What’s behind AIPAC’s partnership with Black US politicians? | The Take

Key Concepts

• Pro-Israel Lobby: Organizations that advocate for policies favorable to Israel in the United States.
• AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee): The largest pro-Israel lobbying group in the US.
• Congressional Black Caucus (CBC): A group of African American members of the United States Congress.
• "Conscience of Congress": A historical self-designation of the CBC, implying a moral and ethical leadership role.
• Genocide: The deliberate killing of a large number of people from a particular nation or ethnic group with the aim of destroying that nation or group.
• War Crimes: Violations of the laws and customs of war.
• White Supremacy: The belief that white people are superior to people of other races and should dominate society.
• Structural Violence: Violence that results from oppressive social, political, and economic systems.
• American Dream: The belief that anyone in the US can become successful if they work hard.
• Voting Rights Act: Landmark federal legislation in the United States that prohibits racial discrimination in voting.
• Apartheid: A system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination.
• Intent Clause (UN Genocide Convention): An amendment to the UN definition of genocide, requiring proof of intent to destroy a group.

The Pro-Israel Lobby's Partnership with Black Politicians

This episode of "The Take" by Al Jazeera podcasts, hosted by Natasha Del Toro and featuring freelance journalist Anthony Conrite, critically examines the relationship between the pro-Israel lobby, particularly AIPAC, and Black politicians in the United States, focusing on the perceived silence of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) regarding the conflict in Gaza.

Disconnect in Moral Clarity: Corey Booker and the "Litmus Test"

The discussion begins by highlighting the perceived inconsistency in the moral stances of some Black Democratic politicians. A clip of Senator Corey Booker on "The I've Had It Podcast" is presented, where he dodges a direct question about whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is a war criminal. Conrite contrasts this with Booker's extensive floor speech against President Trump, which invoked the civil rights movement.

• Key Point: Senator Booker's reluctance to label Netanyahu a war criminal is presented as a stark contrast to his strong stance on domestic issues, raising questions about his moral compass when it comes to foreign policy concerning Israel.
• Supporting Evidence: Booker's 25-hour speech against Trump, drawing parallels to the civil rights movement, is cited as an example of his capacity for strong moral pronouncements.

Conrite argues that the disconnect stems from an inability to connect domestic issues of white supremacy to its manifestations abroad. He suggests that Democrats, by not consistently framing issues through a lens of race in America, struggle to make these broader connections.

• Argument: It is easier for Black politicians to speak out against white supremacy domestically than to connect it to foreign policy issues like the conflict in Gaza.
• Supporting Evidence: The lack of a consistent "civil rights politics" framework applied to international issues is cited as a reason for this disconnect.

Financial Influence: AIPAC's Role

A significant factor identified for this reluctance is financial influence. Conrite points out that Senator Booker has received substantial funding from AIPAC.

• Fact: AIPAC, the largest pro-Israel lobbying group, has endorsed 26 members of the CBC, including its leadership, and has raised millions of dollars for them.
• Specific Detail: Senator Booker has received approximately $800,000 in lifetime funds from AIPAC.

The Congressional Black Caucus: Mission vs. Current Stance

The conversation then delves into the founding mission of the CBC and how it appears to conflict with its current stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

• CBC Founding Mission (1971): To ensure Black Americans can achieve the "American Dream" and to be a voice for oppression everywhere, especially where America does business. The CBC was founded as the "conscience of Congress."
• Conrite's Critique: The "American Dream" itself is questioned for its reliance on violence. He argues that understanding structural oppression should lead the CBC to challenge violence abroad, particularly in the context of what many describe as a Palestinian genocide.
• Argument: The CBC's self-proclaimed role as the "conscience of Congress" is undermined by its silence on the situation in Gaza, especially given its historical advocacy against global atrocities.

Historical Advocacy vs. Present Silence

The transcript highlights the CBC's strong historical stance against global injustices, contrasting it with its current perceived silence on Gaza.

• Past Advocacy: The CBC led the charge against apartheid in South Africa, with the first iteration of anti-apartheid laws originating from a CBC member. They also issued statements and spoke out on atrocities in Darfur and the genocide of Native Americans.
• Present Silence: Despite widespread condemnation of Israel's actions in Gaza by scholars, human rights lawyers, and organizations, the CBC has remained "noticeably silent."
• Argument: This silence is a contradiction to the CBC's historical mission and its designation as the "conscience of Congress."

The "Intent Clause" and White Supremacy

The discussion touches upon the historical context of the UN definition of genocide and how US influence, rooted in white supremacy, shaped it.

• US Influence on UN Genocide Definition: The US State Department inserted the "intent clause" into the definition, which requires proof of intent to destroy a group. This was done, in part, to shield the US from accusations of genocide for domestic issues like lynchings of Black Americans and the treatment of Indigenous people.
• Conrite's Argument: The CBC's condemnation of white supremacy domestically should extend to its international manifestations. By not labeling the situation in Gaza as genocide, they are perpetuating a contradiction rooted in the same white supremacist ideology that historically denied redress to Black Americans.
• Quote: "If you're going to condemn America's original sin, but not see how that original sin is allowing a genocide to be perpetrated on Palestinians, you're living in contradiction. And you're not actually against white supremacy. You're just against it when you can sort of use it as a performance tactic."

AIPAC's Financial Power and its Impact on Black Politicians

The significant financial power of AIPAC is presented as a major obstacle for Black politicians who might wish to speak out against Israeli policies.

• AIPAC's Spending: AIPAC spent $100 million in 2024 to defeat politicians deemed hostile to Israel, including two Black representatives, Jamaal Bowman and Cori Bush.
• Consequence: Bowman and Bush lost their elections, illustrating the difficulty of fighting against such financial power.
• Argument: The CBC's failure to support these members is seen as a betrayal of their constituents and a demonstration of "cowardice." Conrite suggests that had the CBC stood with them, they might have garnered more support and political standing.

AIPAC vs. Black American Interests

Conrite argues that AIPAC's actions are fundamentally against the material needs of Black Americans.

• Argument: Many Black interests align with left-of-center policies like Medicare for All and wealth redistribution. AIPAC's ability to influence the selection of Black politicians can lead to the replacement of progressive Black candidates with more conservative ones, thereby undermining Black American interests.
• Specific Example: AIPAC's role in defeating Jamaal Bowman, who supported Medicare for All, is cited as an example of this conflict.

The CBC Being Left Behind

The episode concludes with the observation that some representatives are beginning to reject AIPAC funding, but the CBC is lagging behind.

• Trend: Four House representatives recently announced they would no longer accept AIPAC money, but only one is Black (Congresswoman Valerie Foushee).
• Conrite's Prediction: The CBC will likely be "left behind" on this issue, and Black people in general may be disadvantaged by this lack of progressive leadership.
• Observation: The current progressive movement on this issue is largely led by white politicians like Bernie Sanders and Ro Khanna, which Conrite finds sad given that Black people have historically advocated for similar causes.
• Conclusion: The financial influence of AIPAC has silenced a generation of Black leaders who might otherwise have spoken out against Israel and gained moral authority on issues affecting Black Americans.

Conclusion

The episode argues that the pro-Israel lobby, through significant financial contributions, has created a climate of silence and complicity among many Black politicians, particularly within the Congressional Black Caucus. This silence is seen as a betrayal of the CBC's historical mission as the "conscience of Congress" and a contradiction to its stated commitment to human dignity and opposition to oppression. The influence of AIPAC is presented as actively working against the progressive policy interests of many Black Americans, leading to a situation where Black leaders are being left behind in a crucial moral and political reckoning.