Israeli Influence in American PoliticsFred Lazin

Ben Gurion University (NYU 2009-2010)

lazin@bgu.ac.il

Mearsheimer & Walt

• Myth of Israeli influence in Washington• May be that Israelis foster myth• Road to Washington via Jerusalem & NYC

Israel as Scapegoat

• Bush on Iran• Next word out of his mouth “Israel”• What about our friends the Saudis?

• Neo-Cons• Maybe support for Iraqi war had little to do

with their commitment to Israel; Did they use Israel?

Research findings on Soviet Jewry Movement in USA

• 1. Israel’s Liaison Bureau foster it (Sacher 1992)• Use diplomats, journalists to influence public

opinion & Jewish & non Jewish orgs• E.g. Uri Ra’anan• Moshe Decter paid agent Center at

AJCOngress• Recruit Martin Luther King, Walter Reuther,

William O. Douglas, Mrs. Roosevelt, Reinhold Niebuhr

Israeli role

• 2. help organize National Conference on Soviet Jewry

• 3. role in Jackson-Vanik (JJ Goldberg not agree)

American Jewish Establishment

• Issue bearing on Mearsheimer & Walt• 1. dropouts 1976 freedom of choice• Prime Minister Rabin & Leonard Fein at

Philadelphia GA • 2. quota in 1989 when Soviets open gates

US closes– Israeli pressure– American Jews agree (own self interest)

Future research

• To what extent did Israel influence US to close its gates to Soviet Jews???