Myth: AIPAC is a foreign lobby and should register as a “foreign agent.”
Fact: AIPAC is an American organization that represents more than 5 million American citizens, including thousands in every congressional district. 100% of AIPAC’s funding comes from American citizens who care about a strong U.S.-Israel relationship.
Myth: AIPAC advocates on behalf of a foreign government.
Fact: AIPAC takes no direction from any foreign government or individual. Its policies are set solely by its board of directors, American citizens who represent AIPAC’s 5 million members across the country and are engaging in their First Amendment right based on their own personal views and values.
Myth: American elected officials are pro-Israel because they are “bought” by AIPAC.
Fact: American elected officials are overwhelmingly pro-Israel because American citizens are overwhelmingly pro-Israel. Being pro-Israel is both the morally and strategically correct position, and it makes sense that elected officials would both agree with this position based on policy considerations, and because their constituents are overwhelmingly pro-Israel. Pro-Israel Americans directly support pro-Israel candidates because they share their values.
Myth: AIPAC's positions mirror the Israeli government's.
Fact: AIPAC's board of directors makes independent decisions and AIPAC does not take a position on the majority of issues related to Israel (e.g., settlements), given the diverse views held by AIPAC members. AIPAC has always believed that disagreements in policy between the United States and Israel are best handled in private, which holds true also for disagreements between AIPAC and the American or Israeli governments.
Myth: The U.S.-Israel relationship only benefits Israel, not America.
Fact: America's alliance with Israel promotes America’s interests in the Middle East, saves American lives, and advances the American economy. By providing our most important ally in the Middle East with the ability to defend itself by itself, our support helps keep American troops out of harm's way. Furthermore, Israel's sophisticated intelligence in the region helps protect the American homeland from terrorist attacks and helps protect our troops stationed elsewhere in the region.
Myth: America shouldn’t provide military assistance to Israel, and Israel should instead use its own resources to defend its citizens.
Fact: Israel is a model U.S. ally that spends more of its money on defense as a percentage of its GDP than any Western nation. American support for Israel is one of the most cost-effective investments we make for our security, representing just 1/19th of 1% of the federal budget — .054%. Israelis are on the frontline against America's enemies; we simply provide them with the tools they need to win. Additionally, more than 85% of U.S. security assistance to Israel is currently spent in America — and that number will reach 100% by 2028 — boosting the U.S. economy and creating tens of thousands of high-quality American jobs.
Myth: America’s relationship with Israel leads to more American wars in the Middle East.
Fact: The exact opposite is true. Having a strong and capable ally on the frontlines of the most dangerous and unstable region of the world helps promote American interests while keeping Americans out of harm's way. If Israel were not there, America would have to spend significantly more human and financial resources on gathering intelligence and combating terrorist attacks from the Middle East.
Myth: America should use security assistance or arms sales as leverage to force the Israeli government to change its positions.
Fact: American security assistance and arms sales to Israel help ensure our ally is strong and capable to protect its families and confront enemies that threaten America and Israel alike. Efforts to condition, cut-off, or block vital military assistance to Israel only serve to hurt our ally, undermine America’s strategic interests, and send a dangerous message that emboldens our shared enemies.
