zlacker

"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

>>Animat+(OP)
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.

>>rcpt+k5
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...

>>Animat+(OP)
AIPAC itself is a result of the President Eisenhower and later Robert F Kennedy (DOJ) demanding the American Zionist Council (AZC) register as foreign agents. Because of this, the AZC rebranded to AIPAC with the same leadership and the issue seemed to have fell off the high priority political radar since.

Incidentally, the founder of AIPAC, Isaiah Kenen registered twice with the U.S. Department of Justice under the Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA) as an agent for Israel. Prior to leading AIPAC, he was the leader of the American Zionist Council. He was also chief information officer for the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

AIPAC's mission is pretty clear: to promote the interests of Israel. This is fine, and not unique, but that seems to me to be the textbook definition of a foreign agent, and it should be registered as such.

AIPAC has a very large budget and will be spending over $100M in 2024 to defeat any candidate for US Congress that did not align with their pro-Israel goals.

>>DevX10+Rb
It was also formed to influence public opinion in the wake of the Israeli massacre at Qibya, which looked pretty bad.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/made-by-history/wp/2018/...

>>Animat+(OP)
You should watch this documentary:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15721106

The documentary "Boycott" explores the legislation passed in several U.S. states, including Arkansas, Arizona, and Texas, that requires individuals to pledge not to boycott Israel as a condition for receiving government funds. This legislation emerged in response to the Palestinian-led BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) movement against Israel. The film follows individuals who challenged these laws, including a publisher in Arkansas, an attorney in Arizona, and a speech pathologist in Texas, highlighting their legal battles and the implications for free speech

>>DevX10+Rb
Two questions:

1. Does AIPAC's use of dual-citizens (American-Israelis) allow it to circumvent the Foreign Agent Registration Act?

2. Is there any other analog to AIPAC operating in the United States for a foreign nation?

>>digian+Nl1
1. No. It doesn't matter where the agent is from. It matters who the "foreign principal" is.

2. Five China news agencies and Russia Today are registered as foreign agents. There are also over 200 foreign PACs, but they're mostly businesses. The Overseas Friends of the BJP (the ruling party in India) is registered as a foreign agent. That's probably the closest match.

>>digian+Nl1
I vaguely remember from John Mearsheimer's talk that AIPAC doesn't use any funds from Israel. Instead, AIPAC funds come from American citizens, that makes them evade FARA.

From Wiki: 'FARA requires those who receive funds or act on behalf of a foreign government to register as a foreign agent. However, AIPAC states that the organization is a registered American lobbying group, funded by private donations, and maintains it receives "no financial assistance" from Israel or any other foreign group'