AIPAC’s Intimidation Of U.S. Politicians

 By David Starr

 

For years, it’s been a virtual tradition for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) to splurge money on U.S. politicians to get them to fully support Israel regardless of the consequences for Palestinians.  But it is officially called supporting U.S.-Israel relations. And the relationship between the two is compared to a parent (the U.S.) giving in to a spoiled child (Israel). 

 

The U.S. has given a lot of aid to Israel for decades, both economically and militarily. For example, Israel has received $130 billion in U.S. aid since its founding in order to strengthen its military to defend it from terrorist, or “terrorist” acts. 

 

Both the Democrats and the Republicans have been receiving significant campaign funds from AIPAC. So, regardless of party affiliation, AIPAC has given to those who kowtow to the interests of AIPAC and thus Israel. 

 

In 2024, AIPAC is focusing on the Democratic primaries in order to vote out left/progressives who have taken a tough stand on Israel in regards to its military handiwork in Gaza, as well as the West Bank. AIPAC has plans to spend $100 million on the primaries so, according to Politico, it can try and get rid of those who are “insufficiently supportive of Israel. 

 

“The strategy has taken on a new urgency this election season from donors animated by the Israel-Hamas war.” AIPAC is taking particular aim at the Squad – Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (D-NY), Ayanna Presley (D-MA) and Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), among others, who have been pressuring President Joe Biden to call for a permanent ceasefire to stop the war. AIPAC is hellbent on maintaining the “special relationship” between the USA and Israel. And those in the Squad are in the way, also being hellbent not only to stop the war, but to end Israel’s occupation and settlements, which are the root causes of the conflict.

 

AIPAC has a super PAC called the United Democracy Project (which isn’t really democratic, given its support for Israel’s Zionist goals) and it is taking aim at “15 to 20 House races and polling in many of the districts…” In 2023, the UDF totaled $41 million in funds and it has more this year. left/progressives cannot monetarily match the UDP’s formidable campaign funds, but it may be a case of quantity and not quality.

 

Politico quotes Mark Pocan, (D-Wisc), a major critic of AIPAC: 

 

“Most people are extremely turned off by where that money comes from. When you take money from Donald Trump donors, Nikki Haley donors, Ron DeSantis donors and then put it to use in Democratic primaries, clearly, it’s a disingenuous use of money.” 

 

Race could be another factor in AIPAC’s attempts to unseat Black and Brown Democratic opponents who are left/progressive. AIPAC may have a similar attitude towards people of color as the right-wing Israeli government has; not to mention Israeli settlers. The latter two are full-blown ultranationalists with a religious fanaticism that is very discriminatory and is in line with the myth of the “Chosen People.”

 

AIPAC has an expanding reach through its roster of mega-donors. Quoting Politico: 

 

“They’re backed by Democrats, like media executive Haim Saban, and Republicans like former Home Depot CEO Bernie Marcus and billionaire financier Paul Singer. But those GOP donors give progressives, they believe, an opening to attack AIPAC, aiming to turn their endorsement toxic in primaries. They also often point to AIPAC’s support of congressional Republicans who voted against certifying the 2020 election.” 

 

What it comes down to is that politicians have to be totally loyal to the “special relationship” between Israel and the USA. And there are politicians of both parties who do not hesitate to take AIPAC’s campaign funds; but with the catch that if they are critical of Israel, AIPAC would not only desert them. The AIPAC money would go to politicians who don’t want to face AIPAC’s wrath if the former has even the slightest criticism of Israel. Even if someone calls for a ceasefire.

 

AIPAC has become a real threat to left/progressives with its massive campaign funds

and practically holding the White House and Congress as “hostages” to its Zionist agenda. 

 

But the left is not taking AIPAC’s threat lying down. Quite the contrary, the left has a group of 25 organizations that are taking AIPAC on. It is a coalition called Reject AIPAC and its going to cover the electoral, political, and digital areas. The coalition includes Justice Democrats, the Working Families Party, the IF-NOT-NOW Movement, the Democratic Socialists of America, and Jewish Voice for Peace Action.  

 

As written in the Intercept, “One facet of the plan calls for a seven-figure electoral spending campaign to defend members of Congress being targeted by AIPAC.” Reject AIPAC has a plan to “organize Democratic voters and elected officials to reject the destructive influence of the Republican megadonor-backed AIPAC on the Democratic process and our government’s policy towards Israel and Gaza.” 

 

Reject AIPAC adds, “We have watched as AIPAC has done everything it can to silence growing dissent in Congress against [Benjamin] Netanyahu’s assault on Gaza – which has killed over 31,000 Palestinians – even as democratic voters overwhelmingly support a ceasefire and oppose sending more blank checks to the Israeli military.” 

 

As AIPAC attacks Democrats on the left, it has embraced the GOP’s far right. In the 2020 election, AIPAC endorsed over 100 Republicans who voted to deny the results of the presidential election. Reject AIPAC knows it’s imperative that consistent and thorough opposition is needed to try and stop AIPAC. For example, there are efforts to get members of Congress to reject AIPAC’s endorsements and to also sign a pledge not to take any more funds from it.

 

Joe Biden has gotten major funding from AIPAC. As reported by Reuters, “Biden, a former vice president and senator, has long been a top recipient of the pro-Israel lobby, over $5.2 million in support over the last 34 years, the most of any Congressional recipient, according to OpenSecrets.”  

 

Not only will Reject AIPAC urge him to sign the pledge, the pressure will continue in getting Biden to call for a permanent ceasefire. And ideally, to put sanctions on Israel and withholding military aid. Those two goals seem to be impossible, but Reject AIPAC should try anyway since the damage caused by Israel to Gaza is inexcusable.