Academic: Pro-Israeli lobby in US brands politicians who don’t support Israel as traitors

The powerful American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) insists that American and Israeli interests are the same, and that being “the case any politician who doesn’t support Israel is a traitor to the US as well,” according to an American academic, and political commentator.

“AIPAC is the pro-Israel lobby that promotes, indeed insists that US and Israel’s interests are the same. That being the case any politician who doesn’t support Israel is a traitor to the US as well.

Thus AIPAC serves as a powerful instrument to keep all members of Congress ‘in line’ supporting Israel’s Middle East agenda, in particular US funding of its imperialist ‘Greater Israel’ agenda,” Beau Grosscup, professor emeritus of political science at California State University, said in an interview with Press TV on Thursday.

Donald Trump has said that no US president has done more for Israel than he has done but lamented that American Jews have failed to appreciate his efforts.

Trump said on Sunday that American Jews must “get their act together” to show appreciation for Israel “before it is too late.”

“No President has done more for Israel than I have. Somewhat surprisingly, however, our wonderful Evangelicals are far more appreciative of this than the people of the Jewish faith, especially those living in the U.S.,” Trump said on Sunday in a Truth Social post.

“Those living in Israel, though, are a different story – Highest approval rating in the World, could easily be P.M.! U.S. Jews have to get their act together and appreciate what they have in Israel – Before it is too late!” Trump added.

Grosscup said, “Donald Trump tends to see himself as the ‘greatest’ of everything, so this is no surprise. If he were to cite a concrete ‘achievement’ it would be supporting the move of the capitol to Jerusalem al-Quds.”

In 2019, Trump said Jews who vote for Democrats are not loyal to Israel. He also said American Jews “don’t love Israel enough.”

Trump, who closely allied with former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the latter's time in office, also said Netanyahu did not want to make peace with the Palestinians.

Experts and politicians have said that Trump’s hardline support for Israel was aimed at appealing to evangelical Christians, who believe the only intense conflict in the Middle East and the gathering of Jews in Israel is a prerequisite for the return of Jesus.

Trump recognized Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel’s capital in December 2017 and signed a proclamation in March 2019 recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights, Syrian territory.

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