It's Time to Register AIPAC as a Foreign Agent

It's Time to Register AIPAC as a Foreign Agent

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is often characterized as a powerful domestic lobbying group. This description, however, masks a more fundamental truth: AIPAC functions as a de facto political arm of a foreign government, and it's imperative that U.S. law reflects this reality.

For decades, AIPAC has tirelessly worked to secure virtually unconditional U.S. support for Israel's military, diplomatic, and economic agenda. While operating under the legal guise of a domestic nonprofit, its actions consistently align with the core strategic interests of the Israeli state. This isn't merely the voice of Americans concerned about Israel; it is, in practice, a foreign-aligned political force operating within the U.S. with alarming lack of oversight.

The Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) mandates that any organization "acting at the order, request, or under the direction or control of a foreign principal" and engaging in political activity must legally register as a foreign agent. This law is a cornerstone of democratic transparency, designed to prevent covert influence by foreign powers. AIPAC demonstrably meets the spirit—and increasingly the letter—of this crucial legislation.

AIPAC's policy agenda is indistinguishable from that of the Israeli government. It actively promotes billions in U.S. aid, vehemently opposes oversight or conditions on military assistance, champions anti-boycott legislation, and actively targets critics of Israeli policy, including sitting members of Congress. Former Israeli diplomats have openly acknowledged close coordination with AIPAC, and the group routinely mobilizes its vast resources to shield Israel from criticism or accountability on the global stage.

More recently, AIPAC has dramatically expanded its reach beyond lobbying, transforming into a formidable electoral force. Through its super PAC, the United Democracy Project, it has spent over $100 million to defeat progressive candidates who advocate for a more balanced U.S. policy in the Middle East. This includes aggressive campaigns against American lawmakers like Reps. Jamaal Bowman and Ilhan Omar—not for being anti-American, but for being insufficiently pro-Israel.

Let's be unequivocally clear: AIPAC is not merely advocating for Israel; it is actively reshaping American elections to serve the geopolitical interests of another state. Many of its top funders, including dual U.S.–Israeli citizens and billionaires with significant business interests in Israel’s defense and tech sectors, have a direct financial stake in these outcomes.

Consider this: If this level of foreign-aligned influence emanated from China, Russia, or Iran, it would immediately trigger FARA registration—and likely a congressional investigation. Why should Israel be granted an exception?

AIPAC is not a rogue entity; it is a highly effective organization that has meticulously built decades of political capital. However, transparency is not a punishment; it is a democratic obligation. Requiring AIPAC to register under FARA would not silence its voice; it would clarify its role. It would provide the American public with essential insight into its funding, its coordination with foreign actors, and its lobbying priorities. This is precisely what the law is designed to achieve.

In 1962, the U.S. Justice Department compelled AIPAC’s predecessor, the American Zionist Council, to register as a foreign agent. That legal action was justified then, and it is even more profoundly justified now.

Americans have an undeniable right to know when their domestic politics are being influenced by foreign interests. This imperative extends to friendly nations, not just adversaries. Our democracy cannot afford to play favorites with transparency.

If we truly believe in the equal enforcement of the law and in defending American sovereignty—even from its supposed allies—then AIPAC must be required to register as the foreign agent it has effectively become.