The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy

1. U.S. Support for Israel is Driven by the Israel Lobby

The real reason why American politicians are so deferential is the political power of the Israel lobby.

Unwavering Support. American politicians, particularly presidential candidates, consistently express strong support for Israel, often prioritizing it above other foreign policy concerns. This behavior is not solely based on strategic or moral grounds but is significantly influenced by the Israel lobby.

Defining the Lobby. The Israel lobby is a coalition of individuals and organizations that actively work to shape U.S. foreign policy in a pro-Israel direction. It is not a monolithic entity but a powerful interest group comprising both Jews and non-Jews.

Lobby's Objective. The lobby's primary goal is to ensure that the United States maintains its unwavering support for Israel, even when Israeli policies may not align with U.S. interests or values. This influence extends to shaping American policy toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and broader Middle East issues.

2. The Lobby's Power Stems from Political Influence and Public Discourse Control

The individuals and groups in the United States that make up the lobby care deeply about Israel, and they do not want American politicians to criticize it, even when criticism might be warranted and might even be in Israel’s own interest.

Political Clout. The Israel lobby exerts considerable influence over the policy process, particularly in Congress. It rewards or punishes politicians based on their stance on Israel, guiding campaign contributions and shaping legislative outcomes.

Shaping Public Opinion. The lobby actively works to shape public discourse about Israel, promoting its strategic and moral arguments while stifling or marginalizing dissenting voices. This includes influencing media coverage, academic research, and think tank outputs.

Consequences of Influence. The lobby's power has significant consequences for American foreign policy, particularly in the Middle East. It has led to policies that may not be in the U.S. national interest and have been harmful to both the United States and Israel.

3. Strategic Asset or Liability? Israel's Shifting Role

Washington’s close relationship with Jerusalem makes it harder, not easier, to defeat the terrorists who are now targeting the United States, and it simultaneously undermines America’s standing with important allies around the world.

Cold War Asset. During the Cold War, Israel was considered a strategic asset for the United States, helping to contain Soviet influence in the Middle East. However, with the end of the Cold War, this strategic value has diminished.

Current Liability. Today, the close U.S.-Israeli relationship has become a strategic liability. It fuels anti-Americanism in the Arab and Islamic world, complicates U.S. relations with key allies, and makes it harder to address other regional problems.

Terrorism and the Middle East. The perception of U.S. favoritism toward Israel is a significant driver of anti-American sentiment, contributing to the rise of terrorism and instability in the Middle East. This makes it more difficult for the United States to achieve its broader foreign policy goals.

4. The Moral Case for Unconditional Support is Weakening

There is a strong moral case for Israel’s existence and there are good reasons for the United States to be committed to helping Israel if its survival is in jeopardy.

Shared Values. The argument that the United States supports Israel because of shared democratic values is often invoked. However, this argument is undermined by Israel's treatment of Palestinians and its policies in the Occupied Territories.

Moral Justifications. Other moral justifications, such as Israel being a vulnerable underdog or its superior conduct compared to its adversaries, are also questionable. Israel's actions, particularly its treatment of Palestinians, raise ethical concerns.

Erosion of Moral Standing. Israel's prolonged occupation, settlement construction, and use of force against civilians have eroded its moral standing, making it harder to justify unconditional U.S. support based on moral grounds.

5. The Lobby's Agenda: Prioritizing Israel's Security

The lobby has successfully convinced many Americans that American and Israeli interests are essentially identical. In fact, they are not.

Security as Primary Goal. The Israel lobby's primary agenda is to ensure Israel's security and well-being. This includes maintaining generous U.S. aid, promoting policies that benefit Israel, and countering perceived threats to the Jewish state.

Influence on U.S. Policy. The lobby's agenda has significantly influenced U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, often leading to policies that prioritize Israel's interests over those of the United States. This has included supporting military interventions, opposing negotiations with certain actors, and maintaining a hard line on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Consequences for U.S. Interests. While the lobby believes its agenda benefits both countries, the resulting policies have often jeopardized U.S. national security, strained relationships with allies, and fueled instability in the region.

6. The Lobby's Influence on U.S. Policy Towards Palestine

Even when American presidents put pressure on Israel to make concessions or try to distance the United States from Israel’s policies—as President George W. Bush has attempted to do on several occasions since September 11—the lobby intervenes and brings them back into line.

Consistent Backing. The United States has consistently backed Israel's efforts to quell or limit Palestinian national aspirations, even when American presidents have sought to distance themselves from Israeli policies. The lobby intervenes to ensure that U.S. leaders remain aligned with Israel's positions.

Limited Palestinian State. The lobby's influence has hindered the creation of a viable Palestinian state, as the United States has rarely used its leverage to pressure Israel to make meaningful concessions. This has led to continued suffering on both sides and growing radicalization among Palestinians.

Worsening Image. The United States' unwavering support for Israel's policies toward the Palestinians has damaged its image in the Arab and Islamic world, making it harder to address other regional challenges.

7. The Lobby's Role in the Iraq War and Regional Transformation

The lobby was a necessary but not sufficient condition for a war that is a strategic disaster for the United States and a boon for Iran, Israel’s most serious regional adversary.

Driving Force. The Israel lobby, particularly neoconservatives within it, played a significant role in driving the Bush administration's decision to invade Iraq in 2003. While other factors were involved, the lobby's influence was a necessary condition for the war.

Neoconservative Agenda. Neoconservatives within the lobby sought to transform the Middle East by removing Saddam Hussein and promoting democracy. They believed this would benefit both the United States and Israel.

Strategic Disaster. The Iraq war has been a strategic disaster for the United States, leading to instability, increased terrorism, and a stronger Iran. It has also been harmful to Israel, as it has diverted attention from other threats and strengthened its regional adversaries.

8. The Second Lebanon War: A Case Study of Lobby Influence

Almost every country in the world harshly criticized Israel’s bombing campaign—a campaign that killed more than one thousand Lebanese, most of them civilians—but the United States did not.

Unwavering Support. During the 2006 war in Lebanon, the United States provided Israel with unequivocal support, despite widespread criticism of Israel's bombing campaign and its impact on Lebanese civilians.

Lobby's Role. The Israel lobby played a key role in shaping the U.S. response to the war, ensuring that Washington backed Israel's actions and resisted calls for a cease-fire. This support undermined the pro-American government in Beirut and strengthened Hezbollah.

Harmful Influence. The lobby's influence made it difficult for U.S. policymakers to offer honest and critical advice to their Israeli counterparts, facilitating a policy that further tarnished America's image and strengthened Hezbollah.

9. Offshore Balancing: A New Strategy for U.S. Interests

The combination of unstinting U.S. support for Israel and Israel’s prolonged occupation of Palestinian territory has fueled anti-Americanism throughout the Arab and Islamic world, thereby increasing the threat from international terrorism and making it harder for Washington to deal with other problems, such as shutting down Iran’s nuclear program.

Core Interests. The United States' core interests in the Middle East include maintaining access to Persian Gulf oil, discouraging WMD proliferation, and reducing anti-American terrorism.

Offshore Balancing. A more effective strategy for defending these interests is offshore balancing, which involves minimizing U.S. military presence in the region and relying on local actors to maintain stability.

Benefits of Offshore Balancing. This approach would reduce anti-Americanism, facilitate cooperation with regional powers, and allow the United States to focus on other global challenges.

10. Reforming the U.S.-Israel Relationship and the Lobby's Role

We do not call for abandoning the U.S. commitment to Israel—indeed, we explicitly endorse coming to Israel’s aid if its survival were ever in jeopardy.

Treating Israel Normally. The United States should treat Israel like a normal country, making U.S. aid conditional on an end to the occupation and on Israel's willingness to conform its policies to American interests.

Addressing the Lobby's Power. Accomplishing this shift requires addressing the political power of the lobby and its current policy agenda. This could involve campaign finance reform, encouraging more open debate, and supporting alternative pro-Israel groups.

Constructive Influence. The goal is to modify the lobby's influence to make it more beneficial for the United States and Israel alike, promoting policies that advance peace, stability, and mutual security in the Middle East.

Last updated: March 3, 2025