AIPAC: Likudnik Israel Over Democratic America

AIPAC: Likudnik Israel Over Democratic America
By Jeffrey Rudolph (March 2024)

In a New York Times March 13, 2024, article (“Pro-Israel Lobby Faces Challenges Amid Gaza War and Shifting Politics”), it’s correctly pointed out that the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) aggressively helps “fund electoral challenges to left-leaning Democrats it considers insufficiently supportive [of Israel].” However, the article misleads its readers by omitting or shading the following five elements of AIPAC’s electoral choices. (References for the elements are provided at the responses to questions 21 and 29 of the Israel-Palestine Quiz (More Detail):
https://detailedpoliticalquizzes.wordpress.com/israel-palestine-quiz/)

1. AIPAC presents itself as a nonpartisan advocate for Israeli interests. However, an examination of its historical actions reveals a consistent alignment with the policies of Israel’s right-wing Likud party.

   Although AIPAC could argue that its opposition to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal conformed with the stance of the Netanyahu government, it’s crucial to recognize a historical precedent that challenges the consistency of AIPAC’s positions.

   In 1993, Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin’s government secured approval from the Knesset for the Oslo Accord, a landmark agreement aimed at fostering peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Despite this endorsement, AIPAC opposed the Oslo Accord. This opposition aligned with the vehement resistance to Oslo by Israel’s Likud party.

   It’s telling that Rabin didn’t invite leaders of the Israel lobby to his inauguration ceremony and, according to one of his aides, referred to these leaders as “scumbags”.

2. While the NYT article accurately highlights AIPAC’s involvement in financing electoral campaigns against left-leaning Democrats perceived as not adequately supportive of Israel, it overlooks AIPAC’s broader antidemocratic effects. For example, AIPAC raises funds for many right-wing politicians, including individuals commonly described as insurrectionists. In the 2022 midterm elections, AIPAC endorsed 109 Republican candidates who voted in favor of overturning the results of the 2020 presidential election.

3. Typically, around 75 percent of American Jews vote for liberal or progressive candidates. This trend is exemplified by instances such as Barack Obama winning 78 percent of the Jewish vote in 2008 and Joe Biden receiving 77 percent in 2020.

   Given the substantial achievements and freedoms that American Jews have enjoyed under the principles and opportunities afforded by liberalism, it’s unsurprising that the majority of them align with liberal values and consistently vote for Democratic candidates. Moreover, a consistent majority of American Jews express support for US pressure on both Israel and the Palestinians if it would help secure a peace deal.

   Accordingly, the right-wing policies championed by Likud embody what American liberals reject: occupation, apartheid, and ethnic tribalism. However, while AIPAC’s alignment with these policies places it well outside the mainstream of American Jewish opinion, its electoral practices make it very challenging for politicians to support reasonable pressure on Israel to conform to international law.

   In a 2022 Democratic primary, AIPAC allocated significant financial resources towards opposing (and ultimately defeating) the candidacy of progressive Jewish Congressman Andy Levin. Despite Levin’s robust advocacy for Israel, he aligned himself with the liberal lobby organization J Street, which espouses a pro-Israel, pro-peace stance. (Additionally, Levin supported progressive domestic policies such as the expansion of Medicare coverage.)

4. While Jewish donors as a whole tend to favor liberal Democratic candidates and causes, a significant portion of extremely affluent Jewish donors, such as billionaires Robert Kraft, Paul Singer and Bernie Marcus, typically endorse the AIPAC/Likud agenda. These megadonors wield considerable influence due to their substantial contributions, enabling them to lobby for specific foreign and domestic policies.

   Consequently, AIPAC not only promotes Likud-aligned foreign policies but also generally supports Republican domestic policies. The latter tendency is to be expected, as the individuals who oversee and finance AIPAC tend to be affluent, and therefore favor policies that benefit their personal and business affairs.

5. A reflection of AIPAC’s priorities is evident in its failure to initially endorse one steadfast supporter of Israel in 2022: former Republican Representative Liz Cheney. As former President Trump vehemently criticized Cheney for her condemnation of his disgraceful words and actions concerning the 2020 election, AIPAC, consistent with other Republican entities, opted to align with Trump rather than stand alongside Cheney, a vocal proponent of democratic principles. However, after public criticism from Cheney and others, AIPAC reversed its embarrassing position.

In conclusion, AIPAC has played an important part in shifting Israel to the far right. By consistently promoting Likud’s policies, it has undermined moderate Israeli politicians. Imagine how different Israel might look if AIPAC — easily the biggest, wealthiest and most influential player in the Israel lobby — had advocated for limitations on illegal settlement expansion, thereby fostering a climate more conducive to peace and stability. Instead, Likudniks could rightly tell Israeli voters: We can maintain a harsh occupation, expand Jewish-only settlements, all while continuing to benefit from substantial American military, economic and diplomatic support.

Jeffrey Rudolph, a retired college professor, was a regional representative of the East Timor Alert Network and presented a paper on its behalf at the United Nations. He was awarded the prestigious Cheryl Rosa Teresa Doran Prize upon graduation from McGill University’s faculty of law; has worked at one of the world’s largest public accounting firms; and, has taught at McGill University. He has prepared widely distributed pieces on various topics which are available at:
https://detailedpoliticalquizzes.wordpress.com

Comments can be emailed to: Israel-Palestine-Quiz@live.com

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