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AIPAC: US lawmakers can criticize Israel’s annexation plans, as long as criticism stops there

Washington (QNN)- AIPAC has allowed US lawmakers to criticize the Israeli annexation plans, reported the Jewish Telegraphy Agency (JTA).

Although it said last month that it would be a mistake to allow Israel’s annexation of parts of the West Bank to weaken US-Israel ties, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and the most powerful pro-Israel lobby in the country, known as AIPAC, has told US lawmakers and officials that they are free to criticize Israel’s annexation plan, as long as the criticism stops there.

AIPAC was delivering this message in Zoom meetings and phone calls with lawmakers, according to a congressional aide and a donor as the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported.

“We are telling the senators feel free to criticize annexation, but don’t cut off aid to Israel,” said the donor describing the message from AIPAC.

Also, the congressional aide described the same message from AIPAC, “They want to make sure members of Congress understand this is the time to warn Israel but not to threaten the Memorandum of Understanding.”

In a statement to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency sent after this message was published, AIPAC spokesman, Adam Harris, said that AIPAC does not encourage criticism of Israel.

“AIPAC does not encourage members of Congress to criticize the government of Israel,” Harris said. “Our role is to strengthen the relationship between the two allies.”

Throughout the years of its influence on the US policy towards Israel, AIPAC has strongly opposed any criticism of Israel and its policy, using its lobbying powers to condemn those who dare to criticize Israel and to prevent others from voicing criticism.

Partly, because of AIPAC’s political efforts, the US has remained Israel’s strongest ally, funding its military and standing with it when it expands its illegal West Bank settlements or its soldiers kill hundreds of unarmed Palestinians, including children, medics and journalists.

Last year, Rep. Ilhan Omar has come under fire when she suggested GOP support for the occupation state is driven by campaign donations from AIPAC.

Omar was responding to a tweet from journalist Glenn Greenwald, who said, “Equating [Omar and Tlaib’s] criticism of Israel to Steve King’s long defense of white supremacy is obscene (McCarthy said it’s worse). In the US, we’re allowed to criticize our own government: certainly foreign governments. The GOP House Leader’s priorities are warped.”

In response to Greenwald’s post, Omar tweeted, “It’s all about the Benjamins baby,” followed by a music emoji, which suggested that money was calling the tune for McCarthy.

When asked to explain where the money she was referring to came from, Omar tweeted: “AIPAC.”

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