primary race.]

What is needed is a responsible criticism of the Israeli lobby. Most U.S. citizens would support Israel’s right to exist and to defend itself without having to be convinced by an Israeli lobby. However, if this lobby were not so powerful and rich, elected representatives would surely have made aid to Israel conditional on Israeli withdrawal from the occupied territories and the right of return for Palestinians.