Abstract

The aim of this project is to observe the evolution of the Israel Lobby. The project looks at specific conflicts in history beginning with the Iraq War of '03 in order to present that by this point in history the Israel lobby had already gained ground in American politics. The project then goes back in history to directly contrast this moment of strength by observing the American Jewish community during the Holocaust, the creation of the Jewish state in 1948, the Suez Crisis of 1956, the Six-Day war in 1967, and finally the Yom Kippur war of 1973. The project does not look at the specific causes of the conflicts, but it looks at the role played by the Israel lobby during these events. Because this thesis is very historical, it includes several primary sources as well as interviews in order to support its argument. This thesis is significant because it explores an under discussed subject; the Israel Lobby is constantly observed as the entity that exists today, but scholars overlook its history and the way in which it was able to become this powerful entity. It is necessary to look at the lobby’s history because it enables other lobbies to learn from its experience; in the case of this project, the lobby I am most concerned with is the Arab lobby. Therefore, the Arab lobby can learn from the steps that the Israel lobby has been through in order to build a coalition that has a weighted voice in the American political scene.

Department

Public Policy & Administration Department

First Advisor

Hodgkins, Allison

Committee Member 1

Reimer, Michael

Committee Member 2

Hamdy, Iman

Extent

128 p.

Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approval

Approval has been obtained for this item

Comments

I would like to thank my thesis supervisor Dr. Allison Hodgkins and my readers Dr. Michael Reimer and Dr. Iman Hamdy. A huge thank you goes out to Lara Friedman from Americans for Peace Now for agreeing to be interviewed for the sake of this thesis. Another thank you is in order for Congressman Nick Rahall who agreed to participate in an interview for this thesis. Both participants have provided me with very critical information that has strengthened the arguments made in this project.

Rights

The author retains all rights with regard to copyright. The author certifies that written permission from the owner(s) of third-party copyrighted matter included in the thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study has been obtained. The author further certifies that IRB approval has been obtained for this thesis, or that IRB approval is not necessary for this thesis. Insofar as this thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study is an educational record as defined in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 USC 1232g), the author has granted consent to disclosure of it to anyone who requests a copy. The author has granted the American University in Cairo or its agents a non-exclusive license to archive this thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study, and to make it accessible, in whole or in part, in all forms of media, now or hereafter known.

Publication Date

Spring 5-15-2016

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