The jews' money & media control are the keys to their stranglehold on Western politics: they control the politicos with the money (or the threat that their money will go to the opponent of any hack who crosses them) and they use their media to brainwash the Bible thumpers about Poor Li'l Israel.

James, Crimora, Virginia, USA

$$$$$$$$$$ Estimates start at 50% of dollars contributed to political campaigns at the national level. Do Americans share AIPAC's aims? We voted in a Democratic majority in 2006 as an anti-war protest, but they went supine. E.g., after AIPAC asked, Congress gave Bush full authority to attack Iran.

Adonis Tate, Lompoc, USA

jack,

of course jewish leaders are going to stick up for jewish concerns. is this news to you?

it seems you're suggesting jews have more money/power/influence than other groups. that's classic racism buddy.

steph, sydney, australia

the blatant anti semitism in some of these posts is disturbing!

rick, london, uk

Any innocent US politician who dares to question the vast funds showered on Israel is immediately blacklisted by AIPAC, and then his political opponent receives substantial funding from Jews all over the US.
"One man, one vote" becomes "One dollar, one vote".
AIPAC corrupts the democratic process

Wayne Flinders, Ufford, England

"Why the Jewish lobby punches above its weight"

Because they hold the purse strings and control the News.... duh.

joe, bradford,

Richard D. Henkus, yes we do remember a few Palestinians doing that, and probably half the world as well. 9/11 was an evil event done by evil people, but it wan't done by Palestinians. People here in the UK were horrified by what happened but I heard lots of 'how terrible, but ...' comments.

Mark Jones, cardiff, UK

There are perhaps a 100 billionaires in America, and half of them are of Jewish backgrounds. Studies show that Jewish Americans supply about half of the money raised by the GOP, and well over half for the Democratic fund raising. Check the top news owners as well. It's no mystery.

sofla, St. Petersburg, USA

Oil is payoff for the West's efforts
at providing PROXY COMBATANTS
for Israel--for protecting Israel
from expanding, encircling Islamic
Arabism; a Jewish nation-state
having supporters throughout the
West willing to destroy the entirety
of Western civilization for Israel's
sake.

Deacon, Grants Pass, USA, OR

"Remember the pictures of Palestinians cheering and celebrating?
Americans do.
Nex question?"

Richard D. Henkus, San Jose, USA

Nope - I remember Isreals smiling and cheering because " ... our enemy is now America's enemy"

Jon Ashton, Sheffield, England

Perhaps the Jews in a populace, within the UK and the US, are too intelligent to expose themselves to media brainwashing and intellectual stultification by TV shows like "Big Brother" and the other moronic drivel on our screens and in newspapers. These people are clever enough to THINK, and to act

Albert Grudge, Taunton, UK

"It is disingenuous to believe that being pro-Israel rules out talking to Iran."

Good point, TJM Black. When Mr. Obama addresses AIPAC tomorrow, we will then know whether he represents "change we can believe in".

stereoman, asheville, USA

To Richard D. Henkus,

Remember Iraq?
The world does
Remember who helped Bin Laden into power?
The world does
Remember the fabricated lies on WMD?
The world does
Remember how Palestinans are being thrown off their own land?
The world does
Next question?

Phil, Cheshire,

The thing that comes to mind, is trust even though the Jewish Community, should have equal oppertunity to push their interest it should not be to the sacrifice of other groups. Muslims & Catholics, Christians, Jews should have a voice. All people are important not just some people.

Andria Ashley, Cambridge, UK

Israel is the most bigoted country in the middle East as is seen in their treatment of Palestinians,the true semites.

George, Fredericksburg, USA

It's very simple. The church in America falsely believes that the Israeli state is the Israel of God. They therefore instruct their leaders to support Israel without conditions. It's been going on since 1948. The Israeli's and the church to have a great propaganda machine (Bush/Obama/Hagee/etc).

Eric, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Sadly, nothing changes - people always pick on Jews/Israelis as a convenient scapegoat for the world's ills.

leila , manchester, uk

Steph:
Google Mark Leibler or Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council. See comments he made on Malcolm Frazer. What blazen bias for Israel!

Can you explain why Mark met with George Bush during the offical Australian visit?

Suggest you also google donors to the political parties.

Jack, Richmond,

The central point made in this article is correct. The Israeli lobby is effective only because its aims are supported by the overwhelming majority of Americans.
I would also point out that Congress does not follow blindly any 'dictate'of the Lobby. Consider for instance the Saudi AWACs business .

Shalom Freedman, Jerusalem , Israel

The seeming hatred in these comments is scary.

First of all it seems to me that referring to Jews as "Zionists" is beginning to equal referring to black people with the n-word.

Yaakov, Israel is single-handedly the most progressive country in the middle east when it comes to homosexuality.

Yon D., Boston, USA

They back Israel exactly cos it's power reaches into all aspects of US media. Who owns/controls (shares) most of the large media outlets? Brain washing & misinformation was the greatest tool the Nazi's had, so how ironic that it is now being used by a Zionist lobby!

PBS, Solihull, UK

Israeli democracy encompasses its Arab minority, which votes and holds elected office. Israel compares favorably to the various neighboring dictatorships, who have sought its extermination for the 60 years since the U. N. created and the Arabs rejected by war the "two state solution" of 1947.

James Price, Haymarket, Virginia, U. S. A.

I wish that all such articles, features, and opinion pieces would use the term Zionist and not Jewish. There are many of us who abhor Israel and what it really represents. A democracy for whom??

Frederic Feingold, Hillsdale, New York, United States

Your main thesis is correct. AIPAC coordinates both the Jewish and Christian fundamentalist lobbies, which is why it punches above its weight. It is disingenuous to believe that being pro-Israel rules out talking to Iran. The problem lies with those in the White House who actualy formulate policy

TMJ Black, Southampton, U.K.

Israel is discrimitating Palestinian gays and lesbians ans a huge obsticle to the second coming of Christ

Yaakov Sullivan, NYC, US

AIPAC coordinates the US Jewish lobby and has managed to convince the US public that Israel's interests are somehow equal to the US's.
AIPAC subverts the democratic process by organizing the channelling of huge financial donations to any candidate who supports Israel.
Google "AIPAC spies"

Kfar Malal, New York, US

I'm assuming america's hunger for oil, a subject which usually works against israel's interests, is also something the "all powerful israel (read jewish) lobby" controls.

mearsheimer/walt's book is riddled with false facts and misinformation but hey, if it suits your agenda....

leonard, london, uk

jack, how do you feel about countries like iran or russia pouring money into the region too?

do you have "proof" to back up your claims about uk or australian politics? i say your claims are proof of your prejudice.

steph, sydney, australia

Ok, so how do you explain the disproportionate weight of the jewish lobby in Australian or UK politics as well?

The US has been conned and they look stupid!
Israel has received over $100b in US support over the last 30 years whilst 5m US citizens may be about to lose their homes.......

Jack, Richmond, UK

So it all makes sense now. Despite Israel selling US secrets to Russia, spying on the US, blackmailing US politicians, they are of course America's best friend!

Please Israel, take more of my taxes and perhaps we can spend our country's wealth fighting you wars as well..ops..doing that already..

Boddy D, New York, USA

There is no better proof of U.S control then the "vito's" applied on every single UN resolution imposed on Israel by the US of A. Zionist's do control U.S foreign policy for sure. See: John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt.

jayil, london, uk

The Muslim marketing genius is the proximate cause boosting Israel's popularity in the US to its current, unprecedented height.
Remember 9/11?
Americans do,
Remember Muslim responses?
Americans do.
Remember the pictures of Palestinians cheering and celebrating?
Americans do.
Nex question?

Richard D. Henkus, San Jose, USA

Excellent article. I understand, however, that the percentage of Jews in America is now under 2% of the total population, so even smaller than you stated.

Dr. Irene Lancaster, Salford, UK

yeah right. and the moon is made of cheese.

terry, berkshire, england

"But it succeeds because very large numbers of Americans share its aims"

Not with the majority of informed voters I would imagine. Why would they support an organisation that puts Israel before the people of the United States?

Ron, Birmingham,