Everything you need to know about AIPAC, the most powerful pro-Israel lobbying group in the US

In 2024, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) has spent over $100 million on US elections to silence the small but growing support for Palestinian rights in Congress.

In fact, the lobbing group currently funds 365 out of 435 US Representatives to block ceasefire and arm embargo efforts and to increase aid for Israel’s genocide in Gaza. AIPAC has also intimidated, threatened, and even unseated members who have called for a ceasefire.

But AIPAC has long exerted deep influence over American politics and elections, positioning itself at the core of US foreign policy-making toward Israel.

So, what is AIPAC, why is it so powerful, and how will it impact the presidential election?

Overview of AIPAC

Founded: In 1951 by Isaiah L. Kenen, a lobbyist for Israel
Original name: American Zionist Committee for Public Affairs (AZCPA)
Mission: To strengthen US-Israel relationship by pushing pro-Israel policies and legislation in Congress. Its activities include lobbying for foreign aid, arms sales, and defense cooperation for Israel.
Bipartisanship: Engages with both Democratic and Republican politicians to ensure broad, continued unconditional support for Israel

Although AIPAC isn’t registered as a foreign agent, it’s considered by many analysts and even former US officials as one. This is because AIPAC represents the interests of Israel, a foreign country, in the US. Its aggressive lobbying interferes with the US democratic processes, manipulating election outcomes and policy decisions on behalf of the Israeli regime.

Context on Lobbies

Lobby: Group or organization that works to change government decisions and policies by interacting directly with legislators, public servants, and other decision-makers.
PAC (Political Action Committee): US group that raises money to support political campaigns or causes, with the aim to influence elections and policies.
Super PAC: Can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money to advocate for or against political candidates.
- AIPAC only formed its super PAC, United Democracy Project, in 2021 to aid pro-Israel candidates in federal elections.

What does AIPAC lobby for?

Unconditional Military Aid to Israel

AIPAC lobbies for consistent US military aid to Israel to maintain the regime’s military occupation in Palestine and bolster its military hegemony in the wider region. The 2016 Memorandum of Understanding between the US and Israel, which AIPAC lobbied for by influencing policymakers, secured $38 billion in military aid to Israel over ten years.

Bipartisan Support for Israel

AIPAC provides massive funding to both Democratic and Republican campaigns as long as they don’t criticize Israel and pledge to uphold Zionism as a norm in American politics.

Pro-Israel Policy and Legislation

AIPAC pushes for federal, state, and local laws to restrict or punish companies that boycott Israel, a blatant violation of the First Amendment.

Why is it so powerful?

AIPAC has maintained its unparalleled political clout through aggressive lobbying tactics, massive financial backing of politicians, and extensive grassroots mobilization. It currently engages with over 5 million pro-Israel grassroots members across the US.

While they claim to promote “Israeli and Jewish safety,” their goal is to embed Zionism in US policies to legitimize and expand violent Israeli hegemony over millions of people.

To entrench this culture of blind US support, they offer candidates enormous sums of money to win elections. By bribing and buying politicians on both sides of the aisle, AIPAC bolsters its influence over Congress while also threatening and cracking down on politicians who dare to deviate.

AIPAC since October 7

Silencing Anti-Genocide Lawmakers

AIPAC has intensified its lobbying efforts to silence the growing pro-Palestine advocacy in Congress amid the Gaza genocide. Out of desperation, AIPAC has organized a mass campaign against progressive lawmakers who have criticized US policy on Gaza.

AIPAC targeted and unseated progressive Congress members Jamaal Bowman and Cori Bush, both of whom called for a permanent ceasefire, by pouring an estimated $25 million into their opponents’ campaign. This made Bowman’s House primary the most expensive in history.Democratic Party leadership has remained silent against AIPAC’s meddling in the campaigns of its progressive members, effectively greenlighting these undemocratic tactics.

Criminalizing Pro-Palestine Activism

With AIPAC’s influence, four anti-Palestinian bills have been introduced to legislators since 7 October 2023 – two of which have already passed the House of Representatives.

Antisemitism Awareness Act*: Seeks to conflate criticism of Israel with antisemitism
H.R.6408*: Allow the stripping of “terrorist supporting” non-profits of tax exemptions with no limitations or accountability.
Accountability of Terrorist Perpetrators Act: Sanction Palestinian groups not designated as “terrorist” organizations, such as the Popular Resistance Committees, setting a dangerous precedent for broader sanctions.
Countering Antisemitism Act: Seeks to codify the dangerous myth that pro-Palestine activism is responsible for US antisemitism.

*At the date of publication, these two bills were passed by the House, but the Senate has yet to vote.

How is AIPAC influencing the 2024 election?

Both Harris and Trump have maintained strong ties with AIPAC, praising Israel at their conventions and accepting large sums of money from the lobbying group for their presidential campaigns.

Harris has received a total of $531,754 from pro-Israel PACs like AIPAC throughout her political career as Senator and Vice President. During her current presidential campaign, she has continued to back Israel, vowing to provide Israel with the military and financial capabilities to “defend itself.”

AIPAC had many achievements under Trump, who declared occupied Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and helped formalize the Israeli apartheid regime’s ties with the rulers of the UAE, Morocco, Sudan, and Bahrain.

AIPAC endorsed more than 100 Congress members who voted to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election following Trump’s defeat by Biden.

Throughout his 2024 campaign, Trump has continuously made genocidal, anti-Palestinian, and Islamophobic statements and, like Harris, is unwilling to sanction Israel.

But AIPAC is losing influence

AIPAC has been aggressively spending against pro-Palestine candidates and pushing for anti-Palestinian bills, because it’s more desperate and weaker than ever before.

US public opinion toward Israel has drastically shifted since October 2023, with 38% of Americans agreeing that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. American support for Israel’s military actions and US military aid has continued to drop.

This historic collapse of support for Israel among American voters is challenging AIPAC’s legitimacy. This could drive a shift in US policy in the long term as both Democratic and Republican candidates can’t ignore public opinion.

So keep protesting, keep boycotting, and keep disrupting – these efforts are making a difference.

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