The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is an American lobbying group that supports Israel. Lobbying is protected by the First Amendment, but AIPAC is frequently demonized because it is so effective. AIPAC is only effective because the American voters are pro-Israel by a large margin – the American people are the Israeli Lobby.
That has not stopped people like Rep. Thomas Massie from spreading claims of AIPAC impropriety and suggesting disloyalty, as he did recently on Tucker Carlson’s podcast, where he painted AIPAC assigning a staffer to cover each member of Congress as nefarious. Is that really surprising that a major lobbying group makes sure its staff covers all members of congress? I’d be shocked if they didn’t.
AIPAC also donates money to pro-Israel candidates, and has been successful at backing pro-Israel Democratic primary challengers against anti-Israel ‘Squad’ members. There has been a frenzy against AIPAC for decades, but it’s picked up in intensity after the October 7 massacre with groups like “AIPAC Tracker” targeting congressional members who receive donations (like my former student Rep. Sharice Davids).
Attacks on AIPAC are not inherently antisemitic, but like ‘anti-Zionism’ frequently they are cover for it. So much easier to complain about the “Israel Lobby” and dual loyalty than to say what you really mean.
In an age when the anti-Israel movement screams to “Globalize the Intifada” – it’s no surprise that terrorism like happened in New Orleans today takes place.
Receiving less press coverage is the arrest of a Florida man who plotted to shoot up an AIPAC office in Florida. From Florida Politics:
A man was arrested after he traveled from Gainesville to South Florida with his weapons in a plot to attack a pro-Israel organization, according to newly filed court records.Forrest Pemberton told authorities he changed his mind and decided not to carry out his plan.“It would have been a one-way ticket in Plantation, I decided I wasn’t ready. I gave up,” Pemberton said, according to the federal complaint filed Dec. 30.Court Watch, which was the first to report on the foiled attack, said his intended target was the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) office.“We take these threats very seriously and we are working closely with law enforcement concerning this matter,” AIPAC said in a statement to Court Watch. “We will not be deterred by extremists in pursuing our mission to strengthen the relationship with America’s valued ally, Israel. We are deeply appreciative of the FBI’s work to stop this individual.” …Pemberton’s father contacted law enforcement Dec. 23 after Pemberton left in the middle of the night with his guns, leaving behind a letter….The FBI began surveilling him and watched him get into a ride share on Christmas Day with his soft rifle case. They pulled the vehicle over and confiscated his AR-15 rifle, Galil rifle and Luger pistol as well as his ammunition.
WJTV12 further reports:
His computer showed searches and Google Maps queries for AIPAC and its former Plantation office, as well as the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Taxpayer Assistance Center and the IRS Appeals and Chief Counsel Office.Pemberton checked into a hotel just two miles away from AIPAC’s former office on Dec. 22. He checked out on Dec. 23 and was traced to a Tallahassee hotel the next day, where he was seen on Dec. 25 entering the ride-share with an “apparent soft rifle case.”He told police he chose AIPAC as his target because of its “political influence” and location, saying he was frustrated with the “status quo” and wanted to see if he “could make a change,” according to the affidavit.However, Pemberton said he ultimately decided against “committing criminal action.”“It would have been a one-way ticket, in Plantation, I decided I wasn’t ready. I gave up,” he told police, per the affidavit.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL VERSION OF THIS STORY