Gaza war highlights need for US lobbying reform

The US is backing Israel’s campaign on Gaza. The war, which is now in its fourth month, risks spreading into a regional war. The Houthis are attacking ships heading toward Israel, Iraq is witnessing turbulence and a significant confrontation between Hezbollah and Israel is looking more and more likely. A ceasefire is necessary for regional stability. The only one that can coerce Israel into a ceasefire is the US. According to a November Reuters/Ipsos poll, 68 percent of Americans favor a ceasefire. Yet, the US continues to give Israel a blank check. Why?

This is mind-boggling. The US is supporting Israel even though the American public is for a ceasefire. To add to that, a regional war is not in the US’ interest, especially if it gets sucked into it. US policy toward the Middle East seems to be more about showing support for Israel than attending to the American public’s preference or the country’s best interest.

Mohammed Baharoon, a well-known Dubai-based think tanker, commented on X: “The US will go to outer space to protect its own national interest, yet today it subordinates its interests in the Middle East to a foreign politician who is facing legal charges,” referring to Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister.

The answer is very simple. The US support for Israel is driven by the pro-Israel lobby. While we look at the lobby as a cabal or some type of conspiracy, it is a totally legitimate operation under US law. Under the First Amendment of the US Constitution, citizens can “petition the government for a redress of grievances.” This led to the inception of lobbying.

A small group of well-funded individuals is pushing the US to adopt a policy that most Americans do not support

Dr. Dania Koleilat Khatib

American citizens can organize and constitute pressure groups that can plead with the government and push for their policy preferences. This is part of the democratic process, whereby groups can contribute to the country’s decision-making process. Pressure groups or lobby groups also finance election campaigns. Campaign promises can then become policies once a candidate is elected. This all comes across as an expression of democracy.

However, when it comes to foreign policy, this system allows certain groups to influence the policy of the entire nation. There is no more flagrant example than the case of the pro-Israel lobby and its influence on US policy toward the Middle East.

Today, in the case of the war on Gaza, the discrepancy between the national interest and public opinion and the actual US Middle East policy is very visible.

In 2007, Stephen Walt and John Mearsheimer wrote a best-selling book on the pro-Israel lobby’s influence on US foreign policy. The pro-Israel lobby is a group of organizations that work toward promoting a US Middle East policy that is favorable to Israel. Its most important element is an organization called the American Israel Political Affairs Committee, known as AIPAC. Its members and funders are US citizens and hence it falls under the lobbying laws of domestic groups. Like other domestic lobby groups, AIPAC has the right to finance election campaigns.

When foreign states hire a lobbyist or public relations consultant to advance their interests in the US, the agents working for them have to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. This law was put in place to limit the ability of foreign governments to influence US policy. However, domestic groups can organize and advocate for a certain foreign policy outcome and they have a lot of room to maneuver because they are considered as American citizens who have the right to contribute to the country’s policymaking.

Once the money element is removed from the lobbying for foreign policy, it will become more balanced

Dr. Dania Koleilat Khatib

In theory, it should be acceptable for American citizens to lobby for foreign policy the same way they have the right to lobby for teacher benefits, elderly rights, etc. However, foreign policy decisions do not only affect the group advocating for them — they affect the entire country.

Unless there is a ceasefire in Gaza soon, the Middle East could easily slip into a regional war. However, neither the US Congress nor the Biden administration has called for a ceasefire. Except for a few voices here and there, policymakers are standing with Israel. Beyond the poll that showed that a majority of Americans are in favor of a ceasefire, major cities are being flooded with pro-Palestine demonstrations. Yet, the policy has not changed. In fact, what we see today is the undemocratic result of lobbying: A small group of well-funded individuals is pushing the US to adopt a policy that most Americans do not support.

It is time for the US to change the law to prevent its national interest being dictated by one small group. Domestic lobby groups should be restricted to lobbying on domestic policy. If they want to lobby on foreign policy, they should register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. Once the money element is removed from the lobbying for foreign policy, it will become more balanced and more in tune with the real interests of the country.

Activists in favor of a ceasefire recently revealed how much certain politicians have received from AIPAC. President Joe Biden is the leading recipient of AIPAC funds. When a lawmaker depends, to a large extent, on the financing of their campaign by a single generous donor, are they likely to go against that benefactor’s will? I would say it was very unlikely.

AIPAC is known to go after those politicians whose votes or opinions it disapproves of by generously financing their rivals. Money should no longer be a factor that can affect foreign policy decisions. One would think that now would be a good time to make this change. Unfortunately, now more than ever, politicians need AIPAC’s money to finance their campaigns, as the US is about to enter an election season.

Until a US administration takes the bold step to free America’s foreign policy from the control of a privileged few, expect more and more disastrous decisions, especially regarding the Middle East.

• Dr. Dania Koleilat Khatib is a specialist in US-Arab relations with a focus on lobbying. She is co-founder of the Research Center for Cooperation and Peace Building, a Lebanese nongovernmental organization focused on Track II.