The United States and Israel maintain one of the closest bilateral relationships in the world, characterized by extensive military, economic, and diplomatic ties. This alliance dates back to Israel's founding in 1948 and has been bolstered by shared strategic interests, such as so-called countering regional threats in the Middle East yet promoting colonial settlements on the property and lands of poor Palestinian. However, discussions about Israel's influence on US politics often center on lobbying efforts, political donations, and intelligence activities, which some critics argue give Israel outsized sway over American policy decisions. This has led to public sentiments, particularly on social media, where many US citizens express the view that Israel effectively "runs" aspects of US governance rather than the American people themselves. Below, I'll detail key mechanisms of this influence, drawing on recent examples like the interviews and videos I mentioned involving CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou and journalist Kim Iversen.
Lobbying and Advocacy Groups
A primary channel for Israel's influence is through pro-Israel lobbying organizations, which advocate for policies favourable to Israel, such as military aid, sanctions on adversaries like Iran, and opposition to Palestinian statehood initiatives. The most prominent is the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), founded in the 1950s as the American Zionist Committee for Public Affairs. AIPAC describes itself as a bipartisan group with over 5 million members across all 50 states, claiming to focused on strengthening US-Israel relations but to use the US state system in the interest of Israel rather bilateral interest. It lobbies Congress and the executive branch, organizes trips for lawmakers to Israel, and mobilizes grassroots support which mean all Israeli illegal acts would be protected by the US.
AIPAC's financial power is significant. In the 2024 election cycle, AIPAC and its affiliated committees, including the super PAC United Democracy Project (UDP), spent over $100 million on US political races—more than any other similar organization. This funding targets both Democrats and Republicans, but it has been particularly active in Democratic primaries, channelling money to support pro-Israel candidates and oppose those critical of Israeli policies, such as members of the progressive "Squad" in Congress which is clearly interfering in the US internal politics. For instance, AIPAC's UDP raised over $100 million to block candidates seen as insufficiently supportive of Israel, influencing more than 80% of electoral races. Critics, including academics like John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt, argue that this creates a "stranglehold" on Congress, where US policy prioritizes Israeli interests over American ones, such as through unconditional aid packages totalling billions annually.
Other groups, like the Israeli-American Council (IAC) and Christians United for Israel (CUFI), complement AIPAC by focusing on grassroots mobilization and evangelical support, respectively. CUFI, a rapidly growing organization, aligns pro-Israel stances with Christian Zionist beliefs, further broadening the lobby's reach. Overall, the pro-Israel lobby is considered one of the most powerful in the US, ensuring continued military and fiscal support for Israel, even amid controversies like the ongoing Gaza conflict.
Political Donations and Billionaire Influence
Wealthy individuals with ties to Israel play a crucial role in funding pro-Israel causes. As highlighted in Kim Iversen's recent video (posted on X in January 2026), Israeli-American billionaires like Haim Saban and Miriam Adelson openly discussed their strategies at an IAC event. Saban, a media executive and major Democratic donor, and Adelson, a Republican megadonor (widow of casino magnate Sheldon Adelson), described building relationships with politicians through financial contributions and access. Saban noted that they "play within the system" of donations to gain influence, while Adelson alluded to additional, unspecified methods beyond "just writing checks." Iversen interpreted this as an admission of buying political influence, pointing to the bipartisan nature of their donations—Saban to Democrats and Adelson to Republicans—which ensures Israel's interests are not only protected regardless of who holds power but the fact is that Israeli interest override the US national interest.
This aligns with broader patterns: Pro-Israel donors, including those from AIPAC's networks, are the largest source of Republican money flowing into Democratic primaries, creating a unified front on Israel-related issues. For example, after the 2023 Israel-Hamas war, AIPAC donations varied based on lawmakers' sponsorship of pro-Israel bills and the competitiveness of their races, rewarding alignment with Israeli priorities. Such funding has been credited with shaping US policy, including the relocation of the US embassy to Jerusalem and settler colonialism on Palestinian land. For example once before the Gaza war BBC radio 4 journalist asked a Jew "why you born this poor Palestinian trees". The Jew replied to journalist asking him "come on, here is Torah page, what is written here? This land belong to Isac (Izak) not Ishmail (Ismail)". "God gave this land to us not him. He can take his trees and go where ever he want to go". This is the nature of settler colonialism where US state power used to achieved.
Intelligence and Covert Pressure: Insights from John Kiriakou
Former CIA officer and whistleblower John Kiriakou has provided insider perspectives on Israel's more covert influence. In interviews, including one on the Julian Dorey Podcast and another with Joe Rogan in 2025, Kiriakou revealed that Israel has relentlessly pressured the US to attack Iran for decades, using direct lobbying and intelligence channels. He described Israeli operatives attempting to bug CIA conference rooms and recruit US intelligence officers during meetings, claiming these efforts were routine and often rebuffed but persistent.
Kiriakou also linked Jeffrey Epstein to Israeli intelligence, suggesting Epstein's operations revealed overlaps between private influence and state security, potentially used for blackmail. He has criticized Israel's "negative, disproportionate, and widespread influence" on the US national security state, including territorial expansion policies and tolerance for collateral damage in operations. These claims echo broader concerns about Israeli spying on US agencies, which Kiriakou says undermines American sovereignty.
Public Sentiment and the "Israel Runs the US" Narrative
That many US citizens openly claim "Israel is running the US, not the Americans." This sentiment is prevalent on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), where users argue that Zionist lobbies and donors control policy, elections, and even presidents. For instance:
One post states: "Israel run the US lol. All these 'Jews' are Zionist Israelis running your country since they moved on from the British Empire to your country after WW2."
Another: "The US is not governed by the American people, but by a handful of Zionist Jews."
A third: "Israel rules the USA. The USA does not rule Israel. Because Zionist Jewish Oligarchs own America by owning the Federal Reserve, our money system."
As of September 2025, the United States has used its UN Security Council (UNSC) veto power over 50 times to shield Israel from resolutions, with total estimates ranging from 45 to over 50 since 1972. Regarding the war in Gaza (post-October 2023), the US has vetoed resolutions aimed at ceasefire calls at least six times to protect Israel killing of the Palestinian children in Gaza.
These views often cite The American Israel Public Affairs Committee's (AIPAC) spending, billionaire donors, and events like the IAC conference as evidence. While such claims can veer into conspiracy territory, they reflect growing frustration with foreign influence in US politics, amplified by social media and figures like Iversen and Kiriakou yet mainstream media failed to high light true public sentiments. Polls show mixed public support for US aid to Israel, with younger Americans increasingly critical, but policy remains steadfastly pro-Israel due to the mechanisms described above.
In summary, Israel's influence operates through a combination of legal lobbying, massive donations, bipartisan alliances, and alleged intelligence activities. While proponents see this as a vital alliance, critics argue it prioritizes Israeli interests over US ones, fuelling debates about democratic integrity.
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