zlacker

[return to "The pro-Israel information war"]
1. Animat+Ik[view] [source] 2023-12-08 20:36:22
>>anigbr+(OP)
"That’s where the efforts of J-Ventures’ hasbara WhatsApp group come in. The group, which also includes attorneys and individuals affiliated with the influential American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), has tirelessly worked to fire employees and punish activists for expressing pro-Palestinian views."

Is that even legal under US law? Apparently it is in some states. Federal law does not, apparently, prohibit political discrimination. But some states do - California, New York, DC, Colorado, and North Dakota.[1]

This should be reported to the FBI's Foreign Influence Task Force.[2] Anyone involved in such suppression activities may be considered an "unregistered foreign agent".[3] Anyone or any organization attempting to influence US policy on behalf of a foreign government is supposed to register. Here's the database.[4]

[1] https://www.legalmatch.com/law-library/article/political-aff...

[2] https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/counterintelligence/foreign-...

[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_Agents_Registration_Ac...

[4] https://search.justice.gov/search?affiliate=justice_fara

◧◩
2. rcpt+2q[view] [source] 2023-12-08 20:58:34
>>Animat+Ik
There have been many arguments that AIPAC should register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act but my understanding is that in it's current form AIPAC doesn't qualify.

I see this as a reason to strengthen the Foreign Agents Registration Act.

◧◩◪
3. Animat+lu[view] [source] 2023-12-08 21:18:43
>>rcpt+2q
That issue came up regarding China's Confucius Institutes.[1] There's been something of a crackdown on those.

Politico has some coverage of the current Israel-related lobbying push.[2] There are a lot of players. "An unsanctioned coterie of pro-Israel quasi-lobbyists has descended on D.C." Some have formally registered as agents of Israel. Some haven't.

The big issue here is when activities go beyond lobbying. Anyone can lobby Congress; that's a constitutional right in the US. Getting people fired on behalf of a foreign power, though, is a legally questionable activity.

[1] https://thediplomat.com/2023/11/the-rise-and-fall-of-confuci...

[2] https://www.politico.com/news/2023/10/22/pro-israel-lobbying...

[go to top]