AMERICAN ISRAEL PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is a national advocacy group that lobbies for U.S. support to the nation of Israel.
Founded in 1951, AIPAC has grown into a 65,000-member organization that is recognized
as one of the most influential foreign policy groups in the United States. AIPAC has lobbied
Congress for U.S. foreign aid to Israel since 1951, when it helped defeat several efforts to cut aid for the resettling of hundreds of thousands of Holocaust REFUGEES in Israel. In addition, it
has lobbied for U.S.military aid to Israel and has
helped preserve the special relationship that has
existed between the United States and Israel
since the United States recognized the nation of
Israel in 1948.
AIPAC has its headquarters in Washington,
D.C. Members of its staff maintain an active
presence in the halls of Congress, attending
committee sessions and reviewing legislation
that may affect the relationship between the
United States and Israel. AIPAC estimates that it
monitors 2,000 hours of congressional hearings
annually. Its research staff members analyze
periodicals and documents in five different lan-
guages, amassing a large archive of information
on hundreds of issues, including foreign aid,
antiterrorism initiatives, and programs that pro-
mote United States-Israel strategic cooperation.
AIPAC staff members also work with key offi-
cials in developing legislation and policy, pre-
senting concepts and information that are
moved into the legislative process. AIPAC lobby-
ists hold one thousand meetings annually with
congressional offices.
AIPAC also works with aspiring politicians.
During the 1994 elections, representatives of
AIPAC met with 600 congressional candidates.
As of the early 2000s, nearly half of the members
of Congress had been elected since 1990, and
AIPAC had worked to educate these new legisla-
tors about the relationship between the United
State and Israel and the key issues critical to
maintaining that relationship. After the 1994
election, AIPAC staff met with every freshman
representative.
AIPAC regional staff members travel to
more than 600 communities a year to train
AIPAC members to be effective advocates for
United States-Israel relations. AIPAC works in
every congressional district, especially those dis-
tricts with little or no Jewish population. AIPAC
conducts small meetings and statewide work-
shops, giving its members the opportunity to
become involved in grassroots LOBBYING.
The influence of AIPAC remains strong. The
1998 foreign aid appropriation bill contained $3
billion for Israel. Of that amount, $1.8 billion
was for military aid and $1.2 billion was for eco-
nomic aid.An additional $80 million was appro-
priated to help settle Jewish refugees in Israel.
AIPAC has also maintained congressional sup-
port for Israel’s position in the Middle East
peace process, arguing that attempts to distance
the United States from Israel’s position only
encourage its Arab neighbors to ask for unilat-
eral concessions. AIPAC believes that the peace
process will only achieve results if the close
working relationship between the United States
and Israel continues.
Following the SEPTEMBER 11TH ATTACKS in
2001, AIPAC has stepped up its agenda to make
sure that the United States continues to ensure
Israel’s security by working with Congress to
isolate and financially constrict such groups as
Hamas, Hezbollah, and Palestinian Islamic
Jihad. AIPAC has continued to support U.S.
efforts to isolate and pressure Palestinian
authority chairman Yasir Afarat to stop bomb-
ings and suicide missions within Israel. Through
its Web site, the organization also kept its mem-
bers updated on protective measures taken by
the Israeli people as the United States initiated war with Iraq in 2003.
FURTHER READINGS
American Israel Public Affairs Committee. Available online
at (accessed May 30, 2003).
Bass, Warren. 2003. Support Any Friend: Kennedy’s Middle
East and the Making of the U.S. Israel Alliance. New York:
Oxford Univ. Press.
Wright, John R. 1995. Interest Groups and Congress: Lobbying,
Contributions, and Influence. New York: Addison-
Wesley.
