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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]an interesting article (dated Feb.) addressing pro-Israel lobbying
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/feb/15/pro-israel-donors-spent-over-22m-on-lobbying-and-contributions-in-2018
Pro-Israel donors spent over $22m on lobbying and contributions in 2018

don't know if someone cited this article earlier . . . some interesting number crunching . . .

[quote]Omar incorrectly suggested Aipac makes campaign contributions to candidates. However, records show it did spend about $3.5m lobbying during the 2018 election cycle. In total, pro-Israel lobbying groups spent about $5m in 2018, the highest tally since tracking began in 1998.

Aipac spent the most of the lobbying groups, and is known for funding junket trips to Israel for freshman lawmakers and senators, as well as state legislators. Aipac also lobbied against the Iran nuclear deal in 2015 and supported the Trump administration’s withdrawal from the agreement.

. . .

Democratic leaders who criticized Omar and demanded an apology also receive a high level of contributions from the pro-Israel lobby. Eliot Engel, chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee on which Omar sits, received $1.07m from the pro-Israel lobby during his career, more than he’s received from any other industry. In a Tuesday statement, he said “… it’s shocking to hear a Member of Congress invoke the anti-Semitic trope of ‘Jewish money.’”

Meanwhile, the pro-Israel lobby has contributed $514,000 to Pelosi throughout her career and it’s given $1.02m to Hoyer.[/quote]

Interests are interests, right?  [/quote]

Yes, AIPAC pumps millions into both sides of the aisle.  And that's why we treat Israel like as if it were practically the 51st state.    Probably treated even better than places that are actually the US.

Could test that - Last year Israel was given $3.7 billion in US dollars
Compare that to what, say Puerto Rico gets - Puerto Rico gets $13.5 billion in federal dollars for medicaid, social security, pell grants, veterans benefits et cetera.  BUT it pays in to the federal government to the tune of $58 billion in the form of $22.6 billion in registered imports, $34 billion in capital gains from manufacturing and other industries in PR, and $1.5 billion in Cabotage law, to the tune of a net loss of $44 billion for PR.   So in fact Israel gets more federal dollars than US territories do.  That AIPAC lobbying is working pretty damn well.[/quote]

an interesting way to put things into perspective - for me at least

speakers at the AIPAC 2018 policy conference - http://www.policyconference.org/gallery/speakers2018.asp

one of the speakers:  Mr. Binyamin Zomer, Country Manager for Noble Energy Inc.
https://www.reuters.com/article/noble-energy-israel/corrected-noble-energy-says-to-expand-israel-activity-amid-natgas-success-idUSL8N1PJ2OO?elqTrackId=51778ff0b5e440b3a07f65d047f76744

[quote]JERUSALEM, Jan 24 (Reuters) - U.S.’s Noble Energy said on Wednesday it plans to expand in Israel ahead of the 2019 start of production at the large Leviathan natural gas site off Israel’s Mediterranean coast.

[b]Texas-based Noble[/b] owns some 40 percent of Leviathan, which has estimated gas reserves of 622 billion cubic meters — mostly earmarked for exports — while Israeli conglomerate Delek Group owns another 45 percent through two subsidiaries.

Noble also holds 32.5 percent of the Tamar field, Israel’s primary supply of natural gas, although it must reduce its holding to 25 percent by 2021 under government plans to open the market to competition.[/quote]

Big Business always wins, and the little people are caught in the middle.  So I see Omar's point.  She's not 100% wrong, but unfortunately, with the split in this country, matters have become way too black and white - which makes people ultra sensitive.[/quote]

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