Exclusive: Michael Rectenwald on Launching Anti-Zionist America PAC to Challenge Israel’s Infiltration of US Politics
In an interview with Quds News Network, AZAPAC’s founder outlines his mission to challenge pro-Israel lobbies and free US politics from Israel’s dominance and its affiliated organizations.
Michael Rectenwald, a former professor and author, has launched the Anti-Zionist America PAC (AZAPAC), a new political action committee seeking to challenge the entrenched influence of Zionist lobbying groups in Washington.
Rectenwald says AZAPAC’s goal is to “reclaim American governance for Americans” by ending the “Zionist control” of US foreign policy. He argues that decades of unconditional support for Israel have undermined US sovereignty, fueled endless wars, and enabled crimes against the Palestinian people.
In this exclusive interview with Quds News Network (QNN), Rectenwald explains his motivations, the concrete steps AZAPAC intends to take, and how the PAC plans to identify candidates who reject funding from groups like AIPAC, J Street, and Christians United for Israel (CUFI). He also responds to critics who say his language around dual loyalties is controversial or exclusionary.
Below, we present the main takeaways from the conversation, followed by the full Q&A for transparency.
Key Takeaways from the Interview
Motivation: Rectenwald says he launched AZAPAC out of concern over “the pervasive influence of Zionist interests in US politics,” which he believes drains US resources and enables Israel’s crimes against Palestinians.
Definition of Zionist control: He defines it as the influence of pro-Israel lobbies and politicians who prioritize Israel’s interests over those of the US.
Concrete steps: AZAPAC will endorse candidates who reject funding from Zionist-aligned groups, push to end US military aid to Israel, and demand that AIPAC register as a foreign agent under FARA.
Challenging dominance: The PAC plans to build grassroots networks to counterbalance the financial and lobbying power of AIPAC and similar organizations.
Vision of success: Rectenwald says success means cutting off all US aid to Israel and ensuring accountability at international courts without US obstruction.
Candidate vetting: AZAPAC will investigate candidates’ funding, public records, and affiliations to ensure they are free of foreign loyalties.
Dual Loyalties: On the issue of dual loyalties, Rectenwald insists the focus is on transparency and accountability, not exclusion.
Full Q&A Interview
Q: What motivated you to launch the Anti-Zionist America PAC?
My motivation stems from a deep concern over the pervasive influence of Zionist interests in US politics, which I believe has led to policies that prioritize foreign agendas over American sovereignty and the well-being of our citizens.
For years, I've observed how groups like AIPAC and others shape US foreign policy, entangling us in endless conflicts, draining taxpayer resources through military aid, and compromising our institutions through dual loyalties and elite corruption. Launching AZAPAC is about reclaiming American governance for Americans, promoting non-interventionism, and ending the cycle of imperial domination that harms not just the US but also oppressed peoples worldwide, including Palestinians. It's a grassroots effort to build a freer, more independent America liberated from these foreign entanglements.
Personally, I have watched helplessly as the US government has funded and armed Israel even as it commits genocide against the Palestinian people. I knew I must do something to end this unconditional support for Israel for international justice to prevail and for the survival of the Palestinian people. I know that many Americans feel as I do and want to end such support. It's the moral thing to do.
Q: Your mission statement speaks of “removing Zionist control from the US government.” How do you define that, and what concrete steps will AZAPAC take?
We define "Zionist control" as the undue influence exerted by pro-Israel lobbies, organizations, and politicians who prioritize Israel's interests over those of the American people. This includes funding politicians who support unconditional military aid to Israel, even amid documented atrocities and crimes against humanity; promoting policies that entangle the US in foreign conflicts; and using censorship, surveillance, and blackmail networks to suppress dissent. It also encompasses dual citizens or those with divided loyalties who hold positions of power and act on behalf of Zionist agendas.
Concrete steps AZAPAC will take include funding and endorsing candidates at local, state, and federal levels who reject funds from Zionist lobbies like AIPAC, Christians United for Israel, J Street, and the Zionist Organization of America, among others. We advocate cutting all foreign military aid, removing US threats and sanctions against the ICJ and ICC to allow accountability for international crimes, requiring AIPAC to register under FARA as a foreign agent, and investigating networks like Epstein's that involve foreign intelligence blackmail. Additionally, we'll push for policies that protect civil liberties, secure borders, end the Federal Reserve's grip, and prioritize economic independence through transparent, grassroots campaigns.
Q: Washington’s political culture has long been tied to unconditional support for Israel. How will AZAPAC challenge that dominance?
AZAPAC will challenge this dominance by directly countering the financial and lobbying power of pro-Israel groups through our own PAC structure. We'll fund anti-Zionist, non-interventionist candidates who commit to refusing Zionist donations and acting solely in America's interests. By building a network of grassroots supporters, we'll amplify voices that expose the costs of unconditional support—such as billions in aid funding endless wars while American infrastructure crumbles.
We'll advocate for legislative changes like FARA registration for AIPAC, full investigations into foreign loyalties and corruption, and policies that dismantle entanglements, including cutting aid and allowing international courts to operate without US interference. Over time, this will shift the political culture toward prioritizing American citizens, fostering a movement that empowers voters to demand accountability and sovereignty.
Q: The statement also mentions pushing to require AIPAC to register as a foreign agent. Why do you see that as a priority?
Requiring AIPAC to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) is a priority because it would enforce transparency and accountability for an organization that effectively acts as an agent of a foreign government—Israel—while influencing US policy without the required disclosures.
AIPAC's massive lobbying efforts, which secure billions in aid and unconditional support for Israel, often at the expense of American interests and international justice, should not evade the scrutiny applied to other foreign agents. This step would expose their operations, reduce their undue influence, and set a precedent for dismantling similar Zionist networks. It's essential for restoring integrity to US governance and ensuring that foreign powers cannot covertly dictate our policies. AIPAC operates as if the interests of the US align unproblematically with those of Israel, which is demonstrably untrue. Registration would indirectly impact AIPAC by increasing scrutiny, requiring detailed disclosures of contributions and activities, making candidates less receptive to their contributions, and potentially deterring donors due to reputational concerns.
Q: Looking ahead, what would success for AZAPAC mean in terms of US policy toward Israel?
Success for AZAPAC would mean a fundamental shift in US policy toward Israel: ending all military aid and foreign entanglements that enable atrocities and crimes against humanity; withdrawing threats and sanctions against the ICJ and ICC to allow independent accountability for Israeli actions; and prioritizing non-interventionism that puts American interests first.
It would result in a US government free from Zionist influence, with politicians who reject dual loyalties and focus on domestic prosperity, secure borders, and economic independence. Ultimately, this would contribute to a world liberated from endless conflicts, where the US no longer props up imperial domination, fostering true sovereignty and peace for all nations, especially Palestine.
Q: You state AZAPAC will support candidates who refuse funding from groups like AIPAC, J Street, and CUFI. How will you identify and vet such candidates?
We will identify candidates through a rigorous, transparent vetting process that begins with outreach to grassroots networks, anti-interventionist organizations, and communities focused on American sovereignty.
Potential candidates must publicly commit to refusing funds from Zionist lobbies like AIPAC, J Street, Christians United for Israel, and the Zionist Organization of America, among others, and demonstrate no dual citizenships or loyalties that could compromise their allegiance to the US Vetting includes reviewing their financial disclosures, public statements, voting records (if applicable), and affiliations to ensure alignment with our mission. We'll also conduct background checks for any ties to foreign intelligence or corruption networks. Once vetted, we'll provide funding, campaign support, and endorsements to amplify their platforms, empowering those who truly prioritize American citizens. We will also work with other PACs and lobbying groups to identify viable non-Israel-aligned political candidates.
Q: The statement also mentions dual loyalties and citizenships. How do you plan to address critics who may say this language is controversial or exclusionary?
We acknowledge that terms like "dual loyalties" and "citizenships" can be seen as controversial, but they are rooted in a legitimate concern for undivided allegiance in public service, which is essential for national sovereignty.
Critics may misinterpret this as exclusionary, but our focus is not on individuals' backgrounds per se—it's on actions and policies that prioritize foreign interests over American ones. To address this, we'll emphasize transparency in our communications, highlighting how such loyalties have historically led to compromised decisions, like endless foreign aid and wars.
We'll engage in open dialogue, provide evidence from public records and investigations (such as those into elite corruption and blackmail networks), and underscore that our goal is inclusivity for all Americans committed solely to US interests.
By framing it as a matter of accountability and patriotism, we aim to build broad support while standing firm against smears that deflect from the real issues of influence and control.
Closing Note
The Anti-Zionist America PAC is still in its early stages, but its emergence signals growing resistance to the dominance of pro-Israel lobbies in US politics. Whether AZAPAC can succeed in shifting Washington’s bipartisan consensus remains uncertain, but its message reflects a rising current of dissent challenging unconditional US support for Israel.
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