According to an expert, the American Israel Political Affairs Committee’s (AIPAC) powerful lobbying makes it practically impossible for Republicans and Democrats to stop arms supplies to Israel.
“A free trip to Israel, organized by AIPAC, is one of the first offers US lawmakers encounter when they begin serving,”
Max Blumenthal, editor-in-chief of The Grayzone news website, told Anadolu. He pointed out that politicians who consider Israel to be a holy land and those who have no understanding of the Palestinian problem get a lot of financial support for their campaigns. The MPs were visited by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who also compared the network behind them to a powerful mafia lord.
The role of AIPAC in US-Israel relations
Blumenthal claimed that legislators who have little knowledge of the other viewpoint gladly back Netanyahu. He also claimed that due to deeply ingrained biases against Arabs and Muslims, AIPAC operates in Washington with little opposition. Blumenthal claimed that money from the armaments industry is sent straight to US Congress members, who receive regular briefings from the Pentagon to influence their opinions, and that the media is subject to various forms of control. A cease-fire would unavoidably follow if the US imposed a weapons embargo on Israel, he continued, but Washington cannot control Israel. “An independent presidential candidate free from Israel’s influence is almost impossible to emerge in the Democratic Party,” he stated. Many officials outside of AIPAC’s sphere of influence would be threatened with assassination, just as leaders in the Middle East, if they disobey Israel’s demands or question its legitimacy.
The strategic importance of arms sales to Israel
Blumenthal claimed that the United States has allowed Israel to violate both US and international humanitarian law by providing billions of dollars in weaponry to Israel since October 7, 2023. He maintained that the US may be held accountable for genocide and has turned into a complicit party in war crimes in the Gaza Strip. Blumenthal pointed out that Israel permitted 71 trucks to cross through Gaza despite a letter from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Chief Lloyd Austin asking for the daily admission of at least 350 trucks carrying humanitarian aid. He underlined that nations who refuse humanitarian aid should be subject to a halt in the delivery of weapons under US law, but he didn’t think Washington would censure Israel. Blumenthal pointed to a Nov. 1 Washington Post article that mentioned evidence of civilian deaths in Gaza brought on by US-made weapons, saying the articles have verifiable information. In Beit Lahiya, for example, where about 100 people were killed, he said, remains of US-made bombs were discovered in a shelter.
Lobbying power and political influence in Washington
According to Blumenthal, the Pentagon provides material to defense reporters in Washington, and if they object, they risk losing their jobs. He underlined that the US shields Israel from responsibility and thwarts attempts to stop the massacre by using its influence at the UN and the support of other European nations under its control. According to Anadolu Agency, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres spoke about their common concerns on security in Haiti and Somalia, as well as Houthi captives in Yemen. In an interview Friday, Blinken emphasized the progress of the Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti, the US Department of State said. The importance of “heeding the Haitian government’s request to transition the MSS to a UN peacekeeping operation, which will provide sustainable security support for the Haitian people” was another topic covered by the US official. According to the Anadolu Agency, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits the politicians and compares the network of supporters to a powerful mafia leader. Blumenthal claimed that politicians who have little knowledge of the opposition party enthusiastically back Netanyahu. He also claimed that because of long-standing biases against Arabs and Muslims, AIPAC operates in Washington with little opposition. Blumenthal claimed that money from the armaments industry is sent straight to members of the US Congress, that the Pentagon frequently advises them on how to sway opinions, and that the media is subject to many controls.
National security vs. humanitarian concerns
Along with discussing
“steps to secure the release of all UN, diplomatic, and nongovernmental organization staff detained by the Houthis in Yemen,”
the two presidents also discussed funding alternatives for the African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM). Somalia has been plagued by terrorist assaults for years, particularly by al-Shabaab, a group associated with al-Qaeda. Blinken conveyed his appreciation to Guterres for his ongoing guidance and teamwork in tackling these issues. According to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the six UN human rights employees, five of whom were men and one was a woman, were taken into custody on June 6 together with seven other UN employees.
