The Israel Lobby Never Sleeps
by Roberto Vivaldi
https://luogocomune.net/news-internazionali/la-lobby-israeliana-non-dorme-mai
MECHANICALLY TRANSLATED FROM ITALIAN
The Israel lobby in the United States is more influential and powerful than ever. According to The Hill , the powerful pressure group American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac) is wasting no time in returning to the attack on critics of Tel Aviv's war in Gaza. Starting Tuesday, April 9, 2025, Aipac has launched a new series of advertisements , with a six-figure investment, aimed at targeting Democratic senators who last week supported motions by Vermont senator and former presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, who aims to suspend military aid to Israel. https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5238715-aipac-launches-ads-targeting-senate-democrats/
AIPAC's New Campaign
The campaign, which is being broadcast on television and social media , is targeting the 11 Democratic senators who supported the measures, which were defeated in the Senate. Sanders' motions, which are not new - he has unsuccessfully proposed similar initiatives in the past - aimed to block a total of $8.8 billion in heavy bombs and other munitions destined for Israel. The vote came after a two-month truce ended last month, with Israel resuming its offensive in Gaza.
Senators who voted in favor of the measures, in addition to Sanders, include prominent names such as Dick Durbin, Martin Heinrich, Maizie Hirono, Tim Kaine, Andy Kim, Ben Ray Lujan, Ed Markey, Jeff Merkley, Chris Murphy, Brian Schatz, Tina Smith, Chris Van Hollen, Elizabeth Warren and Peter Welch. A list that AIPAC seems to have set its sights on with determination.
AIPAC spokesman Marshall Wittman didn't mince words: "Bernie Sanders is putting the security of the Jewish state at risk as he wages a seven-front war against Iran and Iranian-backed terrorists. These announcements will inform the citizens of the states represented by the senators who voted with Sanders to weaken America's partnership with our Democratic ally."
The Israel lobby, as this move shows, never sleeps: every vote against Israel's interests triggers a swift and well-funded response . Sanders, for his part, did not hesitate to point the finger at AIPAC during his speech to the Senate before the vote. "In our current system of campaign finance, Democrats have to worry about the billionaires who fund AIPAC," he said. "If you vote against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his terrible war in Gaza, AIPAC will punish you with millions of dollars in advertising to ensure your defeat."
A serious accusation, supported by concrete examples: last year, Aipac contributed to the loss of the primaries of two members of the House, Jamaal Bowman and Cori Bush, defeated by candidates supported by the group and other pro-Israel organizations.
Meirsheimer's Accusation
Adding fuel to the fire is Professor John Mearsheimer , co-author of the celebrated book The Israel Lobby and US Foreign Policy . His recent comments come in the wake of US authorities' detention of Mahmoud Khalil , a Palestinian activist known for his critical positions, who is currently awaiting deportation. Khalil's case has fueled growing fears that pro-Palestinian voices are being systematically silenced, not just in the US but globally.
Mearsheimer, who has long argued that Israel's influence on Western discourse stifles free speech , reiterated that such incidents are an attack on free expression . His comments add to alarm over the crackdown on journalists, academics and activists who dare to challenge Israeli policies. https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20250318-mearsheimer-israel-and-its-supporters-are-biggest-threat-to-free-speech/
Support for Israel, once nearly unanimous in the United States, has become an increasingly divisive issue since the attacks of October 7, 2023. A Gallup poll last month, cited by The Hill, shows a decline in sympathy for Israel in recent years: 46% of Americans say they are closer to the Israelis than the Palestinians (down from the past), while 33% are more sympathetic to the Palestinians. Among Democrats, however, the gap is stark: only 21% side with Israel , compared with 59% who support the Palestinians. https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2024/05/30/israeli-views-of-the-israel-hamas-war/
The Israel lobby, with Aipac at the forefront , seems intent on countering this trend with every means at its disposal. Its influence, as underlined by Sanders and now relaunched by Mearsheimer, is felt not only in the votes in Congress, but also at the ballot box and in the courts, where dollars and power speak louder than words. One thing is certain: the lobby never sleeps, and those who oppose Israel do so at their own peril .
https://it.insideover.com/politica/il-peso-decisivo-della-lobby-pro-israele-sulla-politica-usa.html
Source INSIDEOVER https://it.insideover.com/politica/usa-la-lobby-israeliana-non-dorme-mai-laipac-lancia-una-nuova-offensiva.html/amp