| The Jewish Lobby
The accusation of the existence of a ‘Jewish lobby’, wielding enormous political influence wildly disproportionate to the size and number of Jews, has been a common theme in antisemitic conspiratorial discourse in modern times.
1. What is the allegation?
Control
The ‘Jewish lobby’ allegation is the claim that Jewish groups control or unduly influences the political machinations of the state and are a primary force for shaping local and foreign policy. In other words, the stereotype of the ‘Jewish lobby’ is that the Jewish engagement in politics and policy debate is above and beyond the ordinary participation of a group in public policy-making. It paints Jewish involvement as surreptitious, and as subverting the democratic process. It alleges that a ‘Jewish lobby’, through bribery, bullying and manipulation, pressures politicians to act against their will and duties.
- “Rudd backs Australian Jewish lobby: The abject resolution adopted by the Australian Parliament on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the formation of the state of Israel and Kevin Rudd’s supporting speech was notable for its omissions and distortions of Israel’s actual 60-year history. Once again the Holocaust is trotted out as the defining event.” Editorial,The Guardian, 19 March 2008.
- "The pro-Israeli lobby has got its grips on the western world, its financial grips. I think they've probably got a grip on our (Liberal Democratic) party." Baroness Jenny Tonge – September 2006, England.
- “Julia Irwin, ….. said she was appalled that Labor policy ….. had been "hijacked by powerful forces" associated with the Jewish lobby” Sydney Morning Herald, 19 August 2003 Australia
- Israel lobby sets its sights on academia “ Article headline Australian 2/12/2006 Australia
Treason
Another dimension to the ‘Jewish lobby’ stereotype is the allegation of treason – that the Jewish lobby acts against the national interests. In particular, pro-Israel lobbies in both Australia and the United States are depicted as agents of a foreign power, either of Israel specifically or of global Jewish interests generally.
A tool for antisemitic rhetoric and conspiracy theories
The idea of the ‘Jewish lobby’ is both an aspect of antisemitic discourse, and a foundation for developing conspiracy theories about Jewish power and control. The construction of the myth of a domineering Jewish lobby, which controls local and international policy, creates an environment that legitimates scapegoating Jews for all that is bad – socio-economic problems, war and foreign policy. The accusation of the Jewish lobby then goes a step further - if Jews control all government policies, then they must have intended for and created any negative effects of those policies. Hence the ‘Jewish lobby’ allegation becomes a platform for further antisemitic, conspiratorial rhetoric.
The allegation of an all-powerful ‘Jewish lobby’ was particularly prevalent in the United States in the lead-up to the Iraq war. On 3 March 2006, Virginia congressman James Moran stated that if it weren’t for “the strong support of the Jewish community for the war in Iraq, we would not be doing this”.[1] According to Jewish communal leaders in the US, not only was this statement inaccurate, but it signified a deeper problem of blaming Jews for wars involving the US. Moran later apologised for his statement. Professors Stephen Walt and John Mearsheimer alleged the same in a working paper, published in March 2006.[2] They claimed that an unduly influential Jewish and pro-Israel lobby is to blame for the US led war in Iraq and America’s terrorist problem.[3] This also goes back to the perception of the treacherous Jew in politics, using the government (in this case the US) as a political and military tool for its own, subversive interests.
Such allegations are harmful not only because of their academic guise, but because they have been appropriated, by extremists from all ends of the political spectrum, to vindicate their existing antisemitic platforms.[4]
Bullying and the Repression of Free Speech
The allegation, particularly in the media, is that a ‘Jewish’ or ‘Zionist lobby’ wields enormous financial power to bully and intimidate critics of Israel, and to suppress free debate about the Middle East. This theme came to a head in Australia in late 2003, when Jewish communal organisations protested heavily to the award of the annual Sydney Peace Prize to Palestinian activist Hanan Ashwari. Leaders of almost all major Jewish bodies argued that Ashwari’s support for the PLO and ambivalent stance on terrorism rendered her an inappropriate recipient, and that the Premier of NSW and Sydney University should refrain from granting her the award. Columnists and radio commentators, throughout the controversy, complained of a formidable Jewish financial power, and that Jews use bullying and pressure behind the scenes to censor adverse opinions. In 2006, in his book My Israel Question, Jewish writer Anthony Loewenstein made these same allegations, as well as claiming he was slammed by Jewish organisations for his support for Ashwari, and that the Jewish community was urged to boycott his book.
2. Are the allegations about a ‘Jewish Lobby’ true?
All interest groups lobby governments. Representative democracy works on the assumption that ordinary people with interests can have those interests represented in the decisions of government. The claim of a Jewish or pro-Israel lobby has become a defamation because it is used pejoratively to imply that Jewish lobby groups are disproportionately powerful and subversive, and anti-democratic.
The existence and role of lobbies in democracies
Lobby groups are essential to the workings of a representative democracy. A representative government, as enshrined in the Australian constitution, is one that must be a mirror of, and accountable to, its constituency. Lobby groups are not only an ordinary part of politics, but are necessary to ensure a responsive government. In short – there is a lobby of Jewish organisations and individuals which supports Israel’s right to exist in secure borders, the right to fair and balanced media representation of the Middle East, and the right to freedom of religion and freedom from antisemitic vilification. These Jewish representatives campaign for and advise on such needs of the community. So too are there Christian lobbies, environmental lobbies, a workers lobby, and a doctors lobby. Both affiliates of political parties and non-governmental organisations also campaign within and outside the government to shape government policy in line with their special interests. This is both politically desirable and expected. There is nothing problematic or sinister about the activities of lobby groups.
Further, there is nothing sinister about being a strong lobby group. Some lobby groups are more influential or effective than others, some campaign harder than others, and the achievements of some are more visible or publicised than others. The Australian lobby of Jewish organisations has sometimes been very successful and other times not as effective. It has, on behalf of the Jewish community, ensured that the Australian government of the day supports Israel’s right to exist. It has raised awareness of antisemitism in Australia. As a result, resolution condemning antisemitism were passed both at Federal & State level. The B'nai B'rith Anti-Defamation Commission was one of the primary forces behind the passage of the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act 2001 (Vic). All of this was achieved through legitimate campaigning and use of the tools of the democratic process which are available to all for such purposes, and are expected to be utilised.
What is sinister, however, is the singling out and targeting of Jewish lobby groups for antisemitic conspiracy theories and slurs. The assumption that Jewish groups influence government policy through bullying and bribery is not only baseless, but signifies the enduring antisemitic mythology of the all powerful, evil Jew. The same motif drives the publication and re-publication of the Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion.
Freedom of discussion
The campaigning of a lobby group is not repression of free speech, but an expression of such a freedom. Jewish community groups do not, and could not, censor debate about the Middle East or Jews in general. If this were the case, Hanan Ashwari would not have received the Sydney Peace Prize, presented by NSW Premier Bob Carr, Anthony Loewenstein would not have been published, Konrad Kalejs would never have been allowed entry into Australia, the ABC would never have needed to be under independent scrutiny for its coverage of the Middle East, and there would never have been a global academic boycott of Israeli academic institutions. As a recent example, Anthony Loewenstein has enjoyed widespread publicity and publication. His book was debated on a panel to an audience of over 500 at the Melbourne Writers Festival in August 2006. Criticism, even sharp criticism, from members of the Jewish community forms a part of this free overall debate. It is not censorship. A boycott, urged by some Jewish leaders, is simply another form of non verbal protest and is not censorship. On the contrary, for Jews to feel the need to refrain from sharply criticising a publication for fear of being vilified as a demonic bully, is a form of repression and censorship of a most insidious kind.
[1] ADL Press Release, Congressman’s Antisemitic Remarks are “Unacceptable” and “Symptomatic of a More Serious Problem” 13 March 2003
[2] J Mearsheimer and S Walt, “The Israel Lobby and U.S Foreign Policy”, John F. Kennedy School of Government Faculty Research Working Paper Series, March 2006.
[4] See Alan Dershowitz, Debunking the Newest – and Oldest – Jewish Conspiracy: A Reply to Mearsheimer-Walt “Working Paper”. Harvard Law School, April 2006, pp. 3-4. |
Antisemitism 
