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The Israel Lobby and US Foreign Policy [Paperback]

John J Mearsheimer (Author), Stephen M Walt (Author)
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
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Book Description

Publication Date: 26 Jun 2008

Does America’s pro-Israel lobby wield inappropriate control over US foreign policy?

This book has created a storm of controversy by bringing out into the open America’s relationship with the Israel lobby: a loose coalition of individuals and organizations that actively work to shape foreign policy in a way that is profoundly damaging both to the United States and Israel itself.

Israel is an important, valued American ally, yet Mearsheimer and Walt show that, by encouraging unconditional US financial and diplomatic support for Israel and promoting the use of its power to remake the Middle East, the lobby has jeopardized America’s and Israel’s long-term security and put other countries – including Britain – at risk.

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Product details

  • Paperback: 496 pages
  • Publisher: Penguin; 1st Edition Thus edition (26 Jun 2008)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0141031239
  • ISBN-13: 978-0141031231
  • Product Dimensions: 12.9 x 2.8 x 19.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 106,383 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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More About the Authors

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Stephen M. Walt
John J. Mearsheimer

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Review

"Controversial." --Terry Gross, "Fresh Air," NPR

"It could not be more timely." --David Bromwich, "The Huffington Post"

"The strategic questions they raise now, particularly about Israel's privileged relationship with the United States, are worth debating." --David Remnick. "The New Yorker"

"Ruthlessly realistic." --William Grimes, "The New York Times"

"The argument they present is towering and clear and about time.""" --Philip Weiss, Mondoweiss.com

"Mearsheimer, a political scientist at the University of Chicago, and Walt, on the faculty at Harvard, set off a political firestorm." --Jay Solomon, "The Wall Street Journal.com"

"Promises controversy on a scale not seen since Samuel Huntington's "Clash of Civilizations" sought to reframe a new world order." --Stefan Halper, National Interest.com

"Deals with Middle East policymaking at a time when America's problems in that region surpass our problems anywhere else . . . People are definitely arguing about it. It's also t

From the Publisher

How a powerful American interest group has created havoc in the Middle East, betrayed Israel itself and now threatens an even more perilous future. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
32 reviews
4.6 out of 5 stars
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
30 of 32 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Best book on US-Israel relations 20 April 2010
By Imad Mousa
Format:Paperback
The book discusses the influence of the Israel lobby on the American decision-making bodies and key figures.

Notice here that I use the expression ''the Israel Lobby'', not ''Jewish Lobby'', and the reason is simple: out of around 75 Jewish pressure groups active in the American political realm, only a small number of them stand adamantly for Israel's 'right' to do whatever she prefers, and cracks down on any attempt to even criticize the Jewish state. The rest of the groups, although pro-Israel, maintain a more balanced attitude towads the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. They basically lean towards a two-state solution, and on several occasions step out to 'timidly' criticize Israel's practices in the Occupied Territories.

The book impressively outlines the influence of AIPAC (the American Israel Public Affairs Committee) on the American decision-making wether in the Congress or in the Oval Office. Despite the fact that the writers argue that Israel has a legitimate right to exist and live in peace and security, they raise the most critical question of whether American generous support of Israel is by any means justified.

The book cleverly analyzes the scope of the American-Israeli relations from a historical and political perspective, and to what extent America's unconditional (declared and undeclared) financial & military aids to Israel fan the growing anti-US terrorism, and how that endangers both American and Israeli security.

Sporadic points that seem vague in the American foreign policy and the US relations with Israel are logically connected in this book, making it easier for a political observer to correctly lay down the political puzzle pieces.

The book is objective, sharp and very clever...and of course, despite their pro-Israel opinions, the writers have been labeled anti-semitic.
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39 of 42 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars An objective book that everyone should read 16 April 2009
By M. Amin
Format:Paperback
After first reviewing the extent of US financial and non-financial support for Israel, the authors ask whether Israel is a strategic asset or liability for the USA. They consider a number of arguments:

Helping contain the Soviet bear - relevant during the Cold War but not after the collapse of the Soviet Union. They give the example of the first Gulf War where any Israeli involvement would have been seriously damaging to US interests.

Partners against terror - the authors point out that US support for Israel is itself a prime cause for terrorism directed against US interests.

Confronting rogue states - they remind us that the states usually mentioned present no direct threat to the USA and that US support for Israel makes it harder to deal with rogue states.

Having decided that supporting Israel damages the USA, the authors evaluate whether moral considerations require American support for Israel notwithstanding. After doing so, they conclude that the moral case for the USA to support Israel is not currently justified, regardless of the arguments either way in 1947.

It would be easy to believe that US support for Israel is achieved by a conspiracy, with secret arrangements made in darkened rooms. The authors demonstrate that exactly the opposite is true. The Israel lobby operates in the full glare of publicity; there is no conspiracy.

The book shows how American supporters of Israel organise their campaigning efforts, raise money, lobby politicians and also dominate debate in the media and amongst think tanks. This is achieved by many people dedicating their time and money to promoting the cause of Israel. The authors point out that in a democracy a narrowly focused interest group can often get its way; a small number of Americans are passionate about Israel while the overwhelming majority are relatively indifferent either way. Accordingly, politicians find it helpful to appease the Israel lobby; safe in the knowledge that their doing so will not result in any meaningful loss of support from the rest of the population.

The book examines in detail how the lobby operates. One statistic stands out. Between 1990 and 2004, pro-Israel groups contributed nearly $57 million to candidates and parties while Arab American and Muslim Political Action Committees contributed slightly less than $800,000.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A lobby,not a conspiracy 27 Mar 2009
By Put Down The Duckie
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Walt and Mearsheimer have done the public-in the US and elsewhere-a service by writing about what has been,for far too long,a taboo subject.
Contrary to what some reviewers say,their account of the Israel lobby starts from the view that there is nothing wrong in individuals or groups who support Israel lobbying and trying to persuade politicians,the press or the public of the rightness of their views.It is US democracy in action,good old-fashioned politics,and everyone else does it.It's almost impossible to read an article about US politics which doesn't discuss the farm lobby,the labour lobby,the banking lobby or whatever other lobby.
The problem is that there is,in effect,no opposition to the Israel lobby (not all of whom are Jewish,as the authors point out).Any "Arab lobby" or "Palestinian lobby" in the USA is pathetically weak and poor in comparison with pro-Israeli groups.So,the most extreme and confrontational policies of the Israeli government are tolerated,supported or,at most,attract verbal displeasure from the US government-there's no benefit in supporting Palestinians,no loss in supporting Israel.Same with the financial munificence of the US taxpayers to Israel.
Great work of political analysis,and ignore the cries of "anti-Semitism" you may sometimes hear directed at this book.The authors point out that particular canard has been used so frequently and so loosely by pro-Israeli apologists as their response to anything and anybody that opposes anything the Israeli goverment does.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Required Reading for All Thinking People in the West
This excellent book should be required reading for all those interested in the politics of the Middle East and the often baffling foreign policy of the United States towards the... Read more
Published 1 day ago by Dr. R. Brandon
5.0 out of 5 stars Wow
Indescribable! Great, best, interesting, different, novel, innovative, striking, sharp, terrific, to the point, worth ut, had to have it! Wow!
Published 26 days ago by IMAN
5.0 out of 5 stars Nobody should ever debate mideast politics without having read this...
THis is a compelling and eye opening work; especially relevent for the intelligent American voter, but really for anyone who has the intellect to go beyond the junk media directed... Read more
Published 6 months ago by blahhhh
5.0 out of 5 stars Great on many levels
I wont re-describe what others have said but the reasons I liked this book is because it taught me a lot about - middle east history and the way the american political system... Read more
Published 7 months ago by jamo
5.0 out of 5 stars Well researched, relevant, not always completely convincing
The central argument of the book "The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy" by J. J. Mearsheimer and S. M. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Alexander Sokol
5.0 out of 5 stars Source packed and very informative. Must read for those who are...
This book that has its origins in 2002, before getting published in 2008 in paperback, is a must read for those who want to understand how US Foreign Policy operates. Read more
Published 12 months ago by The Establishment Fears Investigation
4.0 out of 5 stars Thought provoking
I think a very good analysis of the influence the israeli lobby holds not just on politics in the US, but also over public opion and the academic life. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Mads Graff Lorenzen
5.0 out of 5 stars Re-defines the term "Special Relationship"
A really sound and constructive analysis of the relationship between the United States and Israel. However, the concluding argument is not necessarily one which you would... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Mr. D. J. Walford
5.0 out of 5 stars Congressmen For Sale.
Steven Rosen, the former AIPAC official, illustrates AIPAC's power for the New Yorker's Jeffrey Goldberg by putting a napkin in front of him and saying, "In twenty-four hours, we... Read more
Published on 13 Oct 2010 by Baraniecki Mark Stuart
5.0 out of 5 stars Unaccountability and democracy
For anyone frustrated at the way America's real 'special relationship' - the one with Israel -impacts us all, then this is the book is for you. Read more
Published on 26 Jun 2010 by Cake
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