Shhhhh... You’re not allowed to say “AIPAC”

There’s simply no way to understand U.S. policy toward Israel and Gaza without talking about the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

Yet most major news outlets won’t report on AIPAC for fear of upsetting corporate advertisers or being accused of antisemitism.

Meanwhile, 40,000 Palestinians are dead in Gaza and half a million are living on the brink of starvation, while AIPAC uses their army of lobbyists and super PAC spending to keep the bombs and bullets flowing from the U.S. to Israel.

The Intercept’s fiercely independent reporters will never be intimidated into pulling punches when it comes to AIPAC or any other big-money special interest — but in these difficult times for journalism, we rely on your donations to power this and other investigations.

Will you donate $5 to support The Intercept’s investigations into AIPAC — and our ongoing coverage of Israel’s war on Gaza?

AIPAC is one of the most powerful lobbying forces in Washington, when it comes to the Middle East, and the top outside spender in Democratic Party primaries.

In 2022, the group successfully defeated Democratic Rep. Andy Levin, one of the most progressive Jewish members of Congress. Earlier this summer, AIPAC flexed its considerable political muscle by spending $25 million — raised in large part from Republican donors — to defeat Reps. Jamaal Bowman and Cori Bush in their Democratic primaries.

The effect of this spending goes far beyond these districts: Every Democrat knows that they will face similar attacks if they dare challenge Benjamin Netanyahu’s ongoing slaughter in Gaza or call for limits on U.S. military aid to Israel.

You can see the shadow of AIPAC at the Democratic National Convention, as almost no speakers have dared mention Israel’s war on Gaza, and pro-Palestine delegates have been shoved to the side — despite polls showing a wide majority of Democratic voters support an immediate ceasefire.

From our founding, The Intercept has reported critically on the U.S.–Israel relationship, the occupation, and how opposing voices are silenced. Now, our reporters are among the very few scrutinizing how AIPAC’s massive campaign spending is exerting influence in the Democratic Party establishment and quashing efforts to demand that Israel accept a ceasefire.

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