The Power of Aipac (American-Israel Public Affairs Committee) and U.S.-Israel Special Relationship

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a multi-dimensional conflict with numerous forcesworking collectively from international structure, regional structure and domesticstructure. This book aims to offer a comprehensive reading on the AIPAC, the U.S.Middle East Policy, Israel, structural fault lines, and creation of the Palestinian state.The book touches on specific aspects, such as;• The macro dimension of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.• U.S.-Israel Special Relationship (1948-2019).• The American Jewry.• The AIPAC and its modus operandi in U.S.• The U.S. Middle East Policy.• Future of the Palestinian State in the Middle East.AIPAC is the strongest American-Jewish lobby in the United States. Many criticsargue that AIPAC able to influence the U.S. Middle East policy, thus jeopardizes theU.S. national interest. For many decades, intangible factor, the soft power of AmericanJewry has been serving the national interest of Israel. American domestic structureis embedded within liberal democratic values, enable the American Jewish lobbiesto operate successfully. This phenomena attracted attention of many scholars, suchas; Samuel P. Huntington and George F. Kennan, Tony Smith, David Truman, John J.Mearsheimer, and Stephen M. Walt to produce valuable literatures.John J. Mearsheimer and Stephen M. Walt assert that the AIPAC is dangerousto U.S. national interest. AIPAC plays an important role in preserving the U.S.-Israel'special relationship' in the American soil through lobbying strategy. A triangularpattern of relationships prevail between AIPAC, Israel and the U.S. Middle Eastpolicy. AIPAC serves to preserve the 'special relationship' between Israel and U.S.in periods of peace and turmoil. Some critics say AIPAC projects dual nationalism intheir modus operandi. AIPAC represents the loyal American Jews who wish to seethe United States of America remains strong and powerful in international system. Atthe same time, AIPAC loves and supports Israel as the Jewish national home. AIPACaims to see Israel secured and able to survive in the volatile Middle East region.Apparently AIPAC has certain level of influence over the US Middle East policyin creation of the Palestinian state. AIPAC ensures creation of the Palestinian stateis safe to Israel’s national interest and national security. AIPAC often tries to directthe U.S. Middle East policy towards other contagious issues in the region to divertU.S. attention in the Palestinian peace process. Success and failure in AIPAC’s lobbydepend on U.S. national interest in the region. AIPAC never possess insurmountablepower to influence the US Middle East policy. AIPAC able to influence the U.S. MiddleEast policy when there is a convergence factor with the U.S. national interest. Theprime force in the U.S. Middle East policy is undoubtedly the U.S. national interest.Followed by Israel’s security, security and stability of the Middle East. However,AIPAC as an instrument of policy should not be excluded from the study on thePalestinian state.