Members of Congress have taken hundreds of AIPAC-funded trips to Israel in the past decade

On June 16, as Benjamin Netanyahu continued his year-long defiance of Joe Biden over the conflict in Gaza, eight U.S. Home members and two staffers arrived at Tel Aviv’s luxurious Kempinski Hotel for a four-day immersion in Israeli politics.

The lawmakers and aides toured the nation and met with a lineup of audio system largely aligned with the Israeli prime minister’s conservative views — together with Netanyahu himself.

The journey, like lots of of others over the previous decade, was hosted by the nonprofit arm of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. AIPAC, which calls itself “America’s pro-Israel foyer,” is without doubt one of the most influential lobbyist organizations within the U.S. and promotes the Israeli authorities’s agenda.

After a roughly five-month pause following the Oct. 7, 2023, assault on Israel by Hamas, the AIPAC journeys have continued apace this 12 months, with eight journeys by 71 Home members and staffers from March by way of early September. Barely extra Republicans traveled with AIPAC’s nonprofit arm in that interval than Democrats.

Now, as lawmakers face strain from each side on U.S. support — with critics like Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) calling for a halt to arms gross sales within the face of Israel’s Lebanon offensive and supporters equivalent to Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) demanding extra funding for Israel to beef up its defenses — members are drawing on the teachings from their AIPAC journey to form their views.

Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.), who’s taken two AIPAC journeys since September 2023 and who benefited from $6 million in unbiased expenditures from AIPAC in his first run for Congress in 2022 — stated his time in Israel has been invaluable in understanding a key U.S. partnership.

“It is helpful to attempt to get out and see issues firsthand,” he stated. On the June journey, as an illustration, Ivey stated essentially the most highly effective moments he skilled had been assembly with hostages’ households and visiting the situation of the music competition the place scores of civilians had been killed or wounded.

“It was a really somber journey,” Ivey stated. “There’s no query about that.”

Whereas AIPAC is well-known for sponsoring journeys for lawmakers and aides to Israel in an effort to construct assist for the Jewish state, the total extent of that journey has not been clear till now.

A brand new evaluation of 1000’s of information reveals that, thanks largely to AIPAC’s nonprofit arm, Israel is much and away the No. 1 vacation spot for privately sponsored overseas journey by members of the Home and their aides.

Greater than 1 / 4 of the roughly 4,100 privately sponsored overseas journeys they’ve reported taking since 2012 had been for journey to Israel, in response to a research by the Howard Middle for Investigative Journalism on the College of Maryland, which is publishing its findings in partnership with POLITICO.

That’s extra journeys to Israel than to the complete Western Hemisphere and the continent of Africa mixed.

The Howard Middle created a database of all Home journey over the past decade. Every of the roughly 17,000 journeys represents journey by one U.S. Home consultant or staffer, both alone or as a part of a delegation and typically with a member of the family. The overwhelming majority of journeys — not less than three in 4 — had been taken by staffers, who play essential roles in shaping coverage and drafting laws.

The a lot smaller Senate reported greater than 2,600 journeys throughout the identical interval, however Senate disclosure varieties don’t present sponsors or locations in a format that may be readily analyzed.

Along with journey disclosures, nonprofit tax information and lobbying registrations, the Howard Middle examination of Home journey used information collected by OpenSecrets, a nonpartisan authorities watchdog group, and by LegiStorm, a public affairs info platform, to doc the in depth hyperlinks between lobbyists and journey sponsors.

Critics keep the journeys have left lawmakers with a one-sided understanding of U.S.-Israel relations and the Israeli-Palestinian battle — one which magnifies the hardline insurance policies of the present Israeli authorities.

“Whoever frames the dialogue wins the talk,” stated former Rep. Andy Levin (D-Mich.), a progressive Jewish politician and critic of AIPAC, which helped orchestrate his defeat in 2022.

The overwhelming majority of journeys to Israel — about 75 p.c — had been sponsored by AIPAC’s charitable affiliate, the American Israel Schooling Basis.

AIPAC’s use of AIEF permits it to legally get round a 2007 legislation that limits lobbyists’ direct involvement in most privately sponsored journey. An exception within the legislation permits some 501(c)(3) organizations equivalent to AIEF to sponsor journey. AIPAC lobbied for this exception and it’s identified by some because the “AIPAC loophole.” With out the exception, AIPAC can be restricted to sponsoring one-day journeys as a company that employs lobbyists.

Whereas different organizations have taken benefit of the loophole, none have contributed greater than AIPAC to what U.S. representatives and Home workers see and what messages they hear on journeys to Israel and the occupied West Financial institution.

AIPAC spokesperson Marshall Wittmann declined a number of requests for interviews however in a written assertion responded to what he described because the Howard Middle’s “false characterizations about our journeys.”

Wittmann wrote:

“AIEF-sponsored journeys assist educate bipartisan political leaders concerning the significance of the U.S.-Israel relationship by way of firsthand experiences in Israel, briefings by specialists on Center East affairs, and conferences with Israeli leaders from throughout the political spectrum.

“The journeys are uniquely coverage centered and complete on a wide selection of points regarding US-Israel cooperation together with regional safety, know-how, well being and science.

“Within the aftermath of the horrific Hamas assault of October seventh, these journeys present Members of Congress with a deeper understanding of the threats that Israel faces from Iranian terrorist proxies on its borders.

“Members of Congress have indicated that they discovered these journeys very helpful giving them a singular perspective on challenges dealing with the US and our ally Israel in a crucial area.”

Journeys to Israel are just one piece of a multipronged technique for selling Israel’s pursuits. AIPAC hosts an annual convention for elected officers within the Washington, D.C., space, which former Rep. Brian Baird (D-Wash.) referred to as the “largest gathering of members of Congress” aside from the State of the Union.

The group spent over $3 million on lobbying final 12 months, and its spending in 2024 at present locations it among the many high 3 p.c of all lobbyist teams tracked by OpenSecrets. Its PAC and tremendous PAC additionally helped funnel a mixed $50.9 million into the 2022 election cycle alone, in response to OpenSecrets.

Nonetheless, AIPAC’s prolific recruitment of members and workers for journey to Israel — journey which value not less than $10 million, in response to LegiStorm information for 2012-2023 — demonstrates the significance AIPAC locations on its journey program. Based on the Howard Middle’s evaluation, roughly half of the present members of the Home have traveled with the group since 2012.

Amongst them is the first-term congressman Ivey, who defeated former Rep. Donna Edwards in a 2022 main wherein AIPAC’s tremendous PAC spent $6 million on his behalf.

Ivey’s first journey was with eight different members of the Congressional Black Caucus. They arrived in Jerusalem on Sept. 2, 2023, a month earlier than the Oct. 7 assaults by Hamas. They met with high-ranking Israeli officers, however a key perspective was lacking from the journey, he stated in an interview.

The itinerary included a gathering with a Palestinian-Israeli peace activist, “however not folks in Gaza, and never the Palestinian Authority,” Ivey stated. “So, heavy deal with Israel and Israeli politics.”

Ivey’s second AIPAC go to was the June journey, which along with a deal with Israeli politics integrated a number of classes on the Oct. 7, 2023 assaults. Ivey stated that after they arrived in Israel, the airport “was lined with the faces of hostages which have been taken.”

Though Ivey stated that the group met with Palestinian-Israelis, the journey didn’t embrace a go to to Gaza or to the West Financial institution.

Like prior journeys sponsored by AIEF earlier than Oct. 7, Ivey and the remainder of the delegation additionally met with high-ranking Israeli officers together with Prime Minister Netanyahu, Minister of Protection Yoav Gallant, and chief of the Nationwide Unity Social gathering Benny Gantz, in response to the itinerary included in his disclosure varieties.

However on this journey, Ivey stated, “the main focus was completely totally different.”

Throughout his September 2023 journey, he stated there was a stronger deal with “attempting to determine… potential paths to a two-state answer.”

When requested whether or not the potential for a two-state answer was nonetheless a subject of dialog or consideration this June, Ivey stated he isn’t purported to share the particulars of the conferences.

However, he added, exterior of the U.S., “there’s a variety of of us who doubt that that is a chance.”

“I feel that’s true in Israel. I feel that’s true… amongst many Palestinians,” he stated. “Many individuals doubt or have questions on whether or not it’s nonetheless a practical choice.”

Collectively, AIPAC’s nonprofit arm spent $68,000 to underwrite Ivey’s two journeys, which included luxurious lodging. Ivey was joined by his spouse on his first journey — a singular AIEF journey that introduced 9 Home members of the Congressional Black Caucus to Israel and Rwanda to debate the connection between Israel, Rwanda and the U.S.

Ivey stated folks haven’t questioned whether or not his journey on AIEF’s dime has influenced his positions. “They focus extra on the $7 million in unbiased expenditures in my election. My view is that, you already know, it is truthful sport, it is all publicly disclosed, folks can have a look and draw their very own selections. And so far as I do know, we observe the foundations.”

Based on FEC information, AIPAC’s tremendous PAC — United Democracy Undertaking — spent $6 million in unbiased expenditures throughout Ivey’s 2022 main. Ivey’s marketing campaign additionally benefited from roughly $750,000 of contributions that supporters despatched by way of one other AIPAC affiliate, and over $400,000 in exterior spending from one other pro-Israel group, The Democratic Majority for Israel.

Ivey voted for the Israel army support bundle April 20, which his workers stated mirrored each his want to assist Israel defend itself and to make sure the circulation of further humanitarian support to Gaza. He voted in opposition to a November model of the invoice that didn’t embrace support for Gaza.

Edwards (D-Md.), who served in Congress from 2008 to 2017, refused to journey with AIPAC whereas in workplace and as a substitute visited Israel, the occupied West Financial institution and Gaza with extra liberal organizations, together with the pro-Israel advocacy group J Avenue.

She stated touring with J Avenue, she noticed firsthand how the unfold of Israeli settlements all through the West Financial institution have develop into a critical impediment to a two-state answer.

“You may see how antithetical that’s to a want for a two-state answer. The place on the planet would you draw the 2 states?” Edwards stated.

Based on itineraries and interviews, vacationers on AIPAC journeys meet fewer Palestinians than on J Avenue journeys.

The Howard Middle contacted greater than 30 present and former members of the Home and Home workers who traveled to Israel between 2012 and 2023, together with 23 members and staffers who traveled with AIPAC not less than as soon as. The one AIPAC vacationers who agreed to an interview had been Ivey and Baird, whose 1999 AIPAC journey shouldn’t be captured within the Howard Middle database.

Amongst those that declined requests for an interview had been Rep. Mike Levin, a Democrat from California, and Democratic Chief Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York. Levin traveled to Israel 3 times between 2012 and 2023, twice with AIPAC and as soon as with J Avenue.

In that very same interval, Jeffries traveled to Israel 4 instances with AIPAC, most not too long ago main a Democratic delegation in August 2023.

In his 2022 disclosure report, Levin stated the U.S.-Israel relationship “is a matter that my constituents elevate with me, and the journey to the nation will assist me make selections knowledgeable by the scenario on the bottom.”

In the meantime Jeffries stated in his 2023 disclosure report, “Because the Democratic chief of the U.S. Congress, I’ve been requested to have interaction in my management capability in points associated to the US-Israel relationship for this journey. These points — as outlined by AIEF — are linked to my management and representational official duties.”

Each Levin’s and Jeffries’ communication groups didn’t reply to requests for an interview or remark.

AIPAC takes the place that to be pro-Israel means supporting the Israeli authorities, which for a lot of the twenty first century has meant supporting the right-wing polices of Prime Minister Netanyahu, stated Dov Waxman, professor and director of the UCLA Y&S Nazarian Middle for Israel Research.

Among the many achievements touted on its web site, AIPAC credit its efforts in recent times for Congress’ continued funding of billions in unconditional army and safety help to Israel and for elevated sanctions on Iran. AIPAC has additionally lobbied Congress to restrict people’ and corporations’ skills to take part within the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) marketing campaign in opposition to Israeli corporations and helps Israel persevering with the conflict in Gaza till Hamas’ army and authorities are dismantled.

For the primary a number of many years of its existence, AIPAC was “unmatched inside the pro-Israel foyer,” in response to Waxman. However he stated the emergence and development of the extra liberal J Avenue threatens to erode AIPAC’s affect.

J Avenue was based in 2007 and has sponsored congressional journey to Israel since 2010. It was the second-largest sponsor of journey to Israel from 2012-2023.

But the quantity of journey sponsored by J Avenue — which equally identifies as pro-Israel however is extra open to criticizing the Israeli authorities — is surpassed practically seven instances over throughout that interval. AIPAC has additionally tried to keep up its dominance on the Hill, and as a journey sponsor, by portray J Avenue as anti-Israel — a characterization that each Waxman and J Avenue dispute.

Even when masking the identical floor, AIPAC and J Avenue journey contributors reported markedly totally different experiences. In February 2022, two AIPAC delegations — one Democratic and one Republican — and a Democratic J Avenue delegation visited Israel and the West Financial institution on the similar time, with each Democratic teams even staying in the identical lodge. The teams met individually with Mohammad Shtayyeh, the then-Palestinian Authority prime minister.

Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) had traveled to Israel with AIPAC in 2013, however this time he traveled with J Avenue. In a YouTube video posted by J Avenue, Huffman stated he traded notes along with his colleagues touring with AIPAC after the conferences with Shtayyeh. Shtayyeh’s use of the phrase “apartheid” drew contrasting responses, he stated.

“They had been there to some extent to do pro-Israel fight and I feel we had been there to pay attention and be taught,” stated Huffman in the YouTube video.

Huffman didn’t reply to requests for an interview.

One of many solely sponsors of congressional journeys to the area that focuses on conferences with Palestinian households dwelling in Jerusalem and the occupied West Financial institution is the small group Rebuilding Alliance.

4 teams of Home staffers — and no members — traveled there between 2018 and 2023 with the group, which took them to witness Israeli army court docket proceedings in opposition to Palestinian kids and to satisfy with Palestinian households whose properties had been destroyed by the Israeli army.

Nisreen Malley, senior advocacy coordinator at Rebuilding Alliance, stated, “Once you’re bodily [visiting someone] who’s speaking to you about how their residence was demolished … it is laborious to disregard that once you’re eager about your insurance policies.”

Andy Levin argues the dimensions of Congress’ deal with — and journey to — Israel total has precipitated the U.S. to lose sight of different key worldwide points.

“Israel and Palestine are essential,” he stated. “However so are Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean. … Clearly, Asia — South Asia, East Asia — there are lots of essential conflicts and tough conflicts and financial alternatives.”

Baird agreed.

“I feel we have uncared for our personal hemisphere, and to our detriment, as a result of the Russians and the Chinese language absolutely haven’t uncared for our hemisphere,” Baird stated. “The deal with the Center East takes the oxygen out of the room for thus many different points.”

Aidan Hughes, Cait Kelley and Daryl Perry are reporters for the College of Maryland’s Howard College for Investigative Journalism. POLITICO’s Mike Zapler contributed to this report.

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