A hard look at history, influence and consequences for U.S. foreign policy

In the aftermath of World War II, as Europe began the painful process of denazification, one of the most immediate and complex humanitarian crises involved the fate of European Jews. After suffering unimaginable horrors during the Holocaust, many Jews sought to rebuild their lives far from the shadows of concentration camps. Yet, even as the world professed its sympathy for Jewish victims, many developed nations, including the United States, Britain and France, refused to absorb large numbers of Jewish refugees. Instead, a solution was crafted that would forever alter the Middle East: the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine.

With the active support of the United States and Britain, Jewish refugees were placed on Palestinian lands under the hopeful but ultimately naïve assumption that Jews and Arabs could coexist peacefully. However, this vision quickly dissolved as the newly established State of Israel embarked on an aggressive campaign of territorial expansion. Over the subsequent decades, Israel systematically annexed more and more Palestinian land, fueling one of the most intractable conflicts in modern history. Yet while this conflict’s history is vast and complex, the focus here is a far more immediate question for American policymakers: Is Israel truly an ally of the United States?

Since its founding in 1948, Israel’s conduct has at times been openly hostile to American interests and lives. One of the most glaring examples remains the attack on the USS Liberty in 1967. During the Six-Day War, Israeli Defense Force (IDF) aircraft and torpedo boats attacked the USS Liberty, an American Navy intelligence ship, killing 34 U.S. servicemen and wounding 171 others. Despite clear weather and the ship flying a large American flag, IDF recordings revealed that Israeli pilots and naval forces could be heard acknowledging that the vessel “appears to be American” before launching their assault. The Israeli government later called the attack a tragic mistake, but many in the U.S. military and intelligence community have long doubted the official explanation. No substantial accountability or formal apology has ever been made, and the incident remains a bitter point of contention for the surviving families and many American veterans.

How can a nation that receives billions of dollars annually in American foreign aid justify protecting individuals accused of the most heinous crimes against children from prosecution?

Another troubling chapter in Israeli-American relations is the Lavon Affair of 1954. In this covert operation, Israeli intelligence operatives planted bombs in American and British-owned cultural centers, hoping to blame the attacks on Egypt and derail British plans to withdraw from the Suez Canal. The operation was exposed, resulting in scandal and international embarrassment for Israel. Yet, shockingly, decades later, the Israeli government honored the perpetrators of this operation with medals and commendations, demonstrating a brazen disregard for the moral and diplomatic implications of such actions.

In recent years, another deeply unsettling issue has strained the moral fabric of U.S.-Israeli relations: the refusal of Israel to extradite several Jewish pedophiles wanted by U.S. law enforcement. Among them are individuals such as Malka Leifer, a former school principal accused of sexually abusing multiple children in Australia before fleeing to Israel, as well as others like Elior Chen and Avrohom Mondrowitz, both accused of horrific crimes against children. Despite formal extradition requests and years of legal proceedings, Israel has repeatedly delayed or denied these extraditions, effectively sheltering criminals from American justice. How can a nation that receives billions of dollars annually in American foreign aid justify protecting individuals accused of the most heinous crimes against children from prosecution?

Meanwhile, the political influence of Israel within the United States has grown into a colossal force, largely driven by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). AIPAC is widely recognized as the most powerful foreign lobby operating in Washington D.C. In the 2024 election cycle alone, AIPAC spent over $100 million on congressional races, ensuring that candidates who supported unconditional aid and allegiance to Israel were well-financed. This level of financial influence has profound implications for American sovereignty and foreign policy independence.

One of the most prominent examples of this political entanglement involves Miriam Adelson, the billionaire widow of casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, who personally donated $100 million to Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign. This immense contribution was reportedly tied to Trump’s unwavering support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel’s broader geopolitical ambitions. Such contributions raise serious ethical questions about the extent to which American foreign policy is being shaped not by American interests, but by wealthy donors with foreign allegiances.

The moment I won the primary, AIPAC reached out and asked for a ‘white paper’ on why Congress should continue supporting Israel. I said no.” — Rep. Thomas Massie

U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie (R‑KY), a civil engineer-turned-politician who first won his seat in a 2012 special election, represents Kentucky’s rural suburban Fourth Congressional District, centered around Lexington and its surrounding counties. A staunch libertarian voice in the House, Massie is known for his commitment to constitutional principles, fiscal restraint and a skepticism of foreign entanglements.

In a revealing interview with Tucker Carlson, Massie shared his firsthand experience with AIPAC’s influence on Capitol Hill. He emphasized that AIPAC is not merely a lobbying group, but an organization that wields “intolerable power” by conditioning access to its deep-pocketed financial resources. According to Massie, support from AIPAC typically comes with explicit expectations — a sort of political “homework” in the form of public statements, social media amplification and votes that align with the lobby’s agenda.

He recounted a striking moment early in his congressional career. “The moment I won the primary,” Massie said, “AIPAC reached out and asked for a ‘white paper’ on why Congress should continue supporting Israel. I said no. And I haven’t accepted a single donation from them.” By refusing to draft that white paper — a detailed policy document endorsing positions favorable to Israel — Massie marked himself as a rare exception in Washington. He described being sidelined from AIPAC-sponsored retreats and networks and noted how colleagues, once heavily courted by the lobby, seemed to shift their public postures once they received financial backing.

Massie’s defiance underscores a broader concern: that foreign policy, particularly U.S.–Israel policy, can be shaped more by financial inducements than by sober national-interest calculations. He warned that the implicit quid pro quo — public allegiance in exchange for campaign cash — compromises both moral integrity and legislative independence, particularly when it comes to decisions about U.S. military aid and involvement in Middle Eastern conflicts.

Another critical episode highlighting Israel’s influence on American foreign policy was the testimony delivered by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before the United States Congress in the lead-up to the Iraq War. In his testimony, Netanyahu declared, citing Israeli intelligence, that Saddam Hussein was dangerously close to acquiring nuclear weapons in violation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Under intense questioning from members of Congress, Netanyahu remained adamant that there was no uncertainty on Israel’s part: Iraq was rapidly approaching the possession of an apocalyptic weapon and would use it against its enemies once completed. His dire warning played a crucial role in persuading members of Congress to support the Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) and the Bush administration’s decision to launch a full-scale invasion of Iraq. The devastating outcome of that war saw the deaths of over one million Iraqi civilians and left a region destabilized for generations. In retrospect, many legislators pointed to Netanyahu’s testimony as one of the most influential arguments that tipped the balance in favor of military intervention against a sovereign nation recognized by the United Nations.

And now, in 2025, the very same patterns are emerging once again. As tensions between Israel and Iran have reached a boiling point, the United States finds itself entangled in yet another conflict driven largely by Israeli interests. Just in the last 24 hours, the United States launched strikes against three sites inside Iran, dramatically escalating hostilities in the region. Iran has vowed swift and devastating retaliation against U.S. forces stationed throughout the Middle East. At the center of this spiraling conflict stands once again Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving and current prime minister, orchestrating a dangerous game that risks igniting a regional war with global consequences.

The United States will continue to pay the price—in treasure, in credibility and, tragically, in blood.

Perhaps most disturbing to many within the American conservative movement is the role played by Donald Trump in this unfolding crisis. Elected on a promise of putting “America First”, Trump’s decision to escalate military action against Iran at the behest of Israel has sparked fury among his own MAGA base. In the aftermath of these strikes, some of his staunchest supporters have called his actions a betrayal of the movement’s anti-interventionist principles, with a growing number even demanding his impeachment. The MAGA brand, once rooted in skepticism of foreign wars and costly overseas entanglements, now faces an identity crisis as its leader forges what many see as an unholy alliance with Netanyahu at the expense of the American worker and American lives.

In the end, one truth remains uncomfortably clear: American foreign policy has for too long been shaped not by the interests of its own citizens, but by a foreign government that leverages its deep political influence in Washington. Until the American people demand a radical reassessment of this toxic and one-sided relationship, the United States will continue to pay the price—in treasure, in credibility and, tragically, in blood.

– Amjad Khan is a contributing writer for The Arab American News. He is a K-12 educator and academic researcher who cares deeply about the challenges facing the Muslim world. Through his writing, he hopes to inspire dialogue and help chart a path forward toward unity, justice and peace. Edited for style.