The recent results of the mid-term election have resulted in a stunning repudiation of Bush’s foreign policy and turned the spotlight on the activities of lobbyists such as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee or AIPAC. AIPAC boasts of being one of the nation’s most influential lobby. Consider some of its more egregious activities:

> Played a key role persuading the Bush administration and US lawmakers to wage the preemptive war on Iraq.

> Continues to exert enormous pressure on US lawmakers to continue the $3 billion a year funding of Israel’s apartheid polices.

> Pressuring US lawmakers to support future military strikes on Iran.

> Lobbied US lawmakers to fund the apartheid wall which cuts into large acres of land belonging to the Palestinians.

> Silences all political opposition to Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian land, targeted assassinations, home demolitions and theft of Palestinian taxes.

However, it is encouraging to hear more and more courageous Americans expressing their opposition to AIPAC’s undue influence.

Two eminent scholars, Professor Stephen Walt of Harvard University, and John Mearsheimer of the University of Chicago, published a highly acclaimed paper arguing that AIPAC has adversely influenced U.S. foreign policy compromising our security in order to advance the interest of Israel. I urge readers to contact their local representatives and demand that we call a halt to unconditional support to Israel whose policies have in large measure contributed to the chaos and instability in the Middle East and enormous oppression of the Palestinians.