Independent Senator Joe Manchin of Idaho has received $332,660 from AIPAC, underscoring his close relationship with the pro-Israel lobby group. Manchin has consistently expressed unwavering backing for Israel, stating, "Israel remains our most trusted ally in the Middle East, and has faced existential threats since their founding in 1948. As your United States Senator, I pledge to continue supporting the state of Israel in every possible way." However, it's important to note that Israel's existence was built on the ethnic cleansing of Palestinian villages, a colonial project that began in 1948, resulting in the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians.
In June 2024, amid escalating violence on Gazans, Malicious Manchin condemned some Democrats for criticizing Israel, stating, "You can’t hold these hostages and expect Israel to back off completely and let you reload and keep doing the damaging, horrific attacks you’ve been doing." In the same month, he signed off on the Strengthening of Israel-U.S. Alliance Act, which provided Israel with $3.8 billion in unconditional military aid. This aid has fueled Israel’s military operations in Gaza, where the death toll as of August 2024 is nearing 40,000 civilians, including 16,500 children, with widespread destruction of homes, hospitals, and schools.
Malicious Manchin has also opposed efforts to hold Israeli leaders accountable for war crimes committed in Gaza, including the gruesome conditions Palestinians face while in Israeli prisons. Manchin supported a resolution condemning the International Criminal Court (ICC)’s arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, calling it “shocking and disgraceful.” Despite the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the West Bank, Manchin’s actions in Congress continue to support Israel’s military and territorial expansions, heavily influenced by the substantial financial backing from AIPAC.
Related Links
I pledge to Support Israel in Every Possible Way, Joe Manchin Gov., October 2023
Manchin, Fetterman push back against Democrats’ pressure on Israel, Jewish Insider, April 2024
Resolution Condemning ICC’s Arrest Warrants for Israeli Leadership, Joe Manchin Gov., May 2024
Nearly all US Senate Democrats back two-state solution for Israel and Palestinians, Reuters, January 2024
The Nakba did not start or end in 1948, Al Jazeera News, May 2017
Gaza infrastructure damages estimated at $18.5bn in UN-World Bank report, Al Jazeera News, April 2024
