Washington DC (QNN)- DAWN has launched “The Faces of AIPAC,” a new initiative revealing the 50 individuals who govern and run the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). The effort exposes a lack of transparency in one of Washington’s most influential lobbying organizations.
Unlike similar organizations, AIPAC does not publicly list its board members or executives. DAWN’s project compiles this information from IRS filings, lobbying disclosures, FEC records, and other open sources. It names 41 board members and 9 executives who direct strategy and operations.
“AIPAC has hidden its leadership from the American public,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, DAWN executive director. “We are putting faces to the names. These are real people making real decisions with global consequences.”
Under Washington, DC nonprofit law, AIPAC’s officers and directors carry legal responsibility for the organization’s conduct. They must exercise care, act in good faith, and report violations. While directors enjoy some liability protection, executives face potential personal liability for negligence.
DAWN highlights how AIPAC’s leadership forms a network of networks across the US pro-Israel ecosystem. Examples include:
- Betsy Berns Korn, AIPAC Board Chair, also leads the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.
- Harriet Schleifer, former Conference Chair, sits on AIPAC’s board and other pro-Israel institutions.
- Michael Kassen serves on AIPAC’s board and as a trustee of the Hudson Institute; his wife, Shelly Kassen, leads the Washington Institute.
- Jamie Sprayregen, board member, holds roles at the Middle East Forum and American Jewish Committee.
- Alan Levow, Vice President, also serves with the American Israel Education Foundation, which funds congressional trips to Israel.
- Robert Cohen and Alan Franco, former board leaders, are linked to Israeli military charities and Tel Aviv’s Institute for National Security Studies.
DAWN stresses that understanding who governs AIPAC is critical because these individuals control billions in US military aid to Israel, influence US foreign policy, and finance pro-Israel political campaigns.
“Our research shows AIPAC’s board is more than a leadership team. It is a central hub connecting virtually every major pro-Israel institution in America,” said Isabelle Hayslip, DAWN advocacy specialist.
