The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, is an American pro-Israel lobby group based in Washington D.C. A self-described grassroots movement of Israel supporters, AIPAC aims to support Israel by ensuring America’s backing and works closely with Democrats and Republics in drafting measures and bills of support.
For over 50 years AIPAC has been working with members of Congress and the Senate to draft resolution in support of Israel and to ensure American support of Israel stays strong in the face of threats against the Jewish State.
In addition to lobbying for increased assistance for Israel, AIPAC also pursues policies on important issues such as the Iran nuclear threat and advancing peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. Boasting a membership over 100,000 supporters, each year AIPAC organizes a policy conference that includes students and members of Congress, as well as leaders from Europe and Israel. Over the years AIPAC has been involved with over 100 legislative and political initiatives concerning Middle East policy or aiming to broaden U.S.- Israel relations.
AIPAC’s activities also aim to keep Israel strong in the face of what it calls growing existential threats. It promotes anti-terrorism cooperation between Israel and the U.S., as well as intelligence and homeland security cooperation, and is increasingly in favor of a strong line over Iran's efforts to acquire nuclear weapons.
The lobby also works closely with American political candidates to educate them on issues pertaining to Israel and the Middle East, and encourages them to take a proactive approach towards issues regarding Israel’s security needs, and promoting legislation that will help Israel continue its fight against terrorism.
In recent years, AIPAC has been accused of lobbying to the detriment of Israel on matters including the treatment of Palestinians and recent wars between Israel and armed militants. It has also been attacked by anti-Semitic and anti-Israel groups as a Zionist lobbying force that controls all U.S. policies regarding the Middle East and the Arab-Israeli conflict.
American politicians, AIPAC itself and most pro-Israel groups reject these claims, although there has been more moderate criticism that the lobby has adopted a right-wing line, which the new pro-Israel group JStreet says it is seeking counter with its own more centrist, pro-peace stance.
AIPAC backs a two state solution. But its refusal to comment when the Trump administration 'legalized' Israeli settlements, a key obstacle to any future Palestinian state, demonstrated its lack of purpose - and spine
The Maryland congressman, who died Thursday at the age of 68, is hailed for work as an advocate for civil rights and closer Black-Jewish relations
AIPAC and others stay silent, focusing on the departure of hawkish U.S. national security chief John Bolton
Tweet by pro-Israel lobby group marks second time in recent months it published a statement containing some level of criticism over a decision by Netanyahu
Two weeks before trip by colleagues Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, members of Congress have come to Israel on AIPAC-affiliated trip. 'The press has their story, but this is what’s really happening,' says one participant
House vote shows that Democrats object to BDS, but they can expect growing Republican pressure to support more thorough anti-boycott legislation
'It’s clear the Trump White House invited a subset of the Jewish community and intentionally excluded others,' says director of an excluded group
Four U.S. lawmakers who have long proved staunch supporters of Israel express concern over the prime minister's campaign promise ■ Other lawmakers single out Netanyahu's 'full-throated embrace of the far right’s extreme agenda'
There's a war going on inside America's pro-Israel camp, as doctrinaire Jewish right-wingers slam anyone who rejects their doubling down on Trump and Netanyahu. Doggedly bipartisan AIPAC has never seemed more moderate
The administration says Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador aren't doing enough to stop the flow of immigrants into the U.S. ■ In the past the countries have tried to leverage their ties with Israel in order to improve their standing in Washington
Corey Booker, Kamala Harris, Kirsten Gillibrand and Amy Klobuchar all met with delegations of AIPAC activists from their home states in Washington
Netanyahu thinks evangelicals are more reliable guarantors of U.S. support than liberal American Jews and fractious, inclusive groups like AIPAC. He’s wrong: the fury many U.S. Jews feel is directed against him, not Israel
Rep. Steny Hoyer said his sarcastic comment at AIPAC, 'there are 62 freshman Democrats' and 'not three,' is aimed at the media, not the new representatives
While Republicans are quick to point fingers at Ilhan Omar, Democratic speakers remind them of bigotry in their own camp
Netanyahu told the AIPAC conference 'take it from this Benjamin, it's not about the Benjamins,' criticizing the congresswoman's controversial tweets
Critics from the left fiercely attacked Harris on social media for allowing AIPAC representatives into her office, slamming her for being 'on the fence'
Whether or not this was the prime minister’s last speech to conference, it’s hard to ignore the fact that he now takes the pro-Israel lobby for granted
Prime minister speaks via satellite after cutting Washington visit short over Israel-Gaza fighting
The senate minority leader also refuted claims that his party doesn't support Israel, saying 'plain and simple, the Democratic party supports Israel and will continue to do so'
While the prime minister always has the D.C. crowd in the palm of his hand thanks to his oratorial polish, his rival was the archetypal native Israeli – and all the more appealing to Americans for that
The former AIPAC intern turned sports media businesswoman Betsy Berns Korn was announced next president of the lobby group on Sunday
U.S. vice president tells conference that congresswoman who has been accused of using anti-Semitic tropes should not be allowed to sit on House Foreign Affairs Committee, accuses Democratic presidential nominees of boycotting event
Main Netanyahu rival promises there will be no racists leading our state institutions, Iran won't have a presence in Syria, and says that under him, Israel will strive for peace with any 'honest and willing Arab leader'
Shumley Boteach placed full-page ad in Sunday’s Washington Post comparing congresswoman’s words with famously anti-Semitic quotes, ahead of gala event he's hosting Thursday with leading White House officials
Romania's prime minister told AIPAC that the country would move its embassy in Israel, but the statement was strongly contradicted by the country's president
Representative Steny Hoyer told AIPAC that Omar does not represent the Democratic party's position on Israel
The president has the final say about moving the embassy, contradicts Viorica Dancila's claim at AIPAC that she will move Bucharest's embassy in Israel, in yet another disappointment to Israel on this front
'You don't run a country through your cronies and cousins,' chief Netanyahu rival said in Washington, adding that defense officials are always told of state secrets after prime minister claims reasons for sale to Egypt are secret
Netanyahu's son was temporarily banned by Facebook for racist post, shared meme praised by neo-Nazi leader and said after Charlottesville that leftist 'thugs' were more dangerous than white supremacists
The pro-Israel lobby must abandon some long-entrenched habits if it hopes to prosper in these hyperpartisan times. For starters, it needs to stop being so secretive