In solidarity with the Occupy AIPAC movement, the hacker collective Anonymous reportedly took down the website of the powerful American pro-Israel lobby on Sunday, March 4, while sending a message to the organization in a Youtube video. 

An account closely linked with the leaderless “hacktivist” group issued the following statement: “AIPAC is now our enemy. We’re calling for an occupation of AIPAC and the destruction of their websites. Make them pay for their crimes.” 

The site was back up and running just prior to U.S. President Barack Obama’s speech to AIPAC. 

Referencing Obama’s “defense” of AIPAC, Anonymous also stated that U.S. supporters of Israel are seeking to “lobby for more wars, more destruction and more death.”

The Twitter account @YourAnonNews also claimed responsibility for the hacking of the AIPAC site. “Gosh, the AIPAC website sure looks TANGO DOWN to us. Wonder why? aipac.org,” the Tweet said. 

The group has been outspoken in support of the occupied Palestinians in the past and has taken down websites to Israeli groups such as the IDF (army), Mossad and Shin Bet, while also going after the Israeli government in support of the 2010 Freedom Flotilla to break the siege on Gaza. Other targets of the group in recent weeks have been the government of Bahrain, which has been accused of torturing and killing peaceful protesters, Israeli (and other countries’) tear gas producers Combined Systems of Pennsylvania, Inc., and Monsanto, the massive St. Louis-based chemical corporation and producer of genetically modified crops that has drawn worldwide protests. 

Another video campaign launched last month accusing the Israeli government of committing “crimes against humanity” was taken down by Youtube due to a reported violation of the “terms of use.” 

“Through the use of media deception and political bribery, you have amassed the sympathies of many,” the video said.