🇺🇸🇮🇱The America Israel Public Affairs Committee is one of the most powerful lobbying groups in Washington.
95% of the candidates it backs win election.
How and why has this clear agent of Israel avoided registering under the Foreign Agents Registration Act?
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95% of the candidates it backs win election.
How and why has this clear agent of Israel avoided registering under the Foreign Agents Registration Act?
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2/18 What is FARA?
The Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) was passed in 1938.
This act bans foreign countries from directly participating in or influencing American elections.
Every contact the registered foreign agents have with Congress must be reported to the Department of Justice, along with how and where they spend their resources.
The Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) was passed in 1938.
This act bans foreign countries from directly participating in or influencing American elections.
Every contact the registered foreign agents have with Congress must be reported to the Department of Justice, along with how and where they spend their resources.
3/18 How does AIPAC operate as an agent of Israel?
University of Chicago Professor John Mearsheimer gave an overview of AIPAC in his critically acclaimed book, The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy:
"[AIPAC's] success is due to its ability to reward legislators and congressional candidates who support its agenda, and to punish those who challenge it. ... AIPAC makes sure that its friends get strong financial support from the many pro-Israel political action committees. Anyone who is seen as hostile to Israel can be sure that AIPAC will direct campaign contributions to his or her political opponents. ... The bottom line is that AIPAC, a de facto agent for a foreign government, has a stranglehold on Congress, with the result that US policy towards Israel is not debated there, even though that policy has important consequences for the entire world."
University of Chicago Professor John Mearsheimer gave an overview of AIPAC in his critically acclaimed book, The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy:
"[AIPAC's] success is due to its ability to reward legislators and congressional candidates who support its agenda, and to punish those who challenge it. ... AIPAC makes sure that its friends get strong financial support from the many pro-Israel political action committees. Anyone who is seen as hostile to Israel can be sure that AIPAC will direct campaign contributions to his or her political opponents. ... The bottom line is that AIPAC, a de facto agent for a foreign government, has a stranglehold on Congress, with the result that US policy towards Israel is not debated there, even though that policy has important consequences for the entire world."
4/18 What was the state of American Zionism when AIPAC was founded?
American Zionism was in dire straits shortly following the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948.
The movement had completed its raison d'être by establishing a Jewish state, and seen its leader, Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver, deposed from power in 1949 by Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion.
Ben-Gurion had primarily objected to Silver's hafradah initiative, which sought to de-link international Zionism from the Israeli government.
According to Doug Rossinow (in “The Edge of the Abyss”: The Origins of the Israel Lobby, 1949–1954), the early Israel lobby was "very much a Jewish phenomenom", and organized Christian support would only come much later.
American Zionism was in dire straits shortly following the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948.
The movement had completed its raison d'être by establishing a Jewish state, and seen its leader, Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver, deposed from power in 1949 by Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion.
Ben-Gurion had primarily objected to Silver's hafradah initiative, which sought to de-link international Zionism from the Israeli government.
According to Doug Rossinow (in “The Edge of the Abyss”: The Origins of the Israel Lobby, 1949–1954), the early Israel lobby was "very much a Jewish phenomenom", and organized Christian support would only come much later.
5/18 In the 1950s, Israel wanted a "loyal" American Zionism, which AIPAC provided.
David Ben-Gurion chastised American Jews for not wanting to make aliyah, that is, emigrating to the newly formed state of Israel.
Rose Halprin, the President of Hadassah, an American Women's Zionist group, expressed a common American Zionist position at the time that "American Jews had no need to migrate to the new state, since they already lived in a place excellent for Jews."
The Israeli response to American Jewish obstinence was expressed by Abba Eban, Israel's ambassador in Washington, in 1952, that "traditional concepts of Zionist loyalty...require you to consult with Israel before taking steps involving Israel's most vital interests."
David Ben-Gurion chastised American Jews for not wanting to make aliyah, that is, emigrating to the newly formed state of Israel.
Rose Halprin, the President of Hadassah, an American Women's Zionist group, expressed a common American Zionist position at the time that "American Jews had no need to migrate to the new state, since they already lived in a place excellent for Jews."
The Israeli response to American Jewish obstinence was expressed by Abba Eban, Israel's ambassador in Washington, in 1952, that "traditional concepts of Zionist loyalty...require you to consult with Israel before taking steps involving Israel's most vital interests."
6/18 AIPAC's founder had a history of dual loyalty.
Isaiah Leo "Si" Kenen founded the precursor to AIPAC, the American Zionist Committee for Public Affairs (AZCPA) in 1953, which was founded as the lobbying wing of the American Zionist Council (AZC). It would later be renamed AIPAC in the early 60s.
Kenen was a Canadian-born liberal Jewish Zionist who had previously worked for the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and served on the Isreali delegation to the United Nations.
Kenen was registered under FARA as an Israeli agent until 1951, when he unregistered himself.
The Justice Department ordered Kenen to re-register with FARA if he were to continue lobbying for Israel.
Kenen never complied with this order.
Isaiah Leo "Si" Kenen founded the precursor to AIPAC, the American Zionist Committee for Public Affairs (AZCPA) in 1953, which was founded as the lobbying wing of the American Zionist Council (AZC). It would later be renamed AIPAC in the early 60s.
Kenen was a Canadian-born liberal Jewish Zionist who had previously worked for the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and served on the Isreali delegation to the United Nations.
Kenen was registered under FARA as an Israeli agent until 1951, when he unregistered himself.
The Justice Department ordered Kenen to re-register with FARA if he were to continue lobbying for Israel.
Kenen never complied with this order.
7/18 AIPAC was founded to manage public perceptions of Israeli atrocities.
AIPAC was formed after the Qibya massacre, in which Israeli troops murdered nearly 69 Palestinian villagers, 2/3 of whom were women and children.
The atrocity was so unpopular that the Eisenhower administration had denounced Israel at the UN and suspended economic aid to Israel in wake of the massacre.
In response, Kenen said, "The Kibya incident has not only undermined the moral position of the Jewish people. It has discredited the premises of our propaganda and has given the color of truth to Arab propaganda efforts to portray Israel as aggressive, unfaithful to the UN, and brutally indifferent to the Arab refugees whom it allegedly expelled."
AIPAC was formed after the Qibya massacre, in which Israeli troops murdered nearly 69 Palestinian villagers, 2/3 of whom were women and children.
The atrocity was so unpopular that the Eisenhower administration had denounced Israel at the UN and suspended economic aid to Israel in wake of the massacre.
In response, Kenen said, "The Kibya incident has not only undermined the moral position of the Jewish people. It has discredited the premises of our propaganda and has given the color of truth to Arab propaganda efforts to portray Israel as aggressive, unfaithful to the UN, and brutally indifferent to the Arab refugees whom it allegedly expelled."
8/18 AIPAC initially avoided registering with FARA through sleight of hand legal tricks by Si Kenen.
Kenen developed a legal loophole in which AIPAC was defined as not a lobby for a foreign state, but Americans who support a foreign state.
Mo Rosenberg, who worked for AIPAC in the 1970s, said Kenen did this "so that AIPAC would be legally permitted to engage in politics and not have to reveal its activities."
Kenen developed a legal loophole in which AIPAC was defined as not a lobby for a foreign state, but Americans who support a foreign state.
Mo Rosenberg, who worked for AIPAC in the 1970s, said Kenen did this "so that AIPAC would be legally permitted to engage in politics and not have to reveal its activities."
9/18 The U.S. Senate investigated AIPAC's parent for subversion in 1963.
In May 1963, the Senate opened an investigation into covert activities of foreign agents on American soil, including AIPAC's parent, the American Zionist Council (AZC).
The investigation was prompted by a report Senator William Fulbright had written focusing on the Lavon affair, in which Israel recruited Egyptian Jews to bomb British targets and then blame the Muslim Brotherhood in an attempt to discredit Egyptian President Nasser's image to the Americans and Britsh.
The investigation revealed Israel was channeling 10s of millions of dollars to AIPAC's parent AZC through the Jewish Agency.
Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy demanded the AZC register with FARA.
In May 1963, the Senate opened an investigation into covert activities of foreign agents on American soil, including AIPAC's parent, the American Zionist Council (AZC).
The investigation was prompted by a report Senator William Fulbright had written focusing on the Lavon affair, in which Israel recruited Egyptian Jews to bomb British targets and then blame the Muslim Brotherhood in an attempt to discredit Egyptian President Nasser's image to the Americans and Britsh.
The investigation revealed Israel was channeling 10s of millions of dollars to AIPAC's parent AZC through the Jewish Agency.
Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy demanded the AZC register with FARA.
10/18 JFK and RFK were both killed shortly after going against Israel's interests.
JFK was skeptical of Israel's influence over American politics, joking that Truman was bribed to recognize the state of Israel.
JFK himself had received financial aid offers from the Israel lobby, and failed 7 times in his presidency to defeat these influence groups.
JFK was also a leading voice against Israel's acquisition of nuclear weapons.
Donald Rumsfeld wrote a letter to RFK reminding him of the importance of "the risk of offending Jewish opinion in the United States" in response to the AIPAC FARA question.
AIPAC evaded registering under FARA by reorganizing.
JFK was assassinated in 1963 and RFK was assassinated in 1968.
JFK was skeptical of Israel's influence over American politics, joking that Truman was bribed to recognize the state of Israel.
JFK himself had received financial aid offers from the Israel lobby, and failed 7 times in his presidency to defeat these influence groups.
JFK was also a leading voice against Israel's acquisition of nuclear weapons.
Donald Rumsfeld wrote a letter to RFK reminding him of the importance of "the risk of offending Jewish opinion in the United States" in response to the AIPAC FARA question.
AIPAC evaded registering under FARA by reorganizing.
JFK was assassinated in 1963 and RFK was assassinated in 1968.
11/18 Senator William Fulbright led the investigation into AIPAC and continued to be a leading voice against Israeli influence.
In 1973 on CBS's Face the Nation, he stated
"We supply all the wherewithal –or a major part of the wherewithal–to finance or to pay for everything Israel does, [but] Israel controls the Senate.”
The Senate is subservient to Israel, in my opinion much too much. We should be more concerned about the United States interest rather than doing the bidding of Israel This is a most unusual development.
Israel controls the U.S. Senate. [...] The great majority of the Senate of the U.S. – somewhere around 80 percent – are completely in support of Israel; anything Israel wants Israel gets."
In 1973 on CBS's Face the Nation, he stated
"We supply all the wherewithal –or a major part of the wherewithal–to finance or to pay for everything Israel does, [but] Israel controls the Senate.”
The Senate is subservient to Israel, in my opinion much too much. We should be more concerned about the United States interest rather than doing the bidding of Israel This is a most unusual development.
Israel controls the U.S. Senate. [...] The great majority of the Senate of the U.S. – somewhere around 80 percent – are completely in support of Israel; anything Israel wants Israel gets."
12/18 A senior CIA official tried and failed to take on AIPAC in the 80s.
In 1988, senior CIA official, Victor Marchetti, filed a complaint with the DOJ that AIPAC should be registered with FARA.
Marchetti had conducted a through study of AIPAC's conduct and determined that, under law, the pro-Israel lobby should have registered as a foreign agent.
The complaint was rejected.
Marchetti had previously been the first person to have a book censored by the US government prior to publication (detailing the inner workings of the CIA)
In 1988, senior CIA official, Victor Marchetti, filed a complaint with the DOJ that AIPAC should be registered with FARA.
Marchetti had conducted a through study of AIPAC's conduct and determined that, under law, the pro-Israel lobby should have registered as a foreign agent.
The complaint was rejected.
Marchetti had previously been the first person to have a book censored by the US government prior to publication (detailing the inner workings of the CIA)
13/18 An AIPAC president was caught on tape bragging about AIPAC's influence on American politics.
In 1992, AIPAC president David Steiner was forced to resign after a (secretly) recorded conversation with Haim Katz was released, in which Steiner boasted of using his influence to obtain excessive aid for Israel.
Some quotes from Steiner in that conversation include:
"From a Jewish point of view, I believe in political loyalty...And if someone has been good for Israel, no matter who, if my brother would run against them, I would support them because they'd been good to Israel because that's an important message to people."
"They're looking for the Jewish votes, and I'll tell him whatever he wants to hear ... Besides the $10 billion in loan guarantees which was a fabulous thing, $3 billion in foreign, in military aid, and I got almost a billion dollars in other goodies that people don't even know about."
The full conversation is here:
wrmea.org/1992-december/…
In 1992, AIPAC president David Steiner was forced to resign after a (secretly) recorded conversation with Haim Katz was released, in which Steiner boasted of using his influence to obtain excessive aid for Israel.
Some quotes from Steiner in that conversation include:
"From a Jewish point of view, I believe in political loyalty...And if someone has been good for Israel, no matter who, if my brother would run against them, I would support them because they'd been good to Israel because that's an important message to people."
"They're looking for the Jewish votes, and I'll tell him whatever he wants to hear ... Besides the $10 billion in loan guarantees which was a fabulous thing, $3 billion in foreign, in military aid, and I got almost a billion dollars in other goodies that people don't even know about."
The full conversation is here:
wrmea.org/1992-december/…
14/18 AIPAC employees commited espionage for Israel during the Iraq war.
In April 2005, AIPAC policy director Steven Rosen and AIPAC Senior Iran analyst Keith Weissman were investigated by the FBI for spying on behalf of Israel.
They were indicted for illegally conspiring to gather and disclose classifed national security info to Israel.
In May 2005, the Justice Department announced Lawrence Anthony Franklin, who was working in Douglas Feith's office in the Pentagon, had been arrested and charged for providing classified national defense information to Israel.
Franklin had disclosed the classified info to the two AIPAC officials, Rosen and Weissman, at a luncheon meeting. He was sentenced to 13 years in prison.
All charges against the AIPAC employees Rosen and Weissman were dropped in 2009.
Rosen is also known for once claiming he could have the signatures of 70 senators on a napkin in 24 hours, implying US politicians were in AIPAC's pockets with regards to all Israeli issues.
In April 2005, AIPAC policy director Steven Rosen and AIPAC Senior Iran analyst Keith Weissman were investigated by the FBI for spying on behalf of Israel.
They were indicted for illegally conspiring to gather and disclose classifed national security info to Israel.
In May 2005, the Justice Department announced Lawrence Anthony Franklin, who was working in Douglas Feith's office in the Pentagon, had been arrested and charged for providing classified national defense information to Israel.
Franklin had disclosed the classified info to the two AIPAC officials, Rosen and Weissman, at a luncheon meeting. He was sentenced to 13 years in prison.
All charges against the AIPAC employees Rosen and Weissman were dropped in 2009.
Rosen is also known for once claiming he could have the signatures of 70 senators on a napkin in 24 hours, implying US politicians were in AIPAC's pockets with regards to all Israeli issues.
15/18 Criticizing AIPAC gets you labeled an "antisemite" on both sides of the aisle.
In 2007, Democratic Congressman Jim Moran from Northern Virginia attracted controversy for accusing AIPAC of "pushing the [Iraq War] from the beginning" and that they are able to get away with meddling in American foreign policy "because they are so well organized, and their members are extraordinarily powerful – most of them are quite wealthy – they have been able to exert power."
Following this critique, Moran's political career went on to be plagued by scandals, including accusations of antisemitism, insider trading, and voter fraud.
In 2007, Democratic Congressman Jim Moran from Northern Virginia attracted controversy for accusing AIPAC of "pushing the [Iraq War] from the beginning" and that they are able to get away with meddling in American foreign policy "because they are so well organized, and their members are extraordinarily powerful – most of them are quite wealthy – they have been able to exert power."
Following this critique, Moran's political career went on to be plagued by scandals, including accusations of antisemitism, insider trading, and voter fraud.
16/18 AIPAC now directly raises funds for candidates.
In late 2021, AIPAC formed a political action committee and announced plans for a super-PAC in order to spend money directly on behalf of its preferred candidates.
Before this, AIPAC's members raised money for its candidates through PAC's unaffiliated with AIPAC, but this limitation no longer exists.
In reality, this former limitation was just a technicality as former AIPAC employee Mo Rosenberg described,
"AIPAC, of course, denies that anyone raises money at its policy conference. And it's true. No one does... in the official AIPAC rooms. However, there are also the side rooms, nominally independent of the main event but just down the hall, where candidates and invited donors (only the really wealthy donors get the invites) meet and decide which candidate will get what."
In late 2021, AIPAC formed a political action committee and announced plans for a super-PAC in order to spend money directly on behalf of its preferred candidates.
Before this, AIPAC's members raised money for its candidates through PAC's unaffiliated with AIPAC, but this limitation no longer exists.
In reality, this former limitation was just a technicality as former AIPAC employee Mo Rosenberg described,
"AIPAC, of course, denies that anyone raises money at its policy conference. And it's true. No one does... in the official AIPAC rooms. However, there are also the side rooms, nominally independent of the main event but just down the hall, where candidates and invited donors (only the really wealthy donors get the invites) meet and decide which candidate will get what."
17/18 Who's funding AIPAC today?
AIPAC's top donor since October 7, 2023 is a jewish pornographer.
The owner of Only Fans, Leonid Radvinsky, was revealed to be the top donor supporting AIPAC in the last 5 months since the Gaza war broke out.
Americans should be demanding more transparency about who is behind the push for US support to a genocidal Israeli regime, and urging American involvement in a multi-billion dollar war with American lives at stake.
AIPAC's top donor since October 7, 2023 is a jewish pornographer.
The owner of Only Fans, Leonid Radvinsky, was revealed to be the top donor supporting AIPAC in the last 5 months since the Gaza war broke out.
Americans should be demanding more transparency about who is behind the push for US support to a genocidal Israeli regime, and urging American involvement in a multi-billion dollar war with American lives at stake.
18/18 If there was an America Russia or America China Public Affairs Committee with a fraction of the influence AIPAC wields, the public outcry would be overwhelming
Its time to join @RepThomasMassie in his call for @AIPAC to register with FARA as an agent of the state of Israel
Its time to join @RepThomasMassie in his call for @AIPAC to register with FARA as an agent of the state of Israel
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