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The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy

The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy
By John J. Mearsheimer, Stephen M. Walt

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The Israel Lobby,” by John J. Mearsheimer of the University of Chicago and Stephen M. Walt of Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, was one of the most controversial articles in recent memory. Originally published in the London Review of Books in March 2006, it provoked both howls of outrage and cheers of gratitude for challenging what had been a taboo issue in America: the impact of the Israel lobby on U.S. foreign policy.
 
Now in a work of major importance, Mearsheimer and Walt deepen and expand their argument and confront recent developments in Lebanon and Iran. They describe the remarkable level of material and diplomatic support that the United States provides to Israel and argues that this support cannot be fully explained on either strategic or moral grounds. This exceptional relationship is due largely to the political influence of a loose coalition of individuals and organizations that actively work to shape U.S. foreign policy in a pro-Israel direction. Mearsheimer and Walt provocatively contend that the lobby has a far-reaching impact on America’s posture throughout the Middle East—in Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, and toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict—and the policies it has encouraged are in neither America’s national interest nor Israel’s long-term interest. The lobby’s influence also affects America’s relationship with important allies and increases dangers that all states face from global jihadist terror.
 
Writing in The New York Review of Books, Michael Massing declared, “Not since Foreign Affairs magazine published Samuel Huntington’s ‘The Clash of Civilizations?’ in 1993 has an academic essay detonated with such force.” The publication of The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy is certain to widen the debate and to be one of the most talked-about books of the year.

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #10336 in Books
  • Published on: 2007-08-27
  • Released on: 2007-08-27
  • Original language: English
  • Number of items: 1
  • Binding: Hardcover
  • 496 pages

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. Expanding on their notorious 2006 article in the London Review of Books, the authors increase the megatonnage of their explosive claims about the malign influence of the pro-Israel lobby on the U.S. government. Mearsheimer and Walt, political scientists at the University of Chicago and Harvard, respectively, survey a wide coalition of pro-Israel groups and individuals, including American Jewish organizations and political donors, Christian fundamentalists, neo-con officials in the executive branch, media pundits who smear critics of Israel as anti-Semites and the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee, which they characterize as having an almost unchallenged hold on Congress. This lobby, they contend, has pressured the U.S. government into Middle East policies that are strategically and morally unjustifiable: lavish financial subsidies for Israel despite its occupation of Palestinian territories; needless American confrontations with Israel's foes Syria and Iran; uncritical support of Israel's 2006 bombing of Lebanon, which violated the laws of war; and the Iraq war, which almost certainly would not have occurred had [the Israel lobby] been absent. The authors disavow conspiracy mongering, noting that the lobby's activities constitute legitimate, if misguided, interest-group politics, as American as apple pie. Considering the authors' academic credentials and the careful reasoning and meticulous documentation with which they support their claims, the book is bound to rekindle the controversy. (Sept.)
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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 the kind of book you do not have to agree with on every count (I certainly don’t) to benefit from reading.” —MJ Rosenberg, Israel Policy Forum Newsletter

About the Author
John J. Mearsheimer is the R. Wendell Harrison Distinguished Service Professor of Political Science and the co-director of the Program on International Security Policy at the University of Chicago. He has published several books, including The Tragedy of Great Power Politics.

Stephen M. Walt is the Belfer Professor of International Affairs at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and was academic dean of the Kennedy School from 2002 to 2006. He is the author of Taming American Power: The Global Response to U.S. Primacy, among other books.

Customer Reviews

Excellent Read!!5
The book is a classic!!. It gives a detailed explanation of the currennt U.S policy towards Israel and Palestine..I was shocked to learn about how much influence the Israel lobby wields in the U.S Congress and senate..its a great book..I especially liked the way the authors organized the chapters....and the way the authors make their case and substantiate it with solid evidence and documentation...

Its about time Israel withdrew from the Occupied Territories and worked towards establishing a Palestine state...



Great Election-Time Reading5
The paperback edition of this book is printed on cheap paper and has a floppy feel, but the content earns it the top rating. The authors give a fine historical background to the current crisis, demonstrating that the U.S. role wasn't problematic until the past 30 to 40 years, during which it gradually worsened. This coincided with the rise of a loose alliance of groups and individuals (not all Jewish) who fostered unconditional support for Israel, which is pretty much the current policy. The book is not anti-Israel, but opposes the unconditional support that hurts the U.S. and perhaps Israel itself (where there is some opposition to the government's policies). The "modus operandi" of the Israel lobby is described, and the vulnerability of politicians to it (such as presidential candidates) explained. The authors make their recommendations for correcting this situation, and document their statements with footnotes that comprise over a quarter of the book (listed at the back, so they don't distract from one's reading.) This extensive documentation was apparently in anticipation of a reflex, blanket accusation of "lies" by the Israel lobby. This book is well worth reading, especially during election season, when the future direction of the U.S. is being determined.

6, 7, 8, 9...5
In this book there is phenominal research that amazes even academia . In it the authors show the impact of Israel and it's ability to capture the U.S. government. This is a must read for all Americans. Whether you are a supporter of Israel or not this book has important information for all. I have to admit that my opinion was changed after reading this book, and that is no small feat.

I don't agree with all of the authors' viewpoints, but this book, I have to admit is a phenomenal work that puts to end the controversy of whether there is really an impact from the Israeli lobby or if it is all just made up. They also show the many problems with the U.S.'s system of democracy that allows for its capture by an extreme minority group. Here I wish the the author's had referenced Lowi, but that is ok. They have made history writing this work and I wonder if the Knock out punch is traced back to this publication.