Money spent: $39,449,387
Christians United for Israel and AIPAC are two of the most powerful pro-Zionist lobby groups operating in the United States. Both groups operate very differently, but work in tandem to push forward the interests of Zionism and the state of Israel.
With a yearly operating budget of over $100 million, AIPAC's primary lobby influence is exerted through the purchase of influence and the manipulation of elections. Meanwhile, CUFI utilizes its 10million+ membership of Christian-Zionists to implement grassroots lobbying. They do this by urging their list to lobby directly to politicians through mass emails, which encourage elected officials to support pro-Israel policies -- which are always at the expense of U.S. taxpayers. Here's how they work:
AIPAC:
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is the most powerful pro-Israel lobby group in the U.S. It boasts that "the U.S.-Israel relationship is a mutually beneficial partnership that saves lives and advances American interests and values, helps protect our troops, strengthens our economy, and addresses 21st-century challenges."
We disagree! In reality, AIPAC does the opposite. It is one of the main reasons why more elected officials aren’t calling for a ceasefire and end to the genocide in Palestine—even though it’s the overwhelming demand from the people. This is because AIPAC:
- Buys politicians to advocate unconditional U.S. support for Israel
- Funds election campaigns to back pro-Israel politicians
- Denies Israel's appalling human rights record and specializes in deflecting Israel's atrocities to blame Palestinians
- Targets anyone criticizing the Israeli government via smear campaigns
- Helps defeat pro-Palestine candidates in elections as seen in the recent defeat of Rep. Jamaal Bowman
Quick Facts
- Incorporated in 1963, AIPAC was established by Isaiah L. Kenen 10 years prior in 1953, not long after the Nakba.
- It was initially called the "American Zionist Committee for Public Affairs"-- a lobbying division of the American Zionist Council.
- Isaiah L. Kenen used to work for the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs to "implement Israel's foreign policy and promote economic, cultural, and scientific relations with other countries."
- AIPAC formed in part due to a hostile international response to the 1953 Qibya massacre when Israeli forces massacred more than sixty-nine Palestinian villagers in Qibya West Bank, two-thirds of which were women and children, and destroyed forty-five houses, a school, and a mosque.
- In late 2021, AIPAC formed its own political action committee, called United Democracy Project (UDP). It also announced plans for a Super-PAC, which can spend money on behalf of candidates.
CHRISTIANS UNITED FOR ISRAEL (CUFI)
The largest American pro-Israel lobbying group is Christians United for Israel, or CUFI. CUFI is a Christian Zionist organization founded in 2006 by Pastor John Hagee. It claims to be the largest pro-Israel organization in the United States, with a membership of approximately 10 million evangelical Christians. Its core mission is to advocate for unwavering U.S. support for Israel, based on a theological belief that such support is biblically mandated and linked to end-times prophecy.
Organizational Structure:
- The main organization, registered as a church with the IRS, focuses on grassroots mobilization. It employs regional and campus-based staff to engage churches and students, organizing rallies and demonstrations to build public support for Israel.
- The CUFI Action Fund, a 501(c)(4) lobbying arm, directly influences policy at the federal and state levels. Led by Sandra Hagee Parker, this fund spends significant amounts on lobbying activities.
CUFI's lobbying efforts are focused on ensuring U.S. policy aligns with its staunchly pro-Israel stance. Key objectives include:
- Unconditional Support: Advocating for massive U.S. military aid to maintain Israel's "qualitative military edge" and defending all Israeli military actions as self-defense.
- Combating BDS: Lobbying for and successfully passing widespread legislation at the state and federal levels to oppose the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement.
- Influencing Key Decisions: Supporting controversial U.S. policy shifts that align with Israeli government preferences, such as the relocation of the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem.
- Current Priorities: Following the October 7, 2023, attacks, CUFI has intensified lobbying for increased arms deliveries to Israel, stricter sanctions on Iran, and reduced U.S. involvement in the United Nations.
Through a combination of grassroots mobilization and direct lobbying, CUFI effectively promotes its Zionist vision as a central component of U.S. foreign policy.
Resources on CUFI:
How Christian Evangelists Manipulate U.S.-Israel Policies - Spheres of Influence
Why Faith Leaders are standing up to the Largest pro-Israel Christian Lobby
Politicians in the U.S. bought by groups like AIPAC and influenced by grassroots lobby campaigns by CUFI have a ripple effect across the globe. The U.S. has the most significant military influence in the world, and we've seen it in practice when the U.S. vetoes ceasefire agreements at the U.N. If the U.S. disapproves -- it doesn't fly. This influence pins down U.S. "allies" in Europe and elsewhere to be accountable to zionist and war-mongering values, too. In other words, the lobbyist groups buying Congress don't just affect Americans. It affects everyone, everywhere.
Related News Links
McGarvey campaign will no longer accept pro-Israel AIPAC money, rep says Courier Journal, Sept. 2025
AIPAC's Campaign to Defeat Senator Jon Ossoff Daily Kos, Sept. 2025
Josh Riley Faces Backlash From Constituents After Taking AIPAC Trip to Israel Ithica, Sept. 2025
Deborah Ross Won’t Take AIPAC Money in 2026 Indy Week, Sept. 2025
Is AIPAC Testing the Waters to Primary Rep. Summer Lee? The Intercept, July 2025
AIPAC tells Democrats to get in line and ‘stand with Israel’ Middle East Monitor, June 2025
AIPAC attack on Jon Ossoff divides Jewish Georgians AJC Politics, June 2025
AIPAC Has Too Much Influence on Congress, Says Rep. Ro Khanna Zeteo, June 2025
Ceasefire Not Peace: How Netanyahu and AIPAC Outsourced Israel’s War to Trump? CounterPunch, June 2025
AIPAC Demands Democrats ‘Stand With Israel’ American Prospect, June 2025
Is AIPAC Coming After Ilhan Omar? The Intercept, May 2025
Bernie Sanders says US Democrats silent on Gaza genocide because of fear of AIPAC The New Arab, May 2025
Down Two Squad Members, Progressives Come for an AIPAC Democrat The Intercept, May 2025
AIPAC’s Anti-BDS Bill Is Derailed, at Least for Now Sludge, May 2025
Fossil Fuel and Finance Donors Pour Millions Into House GOP War Chest Sludge, April 2025
Cash bribes, threats from Musk, Trump behind aid to Israel votes People's World, April 2025
Trying to Block Arms to Israel, Bernie Sanders Denounces AIPAC’s Massive Election Spending The Intercept, April 2025
‘Dr Evil’: Dem Congressman Slams Billionaire ‘Villains’ Like Musk For ‘Decimating the Government’ Zeteo, April 2025
AIPAC attacks Democrats who voted to stop arms sales to Israel The Forward, April 2025
Ex-AIPAC Staffer: 'I Woke Up to What Israel Was' Zeteo, February 2025
Here Is All the Money AIPAC Spent on the 2024 Elections Sludge Report, Jan. 2025
How AIPAC shapes unconditional US support for Israel, AlJazeera, September, 2024
Five things we learned from our reporting on the US’s pro-Israel lobby, The Guardian, August 2024
AIPAC is growing desperate, AlJazeera, August 2024
Progressives on AIPAC’s Defeat of Bowman: “Now We Know How Much It Costs to Buy an Election”, The Intercept, June 2024
AIPAC uncorks $100 million war chest to sink progressive candidates
*Data on this page includes the dollar amount the pro-Israel lobby spent on lobbying elected officials since 1998. Most of this money does not go to politicians’ accounts, rather it’s spent paying lobbyists and covering lobbying expenses. This number does not include campaign contributions given to politicians by the pro-Israel lobby, that information can be found on the Politicians Bought by Zionism page. While campaign contributions are a significant factor in determining the influence of the pro-Israel lobby, it is necessary to consider the amount spent on lobbying efforts to understand just how effective lobbying is — so much so that they’re willing to spend millions on it.
