http://www.stopaipac.org/

Also read the following famous article published by Harvard University (http://papers.ssrn.com/abstract=891198 or http://ksgnotes1.harvard.edu/Research/wpaper.nsf/rwp/RWP06) about the power of the Israel lobby in America.

Exactly how is questioning AIPAC instantly anti-semitic?

"Exactly how is questioning AIPAC instantly anti-semitic?"

It isn't - but as soon as you start questioning AIPAC's influence or Israeli government policy you will be accused of being anti-semitic. This is despite the fact that there are many very vocal Jewish critics of AIPAC and Israeli government policy. For example, one of the best articles I've read on this topic was written by Tony Judt (http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/article_details.php?id=6706). He is very critical of AIPAC and argued strongly that being critical of AIPAC and Israeli government policy is not necessarily anti-semitic. But it is very important that those who support Palestine choose their words carefully. For example, a lot of people in the press refer to the 'Jewish lobby' or 'Jewish interests'. The problem with this is that it implies that the Jewish peoples are a homogenous group of people who all support AIPAC and Israeli government policy - it is consequently anti-semitic. When AIPAC supporters see terms like 'Jewish lobby' being used they will automatically accuse the author of being anti-semitic - even if he/she is not. Any good points that author was making will be lost in a storm of accusations of anti-semitism. Rhetoric is important in this debate and people should refer to specific lobby groups like AIPAC.

And here is the CAMERA rejoinder to the Harvard AIPAC article:

http://camera.org/index.asp?x_context=7&x_issue=35&x_article=1099

CAMERA is a media gadfly organization that attempts to exert financial pressures against media outlets that they accuse of having anti-Israel bias. It is a highly charged issue, particularly because AIPAC has probably provided countless illegal contributions to American legislators and engaged in spying activities.

I find both the Harvard study and the CAMERA rejoinder to be exercises in propaganda. The Judt article cited above is excellent.

I agree with you about Tony Judt, and I agree with you about the CAMERA article - it is largely propganda. However, although you may be critical of the Harvard study I don't see how you can call it propaganda - unless it is pro-democracy, pro-America, pro-justice propaganda.

Mark Mazower, a professor of history at Columbia University, wrote that it is not possible to openly debate the topic of the article: "What is striking is less the substance of their argument than the outraged reaction: to all intents and purposes, discussing the US-Israel special relationship still remains taboo in the US media mainstream. [...] Whatever one thinks of the merits of the piece itself, it would seem all but impossible to have a sensible public discussion in the US today about the country’s relationship with Israel."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Israel_Lobby_and_U.S._Foreign_Policy

And you see the exact same kind of taboo against discussing the American relationship with Saudi Arabia, even beyond the financial ties of the Bush family. Only in the last 2-3 years have I seen a growth of pro-Palestinian media, but mostly on the web and notably still lacking in the academy. Jimmy Carter certainly helps to move the discussion (following in the steps of Edward Said) and the untenable and inhumane conditions in Palestine since the collapse of talks in 2000 requires foreign intervention.

The interesting thing about the Harvard article is that the pro-Israel groups seem more disturbed by the fact that it is a Harvard publication than the actual content of the article itself. I believe that they are seeking a control of media and academic outlets that can no longer realistically exist. You are correct that I don't think much of the Harvard article because there do seem to be large gaps in the substantiation of its sources and I believe that it fatally falls sway to the simplistic "Jewish Lobby is the root of evil" mentality.

At the same time, I am extremely happy that Harvard published it because it does shed light on some of the evils of AIPAC and it fosters discussion about both the article and the inevitable reaction. It also keeps Palestine in the public eye and provides political traction to relief organizations within Gaza and the West Bank.

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