International lobbies represent a shared influence between foreign nations and U.S. foreign policymakers. John J. Mearsheimer and Stephen M Walt’s article The Israel Lobby questions why the United States has been willing to “set aside its own security . . . to advance the interests of another state,” (Mearsheimer, J.; Walt, S.; LRB). It recounts the devastating political and economic impacts that the Israel Lobby has had on U.S. foreign policy; pointing to the self-enriched bureaucracy and establishment institutionalists that control foreign policy. Mearsheimer and Walt believe that “candidates go to great lengths not to antagonize” Jewish voters. Therefore the argument that ‘AIPAC exists because it cannot be contended’ logically suffers from the fallacy of the negative premise. Under Mearsheimer and Walts assertions, the Israel Lobby exists because it cannot not exist—a self-defeating circular fallacy concurrent in the argument against the Israel Lobby itself. But Mearsheimer and Walt have amassed enough institutional academic support to make such baseless claims, without severely tarnishing their professional reputation.
The article cites a Washington Post article that claims although Jews make up 3% of the population, they supply 60 percent of Democratic campaign money,” (Mearsheimer, J.; Walt, S.; LRB). Mearsheimer and Walt fallaciously equate religion to domestic politics. But AIPAC represents the interests of millions of Jewish citizens, not the interests of any national political party. The preservation of religion should not be determined by political or commercial interests. Instead, it must be determined by the followers of that religion, in this case the fourteen million Jews that exist, whose rights are represented and guaranteed exclusively by AIPAC.
Mearsheimer and Walt believe that AIPAC’s hegemony possess “no serious opponents in the lobbying world,” (Mearsheimer, J.; Walt, S.; LRB). Lastly, Mearsheimer and Walt conclude that “[t]he fact remains that the United States is in deep trouble in the Middle East;” citing an inevitable failure to “develop effective policies . . . about the role of Israel in American foreign policy,” (Mearsheimer, J.; Walt, S.; LRB).
Analysis
Overall, Mearsheimer and Walt’s argument is vastly unpersuasive. There are far greater global threats to U.S. national security. Stepping back from the emotional role of cultural identity and religion, the bipolar relationship between the U.S. and Israel international lobby. On one hand, proponents attest that the American and Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) supplies Israel with a sense of collective security. One the other hand, critics claim the Israel lobby influences Congress and erodes America’s sovereignty on the world stage. But elected politicians possess an inherent autonomy, and obligation, to ensure they act in the interests of their constituency.
But there are stark differential factors between Israel and the Israel Lobby. First, (1) Israel is not the same as the Israel lobby; second, (2) The American and Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) does not negate American interests but strengthens them; third, (3) the Israel lobby represents the bipolar interests of over ten million Jewish citizens.
Notably, Israel has 7.18 million Jewish citizens; and “is the world’s only officially Jewish state, having been founded in 1948 following the first Arab-Israeli War,” (Statista). America has 7.2 million Jewish citizens, bringing concurring interests to both populations (Statista). Thus, the Israel Lobby represents fourteen million Jewish citizens. Accordingly, the American and Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is “a mutually beneficial partnership that saves lives and advances American interests and values,” (AIPAC).
Biblically, Scripture comports with AIPAC and the U.S. support of Israel—an allied nation founded on religious faith. In the New Testament, God reminds us that He is aware of our personal faith, public service, and individual endurance; alongside our strive to continuously improve the state of the world through bipolar relations with other religious nations, (Rev 2:19); thereby preserving the right to worship, whilst facilitating independence, as designed by God, (Gen 11:8,9).
Alongside Mearsheimer and Walt, further opposition exists. Many of the critical opposition are radicals and other extreme political groups who irrationally oppose the existence of Israel. One opposing entity, Reject AIPAC, declares itself “a broad coalition of progressive groups working together to take on the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and its affiliated dark money Super PACs across electoral, political, digital and organizing strategies,” (RejectAIPAC). Further opposition include anti-Israel organizations and other ethnocentric institutions, like the Goyium Defense League (GDL), and other primitive entities.
Attorney Alan Dershowitz, responding to Mearsheimer and Walt, rebutted “Mearsheimer and Walt rely on discredited allegations and partial quotation,” (Mearsheimer, J.; Walt, S.; LRB). Dershowitz added that “[t]he authors pre-emptively accuse the Lobby of indiscriminately crying anti-semitism:” equating Mearsheimer and Walt’s position to “hate literature,” (Mearsheimer, J.; Walt, S.; LRB).
The Israeli state is far from perfect; Dershowitz adds that “[a]mong the harshest critics of Israeli policy are Jews and Israelis: just read the mainstream Israeli and Jewish-American press,” (Mearsheimer, J.; Walt, S.; LRB). Dershowitz concludes that “[t]he Israeli lobby in the United States—AIPAC—is accused of being too strong. I think it is not strong enough,” (Dershowitz, A., p. 275). Dershowitz asserts that “The reality is that Israel is a democracy comprising primarily of refugees and their descendants exercising their right to self-determination,” (Dershowitz, A., p. 20).
Frank Solomon, professor emeritus at MIT believes that Mearsheimer and Walt ignored Jews who back Israel but question the benevolence of the Israel lobby; citing “those American Jews for whom Israel is important but who do not agree with the aims of the Lobby,” (Mearsheimer, J.; Walt, S.; LRB).
Glenn H. Snyder of MIT believes Mearsheimer’s theory “complements Waltz” with “a theoretical rationale for revisionist states;” adding that “[t]his creates a potential for integrating offensive and defensive realist theory,” (Snyder, G., p. 173).
Tel-Aviv Professor Emeritus Yair Evron, in response to Mearsheimer and Walt’s article and charge against the Israel Lobby, “[t]he current situation in the Middle East is very different from the one depicted by John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt,” (Mearsheimer, J.; Walt, S.; LRB). Whilst Mearsheimer and Walt write from a position of theory, Evron writes from experience.
Tel-Aviv Journalist Yitzhak Laor refutes John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt’s assertions, writing that they “almost acquit the American war machine of what is happening here” adding “[s]uppose AIPAC weren’t there: would American policy in the Middle East be different? I doubt it,” (Mearsheimer, J.; Walt, S.; LRB).
Modern Application
Addressing Mearsheimer and Walt’s assertions remain outdated and obsolete in the modern context; AIPAC is essential to the security and stability of the global Jewish population. Israel’s bipolar relations with the United States are represented by AIPAC. Thus, Mearsheimer and Walt’s revolutionary theory remains absent from contemporary foreign policy application; undermining the validity of their assertions and reinforces the reason for its existence. Without AIPAC, Congress would not contribute any significant support for a Jewish state; an action that implies support for its inversion.
While Mearsheimer cites that “Israel receives its entire appropriation at the beginning of each fiscal year and can thus earn interest on it,” this allows the nation to steward its resources gained from the bipolar relations to purchase investments that will allow the nation to maintain its own sovereignty. Unfavorably, this includes ensuring security of the state of Israel and its Jewish population. Unlike America that is separated by oceans and does not neighbor any significant military threats national security, Israel is surrounded by nations that oppose its existence; it borders Jordan, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon and Palestine; alongside sharing access to the Mediterranean Sea. All of these nations share a predominantly Muslim population; and see Israel as a threat since its established.
The Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI) reports that “Israel has not been in a defensive war since 1973,” (FPRI). Much of this is due to America’s bipolar relations with Israel, formally shown by the Israel lobby. Mearsheimer and Walt fall short in their claim that, “[t]he Israeli government and pro-Israel groups in the United States have worked together to shape the administration’s policy towards Iraq, Syria and Iran, as well as its grand scheme for reordering the Middle East,” (Mearsheimer, J.; Walt, S.; LRB).
American Christian faith comports with Israeli Jewish faith. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo recorded on his talks with Israeli intelligence that “being open about my faith life didn’t scuttle my efforts on behalf of America—it strengthened them. Our abiding respect for one another flowed directly from talking about our imperfect, lifelong journey to honor God,” (Pompeo, M., p. 33). As Jesus told Thomas, nations who have yet to believe are still blessed, (John 20:29). The Israel Lobby represents the protection of the Jewish state and the religious protections of its citizens.
Conclusion
In sum, Mearsheimer and Walt’s erroneous position on the Israel lobby misrepresents the proficiency of their intelligence on foreign policy. Israel’s existence remains essential to the Jewish state. Israel is the only assurance of religion for millions of Jewish citizens. The Israel Lobby does not control government but influences it by representation the interests of seven million Jewish American citizens. The Israel Lobby displays the Christian obligation to preserve religious freedom. The Israel Lobby guarantees the preservation of Jewish faith; simultaneously allowing individuals to freely come to Christ on their own accord. The Israel Lobby thus remains an extension of American representation; not catering to radical institutionalist extremists as Mearsheimer and Walt’s position supports. Rather than reject AIPAC, it is essential to observe the millions of worshipers and the protections of their faith. For America is a nation obligation to promote the freedom of religion, especially in concurrent populations like Israel—the only Jewish state. Thus, Mearsheimer and Walt got it wrong: the Israel Lobby is an essential component of America liberty. Mearsheimer and Walt’s incorrect assumptions are evident from their unwillingness to acknowledge fourteen million Jewish citizens. Instead the article is an outdated theoretical fantasy that borders fiction and caters exclusively to their peers in the field of international relations.
Bibliography
AIPAC. (Accessed on April 16th, 2025). Who We Are. AIPAC. https://www.aipac.org/about
Bacevich, A. J. (2006). Twilight of the Republic? Commonwealth, 133, 10-12,14-16. https://go.openathens.net/redirector/liberty.edu?url=https://www.proquest.com/magazines/twilight-republic/docview/210402077/se-2
Dershowitz, A.M.. (2019). Defending Israel: The Story of My Relationship with My Most Challenging Client. St. Martin’s Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
Dershowitz, A.M. (2023). War Against the Jews: How to End Hamas Barbarism. Hot Books. Kindle Edition.
FPRI. (Accessed on April 20th, 2025). Israel’s National Security since the Yom Kippur War. Foreign Policy Research Institute. https://www.fpri.org/article/2017/10/israels-national-security-since-yom-kippur-war/
JeffWeintraub. (Accessed on April 16th 2025). Jeff Weintraub: Some Rebuttals to Mearsheimer & Walt’s “Israel Lobby.” https://jeffweintraub.blogspot.com/2006/04/some-rebuttals-to-mearsheimer-walts.html
Mearsheimer, J.; Walt, S.; LRB. (Accessed on April 16th 2025). John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt. The Israel Lobby. https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v28/n06/john-mearsheimer/the-israel-lobby
Mearsheimer, J.; Walt, S. (2007). The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy. (Function). Kindle Edition.
Pompeo, M. (2023). Never Give an Inch: Fighting for the America I Love. HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.
RejectAIPAC. (Accessed on April 16th, 2025). Reject AIPAC. https://www.rejectaipac.org/
Snyder, G. H. (2002). Mearsheimer’s World-Offensive Realism and the Struggle for Security: A Review Essay. International Security, 27(1), 149–173. http://www.jstor.org/stable/3092155
Statista. (Accessed on April 20th,2025). Countries with Largest Jewish Population 2022. Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1351079/jewish-pop-by-country/
Jordan Muhsin 