{"id":202571,"date":"2020-02-17T08:41:52","date_gmt":"2020-02-17T08:41:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/?p=202571"},"modified":"2020-02-20T07:09:21","modified_gmt":"2020-02-20T07:09:21","slug":"pro-israel-lobby-caught-on-tape-boasting-that-its-money-influences-washington","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/?p=202571","title":{"rendered":"Pro-Israel Lobby Caught on Tape Boasting That Its Money Influences Washington"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ryan Grim \u2013 The Intercept Feb 11, 2020<\/strong><\/h1>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

A debate about<\/u> the power in Washington of the pro-Israel lobby is underway, after Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., responded sharply to reports that Republican leader Kevin McCarthy was targeting both Omar and fellow Muslim Rep. Rashida Tlaib, a Democrat from Michigan.<\/span><\/p>\n

Omar quoted rap lyrics \u2014 \u201cIt\u2019s all about the Benjamins baby<\/a><\/strong><\/span>\u201d \u2014 to suggest McCarthy\u2019s move was driven by the lobby\u2019s prolific spending. Asked specifically who she was referring to, Omar responded, \u201cAIPAC<\/strong><\/span><\/a>!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The debate over the influence of pro-Israel groups could be informed by an investigation by Al Jazeera, in which an undercover reporter infiltrated the Israel Project, a Washington-based group, and secretly recorded conversations about political strategy and influence over a six-month period in 2016. That investigation, however, was never aired by the network \u2014 suppressed by pressure from the pro-Israel lobby<\/a><\/strong><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

In November, Electronic Intifada\u00a0obtained and published<\/strong><\/span><\/a> the four-part series, but it did so during the week of the midterm elections, and the documentary did not get a lot of attention then.<\/span><\/p>\n

In it, leaders of the pro-Israel lobby speak openly about how they use money to influence the political process, in ways so blunt that if the comments were made by critics, they\u2019d be charged with anti-Semitism.<\/span><\/p>\n

David Ochs, founder of HaLev, which helps send young people to American Israel Public Affairs Committee\u2019s annual conference, described for the reporter how AIPAC and its donors organize fundraisers outside the official umbrella of the organization, so that the money doesn\u2019t show up on disclosures as coming specifically from AIPAC. He describes one group that organizes fundraisers in both Washington and New York. \u201cThis is the biggest ad hoc political group, definitely the wealthiest, in D.C.,\u201d Ochs says, adding that it has no official name, but is clearly tied to AIPAC. \u201cIt\u2019s the AIPAC group. It makes a difference; it really, really does. It\u2019s the best bang for your buck, and the networking is phenomenal.\u201d (Ochs and AIPAC did not immediately return The Intercept\u2019s requests for comment.)<\/span><\/p>\n

Without spending money, Ochs argues, the pro-Israel lobby isn\u2019t able to enact its agenda. \u201cCongressmen and senators don\u2019t do anything unless you pressure them. They kick the can down the road, unless you pressure them, and the only way to do that is with money,\u201d he explains.<\/span><\/p>\n