The Power of the Israeli Lobby
By Dr. Syed Amir
Bethesda, MD


In a rare departure from their normal practice, the US media this past month has given exposure to an article critical of Israel. Two distinguished professors of political science and international affairs at two of the most prestigious universities in the United States, Chicago and Harvard, have jointly published an account of the power of the Israeli lobby in America. Since its publication in the last week of March, the article has ignited a firestorm in political circles, especially among the supporters of Israel. The authors have been accused by some of being anti-Semitic and paranoid, while others have applauded their courage in standing up to the powerful Israeli lobby. Published in the London Review of Books, Professors John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt have methodically delineated the influence of the various political and religious organizations that over decades have successfully maneuvered US policies to the benefit of Israel.
The supporters of Israel have succeeded by convincing the public that the American and Israeli national interests, combating terrorism and promotion of democracy in the Middle East, are identical. John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt argue that these policies have not only cost huge sums of money to the American public, but, even worse, are antithetical to national interests, spawning needless ill-will and hostility in the Islamic world. The situation showcases the remarkable ability of well-organized interest groups, passionate about their specific cause, to implement their narrow agenda in the face of an indifferent majority.
The two scholars strengthen their arguments by citing impressive statistics. They point out that since 1976, Israel has been the single largest recipient of American economic and military aid, and since the second world war has collected almost $140 billion dollars from the US tax payers. No other country has come close to receiving anything near that amount. Currently, Israel is paid three billion dollars per year in direct grants which amounts to approximately $500 for each Israeli citizen -- man, woman and child. The country has benefited in other ways as well. While other countries, receiving US aid, however modest in magnitude, are obliged to spend it on buying material and goods in the US, not Israel. It can spend one-quarter of the amount it receives in upgrading and improving its own defense industry, a major advantage.
Apart from providing generous financial assistance, the US has also extended some crucial diplomatic coverage, vetoing 32 UN Security Council resolutions since 1982 that were critical of Israel. This number of vetoes exceeded those cast by all other member countries combined. According to the two authors, the American role in peace negotiations between the Palestinians and Israel has not been based on neutrality, as the country has generally sided with Israeli positions, causing much resentment among the Palestinians. Resultantly, such negotiations have degenerated into acrimonious debates and ended in failure. These favors notwithstanding, Israel has not reciprocated in kind, defying US requests to put a freeze on its expanding settlements in the occupied territories and spurning all requests to moderate the intensity of its reprisals against the Palestinian inhabitants.
The argument that Israel is a small beleaguered state that is surrounded by hostile neighbors, wedded to its destruction is not compelling. Mearsheimer and Walt concede that if it did face an existential threat, all-out support would be morally justified. However, Israel, with a population of half of that of Karachi, has achieved an unquestioned military and technological superiority over the neighboring Arab countries. It faces no real military threat, and its standard of living rivals that of Western Europe. In addition, not all Arab/Islamic countries are hostile to Israel, as both Egypt and Jordan have signed formal peace treaties, and it has always enjoyed friendly relations with Turkey. Furthermore, it has established disguised commercial and business ties with several smaller Arab countries.
The spectacular success of Israel in drawing US support owes largely to the impressive skills and resourcefulness of its supporters in Washington, such as the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations. AIPAC, in particular, is recognized as of the most powerful and best organized pressure groups in Washington. It operates through the country’s democratic structure, making generous monetary contributions to the election campaigns of friendly Congressmen and Senators, whether Republican and Democrats. In exchange, it expects them to support Israel. This lobbying group is so influential that its annual convention in Washington is considered a major event, drawing a constellation of powerful Government and political leaders who try to outdo each other in pledging their support for Israel.
In fairness, the majority of Jews in the United States holds moderate views, opposes the Iraqi war and favors a two-state solution in the Middle East, Israel and Palestine. However, most of them are reluctant to publicly criticize Israel or its harsh treatment of the Palestinians. This attitude is not too dissimilar from that of the moderate worldwide Muslim majority which strongly opposes violence and suicide bombings perpetrated by an extremist fringe in the name of Islam, but feel far too intimidated to repudiate it.
The support for Israel is not exclusive to people of Jewish faith, however; equally ardent, if not more so, are the Evangelical or fundamentalist Christians, a conservative faction that has gained considerable power and influence in America during the past decade. Much of their love for Israel arises from their religious convictions, based on a literal interpretation of the Bible. They are awaiting the appearance of the Messiah in Jerusalem who, according to their belief, will convert the Jews and others to Christianity and establish the kingdom of God. They believe that this will not happen until all Jews return and reclaim their inheritance, the entire land of Israel, including the occupied Palestinian territories.
Clearly, a confluence of factors has contributed to the success that Israel has enjoyed in molding American Middle East policy, not least of which is the remarkable success and accomplishments of Jewish Americans. Less than 2 percent of the population, they are disproportionably represented in professions of high scholarship and prestige, medicine, journalism, science and the news media. Less than 0.2 percent of world’s population, they constitute 22 percent of the Nobel Prize Laureates. However, they did not always enjoy this acceptance and support and had to endure much prejudice when they first arrived here in large numbers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries from Europe to escape persecution.
There has been a remarkable turnaround in the fortunes of American Jews, but this was achieved peacefully and through participation in the democratic process of this country. Their success story could serve as an example for Muslim immigrants who have chosen to settle in the countries of Europe and North America. While adhering to their religion and traditions, Jews have adapted remarkably well to the ways of their host countries, integrating fully within the society. While, the American Muslims have been more successful in becoming part of the national mainstream, and enjoy a high standard of living, unfortunately, in Europe, it has been a different story as the recent troubles in England, France and Scandinavian countries testify. The nature of problems faced by European Muslims is different than those experienced by American Muslims. However, as immigrant communities over the ages have learnt by experience we cannot survive nor succeed as an island of insularity in an ocean of native population that is both technologically advanced and culturally sophisticated.

 

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