What We Mean When We Say Zionism Is Buying Our Democracy

Despite an overwhelming call by the American people for the U.S. to stop backing Israel's genocide campaign in Gaza, U.S. politicians are prioritizing the demands of a foreign entity — Israel — over the interests of the U.S. population. Why? For decades, the Zionist lobby has bought out politicians to pass legislation solidifying U.S. support for Israel’s ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. 

In 2022 alone, the U.S. Congress received $23,734,981 from the Zionist lobby. The disproportionate influence this money has over U.S. legislation is evident in how the U.S. is supporting Israeli genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. Zionist influence not only shapes policies that perpetuate the ongoing occupation of Palestine, but it also enables Israeli violence against Palestinians by paying for silence and repressing dissent. 

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is the most powerful pro-Israel lobby group in the U.S. It boasts that "the U.S.-Israel relationship is a mutually beneficial partnership that saves lives and advances American interests and values, helps protect our troops, strengthens our economy, and addresses 21st-century challenges." 

In reality, AIPAC does the opposite. The right-wing lobby group helps Israel maintain the genocide in Gaza and the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians by buying politicians to advocate unconditional U.S. support for Israel, funding election campaigns to back pro-Israel politicians, denying Israel's appalling human rights record while deflecting blame onto Palestinians, targeting critics of the Israeli government through smear campaigns, and helping to defeat pro-Palestine candidates, such as in the recent defeat of Rep. Jamaal Bowman.

Recently, Representative Thomas Massie revealed in an interview that every one of his colleagues has an 'AIPAC Babysitter' pressuring them to cast pro-Israel votes. This admission tells us what we already know: They are listening to the people with the pursestrings, not those who voted them into office. 

It would be devastating alone if the influence on our elected officials just ended with the un-democratic pro-Israel lobby. However, the weapons industry also works hand in hand with the war-hungry Zionist lobby. As one of the most powerful forces in politics today, the weapons industry boasts more lobbyists in D.C. than members of Congress. By channeling vast resources into influencing our legislators, the arms industry keeps the United States in a perpetual state of war, ensuring a steady demand for its lethal products.

President Eisenhower's prescient 1961 warning about the military-industrial complex, which still echoes today, was a stark reminder of the dangers of a massive, permanent industry born out of World War II and the Korean War. His concerns were not unfounded - to date, the Pentagon budget is nearing a staggering $1 trillion. Shockingly, over half of this budget is funneled into private companies, surpassing the annual funding for the Department of Education. This financial distortion directly results from the arms industry's multi-million dollar lobbying efforts to maintain the status quo.

Compounding the issue is the revolving door between the top levels of the U.S. government and the highest echelons of these corporations. For instance, Lloyd Austin, the current head of the Pentagon, required special congressional approval for his position due to his previous role on the board of Raytheon/RTX. This revolving door perpetuates the cycle, ensuring military priorities align with corporate profits.

Zionist influence doesn't just end with lobbying efforts. Beyond University financial ties to Israeli companies, pro-Israel think tanks contribute to the perpetuation of the conflict through partisan pursuits disguised as academia. For instance, the field of "terrorism studies" has gained a semblance of academic credibility, especially after the 9/11 attacks. Ninety percent of its research emerged post-9/11, although it often provides inaccurate, subjective analysis heavily influenced by its funders.

These scholars frequently advise Western governments on counterinsurgency strategies or have connections to right-wing think tanks, government agencies, intelligence and policing organizations, the military, or the private security sector.

The situation in Gaza highlights the urgent need to reevaluate and dismantle the infrastructure supporting "terror knowledge." Re-examining the role of these biased think tanks involves defunding scholars who perpetuate false narratives, eliminating degrees and courses in terrorism and counterterrorism studies, and disbanding academic journals and conferences dedicated to this field. Educational institutions should be held accountable and ensure that their research and affiliations do not contribute to the perpetuation of violence, occupation, and genocide, as we saw college students across the country attempt to do this last semester. 

One of the lesser known but perhaps one of the more dangerous ways Zionism forces its influence on the American public is under the guise of charity. While Muslim and Palestinian charities in the U.S. face prosecution and terrorist labeling even for non-violent initiatives like donations to hospitals, organizations promoting violence against Muslims and Palestinians enjoy tax exemptions. This glaring double standard highlights the contradictions within the "nonprofit industrial complex," which, like the military-industrial and prison-industrial complexes, perpetuates deeply rooted structures of domination.

The difference is that this nonprofit version operates under the guise of benevolence and love. U.S. charities donating to humanitarian projects in Gaza have been held liable for deaths attributed to Hamas, based on the theory that "money is fungible" and that "giving money to Hamas is like giving a loaded gun to a child." Yet, American courts frequently dismiss lawsuits against nonprofits supporting illegal settlements.

These absurdities reveal a troubling reality: charities that genuinely aim to help those in need are penalized. At the same time, those promoting violence and occupation are rewarded with tax breaks. This unjust system not only undermines the integrity of charitable work but also perpetuates cycles of violence and oppression.

The violence and ongoing genocide in Palestine reveal a decades-long agenda by the Zionist lobby, which has strategically influenced U.S. politicians to disregard years of human rights abuses and war crimes in favor of unwavering support for Israel. The grotesque amount of bought influence weapons manufacturers and the pro-Israel lobbies, think tanks, and charities have over those who are supposed to be serving the people is the biggest slap in the face of our democracy. It essentially says that at the end of the day, the majority's will doesn't matter; doing the right thing doesn't matter - money matters more.  

Unmasking the machinations of the Zionist lobby is a crucial step toward the liberation of Palestine from within the belly of the beast. 

We encourage everyone to learn more at boughtbyzionism.org