Israel is well-known for its potent U.S. lobby that not only influences Congress and the mainstream media but intimidates Americans who dare criticize its policies toward the Palestinians, as Dennis J Bernstein describes.
Philip Weiss says the key people behind bills that would punish boycotters with a minimum fine of $250,000 and a maximum penalty of $1 million and 20 years in prison are Jewish Zionists in the Democratic party… but others are opposing AIPAC and he predicts that side will ultimately win.
AIPAC helped craft a bill making BDS a felony, subject to a minimum civil penalty of $250K and a maximum criminal penalty of $1 million and 20 years in prison; many of its cosponsors have no idea what the bill contains.
Mexican and UAE investigative journalists and human rights defenders have had their smartphones hacked by a secretive Israeli-made system. An infected phone gives the perpetrator access to movements and location, emails, WhatsApp messages, and passwords, and can even turn on the phone’s camera and microphone.
A former Antisemitism Envoy adopted a new, Israel-centric definition for antisemitism, and then used it to train U.S. diplomats. The envoy position has proved a revolving door to Israel lobbying organizations (see video). Now groups from the ADL to the Southern Poverty Law Center are disturbed that Trump isn’t filling the position.
A dozen American rabbis visit Hebron and see for themselves the result of a settlement inside a Palestinian town. They find the experience “eye-opening and heart-wrenching.” Their trip coincides with one of the worst crises ever in relations between Israel and the U.S. Jewish community.
Amith Gupta reports in Mondoweiss that claims of “antisemitism” at the annual “Dyke March” in Chicago were untrue. Witnesses say that many paraders wore kippas, Stars of David, etc. The smears, they say, were initiated by Israel partisan Laurel Grauer…
Grant Smith of IRMEP reports that a poll reveals the disconnect between the American public and Congress on the issue of Israel. Both major US political parties are overwhelmingly Zionist, while their constituents, according to the poll, are only 24.9% Zionist.
![Making A Sexy Pitch For Israel [video]](https://israelpalestinenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/6-13-17-D-728x410.jpg "Making A Sexy Pitch For Israel [video]")
A new anti-BDS campaign called 4il.org enlists Israel’s supporters as Internet foot soldiers. The two-pronged campaign is geared toward digitally savvy millennials, and uses an interactive website and a smartphone app to turn Israel advocacy into a competitive game.
Asa Winstanley reports in the Electronic Intifada that the UK’s general election was an earthquake for the political establishment. Although the issue did not feature in the campaign, the result has significant implications for the Palestinian cause…