How the Israeli lobby works in the United States
Tanya Cariina Hsu
Published — Thursday 29 November
2012
One of the most influential
lobbying groups in America,
it is often argued that no politician can be elected into office without
AIPAC's support. No president can take the White House without affirming
unbreakable allegiance to Israel,
and attendance at the annual AIPAC
meeting is mandatory. Once in office every member of Congress is expected to
act, vote and defend the state of Israel on almost every issue, or
face the consequences.
Originally called the American Zionist Committee for Public Affairs,
the American-Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) was an offshoot of the
American Zionist Council, changing names in 1963. With a sole purpose to
advocate for the state of Israel, AIPAC ought to be listed with the US government as a Foreign Agent; instead, the
Committee continually denies receiving any funds from Israel.
What are AIPAC's tactics? How do
they get away with controlling so much of government of the United States, and thus veto power
at the United Nations? Several years
ago, I found out how AIPAC worked, directly.
During the 1990s, I was actively
involved in a major US
symphony orchestra as a financial donor and artistic liaison, having studied
classical piano for fifteen years and forever a frustrated pianist. Close to
the conductor, main players, and several board members, another more
significant contributor became a good acquaintance. She, like the conductor,
was an ardent Zionist - her family sent to the concentration camps in Austria during
the war. Throughout the years my professional involvement in Middle Eastern affairs was never brought up, and despite our opposite views on Israel
we nevertheless were on good terms before 9/11.
After 9/11, the atmosphere in America became
highly charged. My friend Sarah (not her real name) lost no opportunity in
blaming Arabs for every attack in the US, for not only 9/11 but also
every violent act before or since. Before we ended our relationship, she
explained how AIPAC controlled Congress.
Several years earlier Sarah had
been a leading AIPAC representative. Confident in America's
ability to go after the Arab "terrorists" who wanted to destroy Israel and the West, she explained how the wars
in the Middle East were due to AIPAC's
influence. She knew the system from the inside because she was a part of it.
AIPAC watched every political race
in every election, she explained. Whether local or national, AIPAC had dossiers
on every candidate, grading each according to their loyalty to the Israeli
state. Once the newly elected moved into their new offices in Washington DC,
Sarah would lead a delegation of AIPAC members to the capital city to pay them
a courtesy visit. The new Congressmen and women would welcome the lobby, AIPAC
merely expressing good wishes for their new terms. The meeting would last less
than 20 minutes, nothing but pleasantries and a photo-op having passed. Upon
leaving the team would then add, "Anything you need to know about the Middle East, contact us. We'll provide whatever
information you need. Here is our telephone number and someone will get back to
you right away."
No laws were broken, no monies
were exchanged, and no threats were implied. The novice politician had someone
to call at anytime day or night to learn about the pressing issues of the Arab
world. The ongoing issues of the region meant the new Congress member had to
become rapidly informed. If no one else was available - and they never were -
AIPAC was ready.
Settled in to office, a fortnight
later Sarah would bring a second delegation back to Washington to "see how they were getting
along". Again, they would offer on-call expertise on the Middle East 24
hours a day, and invite them on an all-expenses paid trip to Israel to
witness the "terror" Israelis suffered every day. Upon their
departure, this time AIPAC would present a check for a few thousand dollars
"as a donation" to the Congressman's office.
At this point, strict lobbying
rules would kick in and every contribution would have to be carefully noted.
However, the implicit message was left that there would always be more money
where that sweetener came from.
The more allied they were to the
Jewish state, the more benefits the politicians would receive. It was easy to
deliver promising post-Congressional careers to those who were overtly
pro-Israeli, but the harder work went to the more neutral members. With no
counterefforts by any Arab or Muslim groups, AIPAC's massaging of the message
on the Middle East dominated: They were highly
reactive to calls, instantly available, ready to provide support and receptive
to all requests for analysis. AIPAC has an almost exclusive ability to control
the narrative because until there is an equally well-organized, heavily
staffed, dedicated and immediately responsive alternative, empty words and
promises leave any contrary explanations far behind.
"After our second visit, an
AIPAC member would then follow-up every week to remind the Congressman that we
were available," Sarah continued. "We were constant, polite and as
regular as clockwork." The methodology so well crafted, AIPAC could not
fail.
After a few months, a third visit
raised the stakes. Senior AIPAC delegates would visit the office, this time
with a metaphorical gun in one hand and cash in the other. Funds could never be
presented directly lest laws are broken. Instead, having studied the
Congressman's family, friends, hobbies, chosen causes and voting record, AIPAC
would add financial incentives to make the more reluctant "see the
light" for its services.
"Your eldest daughter is
going to college next year isn't she? That's expensive. Perhaps a full
scholarship could be arranged," Sarah illustrated. Or, "Your wife
lost her position last year? Maybe we can help secure a new career for
her" in a law-firm, think-tank or other environment where AIPAC maintained
leverage. If not direct, other benefits important to the Congressman would be
dangled. The point was lost on no one.
Skirting laws, AIPAC's largesse
was provided with heavy expectations. A Congressman knew that if he did not
vote in favor of Israel
in the next Bill, his perquisites would be dropped. Moreover, it was evident
that support for his re-election bid was either guaranteed, or -if not
pro-Israel enough - not only withdrawn but an organized campaign would ensue to
make sure he was defeated.
AIPAC works with a heavy but quiet
fist. It has been using propaganda and threats for decades because it works.
Having tried unsuccessfully to influence the British government in the 1940s,
the Zionist body switched to manipulating the US Congress because it was an
easier more malleable target, as the officials admitted themselves.
Thanks to the multi-million dollar
multi-generational policy of organization coupled with implied blackmail, every
US Senator and
Representative will at the very least look the other way when Israel
continues to violate international laws, occupy and steal Palestinian
territory, illegally blockade Palestinians and bomb innocent civilians. The
alternative is the end to a political career.
Just ask President Jimmy Carter or Ambassador Charles "Chas" Freeman.
AIPAC
Lee
Rosenberg is the chairman for the AIPAC,
and J.B. Pritzker’s friend.
Note: J.B. Pritzker is a
friend of Lee Rosenberg, and a
member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.
Rahm
I. Emanuel is a member of the Commercial
Club of Chicago, the Chicago (IL) mayor,
Benjamin M. Emanuel’s son, and was
the White House chief of staff for the Barack
Obama administration.
Benjamin M.
Emanuel is Rahm I.
Emanuel’s father, and worked with the Irgun.
List of Irgun attacks
During the 1936–1939 Arab revolt
in Palestine
against the British Mandate of Palestine the militant Zionist group the Irgun
carried out sixty attacks against Arabs and British soldiers.
R.
Eden Martin is the president of the Commercial
Club of Chicago, and counsel at Sidley
Austin LLP.
Michelle
Obama was a lawyer at Sidley Austin
LLP.
Barack
Obama was an intern at Sidley Austin
LLP.
Newton
N. Minow is a senior counsel at Sidley
Austin LLP, and a member of the Commercial
Club of Chicago.
James S.
Crown is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and a trustee
at the Aspen Institute (think tank).
Lester Crown
is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and was a lifetime
trustee at the Aspen Institute (think tank).
Walter
Isaacson is the president & CEO for the Aspen Institute (think tank),
and a board member for Radio Free
Europe/Radio Liberty.
Thomas
A. Dine was the president of Radio
Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and an executive director for AIPAC.
Foundation
to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Aspen Institute (think
tank), the Millennium Promise,
the Carnegie Endowment for International
Peace (think tank), and the Brookings
Institution (think tank).
George Soros
is the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.
Jimmy
Carter is an honorary co-chairman for the Millennium Promise, and was the president for the Jimmy Carter administration.
Chas. W. Freeman
Jr. is a trustee at the Carnegie
Endowment for International Peace (think tank), was the president for the Middle East Policy Council, and the National
Intelligence Council chairman nominee for the Barack Obama administration.
Abdallah
Bin Abd Al-Aziz Al Saud is a benefactor for the Middle East Policy Council, and the king for Saudi
Arabia.
Jessica Tuchman Mathews is president of
the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (think tank), a director
at the American Friends of Bilderberg (think tank), was an honorary
trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), and a 2008 Bilderberg
conference participant (think tank).
Ed Griffin’s interview with
Norman Dodd in 1982
(The investigation into the
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace uncovered the plans for population
control by involving the United
States in war)
Saban
Center for Middle East Policy is a policy center at the Brookings
Institution (think tank).
Haim
Saban is a benefactor for the Saban
Center for Middle East Policy, an honorary trustee at the Brookings
Institution (think tank), and a friend of Shimon Peres.
Shimon
Peres is a friend of Haim Saban,
and the president of Israel.
Cass R. Sunstein
is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution (think tank), and
married to Samantha Power.
Samantha
Power is married to Cass R. Sunstein,
and the United Nations U.S.
ambassador.
Susan
E. Rice was the United Nations U.S.
ambassador for the Barack Obama
administration, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution (think
tank), and is the White House national security adviser for the Barack Obama administration.
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