The Israel Lobby
Posted on September 23, 2007 - Filed Under American Politics, Politics | 2 Comments
This book is causing quite a stir in foreign policy circles, and even further afield. It is basically an expanded essay by two highly regarded international relations theorists, John J. Mearsheimer and Stephen M. Walt, in which the role of the pro-Israel lobby in US foreign policy formulation is examined and criticised. Mearsheimer and Walt argue that the lobby wields an unhealthy influence in Washington, particularly on Captiol Hill, where groups such as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee succeed in bending House members and Senators to their will through means such as campaign finance contributions.
Nothing in Mearsheimer and Walt’s critique is particularly new, but the criticisms carry more weight here as they come from heavyweight IR theorists with substantial reputations, as opposed to angry letters to the editor from a pro-Palestinian group. Ultimately they argue that a more even-handed American foreign policy in the Middle East would be to the benefit of everyone, including Israel in the long term. You can read the original essay here, and a slightly critical review here.
(In the interest of full disclosure, I only read the original essay.)
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See, if you support Israel it will help bring about the End Times, where the Jews will all convert or die….
I’m not kidding, that’s how some of them think.
I know, I know. The Christian Zionists are an unusual bunch indeed.