Domestic Issues Challenge Israel, US and the Palestinians

by Mitchell Plitnick As US Secretary of State John Kerry pursues talks in Jerusalem and Ramallah, political opportunists on all sides are trying to seize the moment to advance their goals. Kerry emerged from his second day of meetings with… Continue Reading

47 Senators Take AIPAC’s Word Over U.S. Intel Community

by Jim Lobe The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) has published the list of senators who so far have agreed to co-sponsor the Nuclear Weapon Free Iran Act of 2013, aka the Wag the Dog Act of 2014. You’ll… Continue Reading

Kirk-Menendez-Schumer Wag the Dog Act of 2014

by Jim Lobe Copies of the bill that Sens. Kirk, Menendez, and Schumer hope to introduce in the Senate this week — presumably to be pressed for passage after the Christmas/New Year recess — are circulating today around Washington, and,… Continue Reading

The New AIPAC: Win Some, Lose Some

by Mitchell Plitnick The year of 2013 saw three major defeats in three different ways for AIPAC, the so-called “pro-Israel” lobby group heretofore thought invincible by some (it is important to note that the policies they push for are not… Continue Reading

Iran Deal Out of Congressional Woods for 2013

by Jim Lobe In what can only be considered a pretty substantial defeat for Bibi Netanyahu, neoconservatives, and the mainstream Israel lobby here, lobby-led efforts in both houses of Congress to enact some form of new sanctions legislation or resolutions… Continue Reading