So AIPAC is not a Jewish organization? (Palestinian, Israeli, Glenn Beck)

[EdwardA]

I was watching CNBC last night and they had this guy, presumably Jewish who was against Hagel's nomination. Why? Because he said Hagel once said something about taking an oath to the US Constitution as opposed to the Israeli one and that he said AIPAC is a Jewish organization.

Um what is controversial about these comments?

[2e1m5a]

I don't care if it is an Israeli organization or an "Israeli-American alliance".

One thing for certain is that AIPAC has wayyy too much influence on our foreign policy.
Their annual policy conference has the most federal officials in attendance of any organized event besides the President's State of the Union Address. AIPAC is the most powerful lobbysist group in the country.

But he is correct, AIPAC is not a Jewish organization in any way. American Jews are often critical of AIPAC for misrepresentation and holding extreme right-wing views.

Most Jews are not zionist globalists. Plenty of Christians are. Most of our politicians, so it would seem, are.

[ted08721]

AIPAC Wahington D.C. March 4, 2012 - PHOTObyTED's Photos | SmugMug

[desertdetroiter]

Originally Posted by 2e1m5a

I don't care if it is an Israeli organization or an "Israeli-American alliance".

One thing for certain is that AIPAC has wayyy too much influence on our foreign policy.
Their annual policy conference has the most federal officials in attendance of any organized event besides the President's State of the Union Address. AIPAC is the most powerful lobbysist group in the country.

But he is correct, AIPAC is not a Jewish organization in any way. American Jews are often critical of AIPAC for misrepresentation and holding extreme right-wing views.

Most Jews are not zionist globalists. Plenty of Christians are. Most of our politicians, so it would seem, are.

Of course AIPAC is a Jewish organization. How is it not?

I realize that most Jews aren't ardent Zionists, but that doesn't detract from the reality that AIPAC is made up of Jews.

I do agree with you though that Christians are trying too hard. They look ridiculous acting more Zionists than Jews do. Of all the Jews I know, none go on and on about our need to "stand with Israel." My Christians associations however, make asses of themselves. Sometimes I wonder if American Jews don't laugh their ass off when they hear that crap.

I once read something where right-wing Jews were alarmed when Glenn Beck visited Israel because they'd never heard such fanaticism before. LMAO...what a tool, but that tells you all you need to know about these Christian zealots.

[jackmccullough]

No. It is likely true that the majority of the members of AIPAC are Jewish, but membership is defined not by religion or ethnicity but by support for a particular conception of the interests of Israel. Jewishness is not a condition of membership.

It's pretty similar to the NAACP (which contains white members, and one of whose founders was white) or NOW (the National Organization for Women).

This is an important point. Not all Jews, either in Israel or the United States, support the positions that AIPAC takes. I wouldn't be surprised to hear of AIPAC claiming that opposition to Israeli government policies is anti-semitism, but if you accept the proposition that AIPAC is simply a Jewish organization you are adding support to that invalid claim.