AIPAC’s grip on American politics
AIPAC is a lobbyist group with just the “concerns” for Israel as its front-facing reason to exist — or so it claims. But why does every politician, except about 20 in the House and Senate, receive money from AIPAC?
AIPAC is more than just a lobbyist group. It is the reason why 680,000 people have died in Palestine. AIPAC is Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right hand in the most powerful country in the world. AIPAC runs the United States — even in the statehouse of Olympia — and the blood pours from our senators’ hands.
AIPAC was founded by Isaiah L. Kenen in 1953, originally named the American Zionist Committee for Public Affairs. Kenen was formerly a journalist and lawyer while working for the Israeli government as a lobbyist.
He claimed the organization existed to promote the radical ideals of Zionism throughout Israel and the world. Kenen had a checkered past, but then again, aren’t all lobbyists a little checkered?
He served as Israel’s minister of foreign affairs, and since the birth of Israel, that ministry’s actions have included the cleansing of Palestine. Within the first year of Israel’s formation, 880 people were slaughtered in their homeland of Palestine by Israeli forces.
The formation of AIPAC by Kenen was an attempt to improve foreign relations after Israel killed 69 people in the Qibya massacre of 1953. Two-thirds of those killed in cold blood were women and children. President Dwight D. Eisenhower viewed AIPAC’s creation as questionable and attempted to make it an honest lobbying group independent of the Israeli government.
Kenen refused, as behind the scenes, the details were already in place to ensure AIPAC operated as an Israeli lobbying group, its founder literally coming from the Israeli government.
As time progressed, the organization rebranded as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, giving it a more palatable name.
Former President John F. Kennedy attempted to label AIPAC as a foreign entity, but that never happened. Kennedy was assassinated before he could push the measure forward — a tragic loss for America, but a moment that benefited Israel greatly. After Kennedy’s death, AIPAC became an organization that directly influenced the U.S. legislative branch. This is where the corruption began.
Alaska, Alabama, and Wyoming each have current representatives in Congress directly backed by AIPAC.
President Joe Biden, the Democratic Party’s leader for the past five years, and Vice President Kamala Harris have both received millions in campaign donations from AIPAC during that time.
Donald Trump, the current president of the United States, has received hundreds of thousands of dollars from AIPAC, according to the AIPAC Tracker.
This influence extends beyond the executive branch. Every upcoming presidential candidate is backed by AIPAC.
Sen. Cory Booker has received $800,000; Harris, the former vice president, $9 million; and Sen. Gretchen Whitmer, $230,000. Every other candidate either receives funding from AIPAC or supports Israel’s actions, except for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has received more than $1 million from AIPAC. Sen. Ted Cruz’s total approaches $1 million. Roughly 90% of Congress and the executive branch are backed by Israel.
Sen. Maria Cantwell, who has served for more than a decade, has received over $100,000 in spending from AIPAC. Sen. Patty Murray has received $505,000, showing that neither of Washington’s senators supports anything but Israel.
Rep. Suzan DelBene, who represents Washington’s 1st District, including the city of Mountlake Terrace, has received $203,994 from AIPAC. Like many others, DelBene is fully backed by Israel.
Every other Washington representative is backed by AIPAC, except for Rep. Pramila Jayapal.
Across Washington state and the nation, the pattern repeats: Congress, the executive branch, and nearly every state legislature are influenced by AIPAC’s endorsements.
These are the facts. Politicians are in the pocket of Israel and of an organization founded to fund Zionism. Regardless of where one stands on Israel or lobbying, the reality remains: the image of “lobbying” in America is the most corrupt it could ever get.
Across all parties and state lines, AIPAC controls American politics. That is simply what is happening to America.
For more information, visit TrackAIPAC to view AIPAC-backed candidates.
Anti-Semitism in today’s political situation
Anti-Semitism is something most of us have heard about, but it’s worth taking a moment to define it clearly. Anti-Semitism is bigotry and discrimination against Jewish people, a hatred that has persisted for thousands of years.
During the Roman Empire, Jewish communities were persecuted and expelled. The Ottoman Empire also pushed Jewish people out over the centuries, forcing them to move constantly in search of safety. Even in early America, many communities barred Jewish individuals from living there.
Fast forward to today, and anti-Semitism still exists in devastating forms, from synagogue shootings and hate graffiti to online spaces filled with anti-Semitic conspiracy theories. Organizations like the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the ACLU have done critical work to bridge divides and fight hate, but the issue remains widespread.
At the same time, discussions around Israel and Palestine have become deeply polarized. Some people who criticize the Israeli government or support Palestinian rights are being labeled anti-Semitic, a troubling development that can dilute the meaning of the term and silence legitimate debate. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has even compared calls to “Free Palestine” with shouting “Heil Hitler.” That kind of rhetoric only worsens division.
As someone who is not Jewish, Muslim, or Middle Eastern, just a white Christian man, I understand that my perspective may not carry the same weight. But I’ve personally faced backlash for my views on Israel.
In school, for example, I once spoke about the blockade of Gaza that has been in place since 2005. My teacher publicly reprimanded me, accusing me of anti-Semitism for simply referencing a documented fact. Public school teachers, especially in history classrooms, are supposed to remain neutral and foster discussion, not shut it down.
What worries me is that this reflex to label criticism of Israel as anti-Semitic has created a culture of fear and silence. The U.S. government’s unwavering political and military support for Israel despite incidents like the 1967 attack on the USS Liberty, which killed 32 U.S. service members and injured 171, is rarely questioned publicly.
Survivors have long said it was deliberate, but bringing that up still gets you called anti-Semitic.
When British musician Bob Vylan said “Death to the IDF” at Glastonbury this year, he was banned from performing in the U.S. and branded a domestic terrorist. Yet, criticizing a military force even harshly is not the same as targeting a religion. It’s political speech, and people have the right to express it.
Meanwhile, inflammatory language from Israeli leaders toward Palestinians often goes unchallenged. It’s clear this conflict is not simply “Israel versus Palestine” or “Hamas versus the IDF.” It’s a humanitarian crisis that many have called a genocide. And it is not anti-Semitic to acknowledge that reality.
More than 80% of Congress receives backing from pro-Israel organizations, and every U.S. president since Kennedy has made symbolic gestures of support, such as visiting the Western Wall. That kind of alignment makes it even harder to have open, nuanced discussions about the issue.
Let me be clear: anti-Semitism is real, vile, and must be condemned in all its forms. But calling out the Israeli government, the Mossad, or the IDF for their actions is not the same thing as attacking the Jewish faith. In fact, separating those two things, government policy and religion, is essential if we want to protect both truth and justice.
