The Israel Lobby is one of the most powerful special interest groups in the United States.

It consists of a multitude of extremely well-funded institutions that work to influence Congress, the Presidency, the media, and the American public.

AIPAC: The most prominent governmental lobbying organization is the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Fortune Magazine typically rates this as the second most powerfully lobbying organization in the U.S. AIPAC frequently writes the legislation that members then introduce, and that extraordinarily large majorities of both parties then endorse.

 

 

 

 

 

 

AIEF: A subsidiary of AIPAC is the American Israel Education foundation (AIEF), which takes Congressional Representatives on all-expense-paid trips to Israel. In August 2011 they took 81 representatives on trips led by the leaders of both parties to Israel. (The legality of this is being challenged.)

WINEP: The Washington Institute for Near East Policy (WINEP) works to influence media coverage of Israel.

ADL: The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) regularly works to promote Israeli interests.

ZOA: The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) is the American branch of the international organization that was formed in 1897.

JCRCs, etc: Jewish Community Relations Councils, Jewish Federations, Hillels, Hadassahs, and similar organizations regularly promote Israeli interests in virtually every city in the United States. Numerous synagogues  around the country fly Israeli flags and advocate on behalf of Israel.

There are numerous mixed-faith Israel advocacy groups around the country: e.g. Vision, Patriot Action Network, Religious Freedom Coalition, International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, etc. Their origins and financial backers are not always entirely clear.

A lengthy examination of the roots of the lobby can be read here.