History of AIPAC in Timeline

AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, is a prominent pro-Israel lobbying group in the United States. It advocates for pro-Israel policies to the U.S. legislative and executive branches. With over 5 million members as of 2025, it is considered a highly influential lobbying organization within the U.S. political landscape.

1943: Formation of the American Zionist Emergency Council (AZEC)

In 1943, Abba Hillel Silver formed the American Zionist Emergency Council (AZEC) to organize American Jews to contact their local representatives to support Jews in Mandatory Palestine.

1949: AZEC Renamed American Zionist Council (AZC)

In 1949, the American Zionist Emergency Council (AZEC) was renamed the American Zionist Council (AZC).

1951: Lobbying Effort for U.S. Aid to Israel

In 1951, Isaiah Kenen began a lobbying effort to help Israel's troubled economy, securing $65 million in U.S. aid for Israel.

1952: Continued Lobbying Effort Secures Additional U.S. Aid

In 1952, Isaiah Kenen continued his lobbying effort and secured $73 million in U.S. aid for Israel.

October 1953: Qibya Massacre Criticism

In October 1953, the Qibya massacre occurred, in which Israeli troops killed at least 69 Palestinian villagers. The founding of the new organization was in part a response to international criticism of the October 1953 Qibya massacre

1953: Formation of American Zionist Committee for Public Affairs (AZCPA)

In 1953, Isaiah Kenen formed a separate entity, the American Zionist Committee for Public Affairs (AZCPA), to lobby for a foreign government.

1954: AIPAC Founded

In 1954, AIPAC was founded by Isaiah L. Kenen, a lobbyist for the Israeli government, partly to counter international criticism of Israel's Qibya massacre of Palestinian villagers that year.

1959: AZCPA Renamed AIPAC

In 1959, the American Zionist Committee for Public Affairs (AZCPA) was renamed the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).

1973: AIPAC's Rise to Power after Yom Kippur War

AIPAC only became a powerful organization in the 15 years after the Yom Kippur War in 1973.

1973: AIPAC's Budget Soars

In 1973, AIPAC's budget soared from $300,000 in 1973 to over $7 million during its peak years of influence in the late 1980s.

1974: Kenen Retires from AIPAC

In 1974, Isaiah Kenen retired from AIPAC and was succeeded by Morris J. Amitay.

1980: Thomas Dine Becomes Executive Director of AIPAC

In 1980, Thomas Dine became the executive director of AIPAC and developed its grassroots campaign.

1982: AIPAC-affiliated activists back Richard J. Durbin

In 1982, activists affiliated with AIPAC in Skokie, Illinois, backed Richard J. Durbin to oust U.S. representative Paul Findley (R-Illinois), who had shown enthusiasm for PLO leader Yasir Arafat.

1984: Charles H. Percy Defeated

In 1984, Senator Charles H. Percy (R-Illinois) was defeated by Democrat Paul Simon after Simon was asked by Robert Asher, an AIPAC board member in Chicago, to run against Percy.

1987: Pro-Israel PACs Operated by AIPAC Officials

In 1987, The Wall Street Journal reports that at least 51 of 80 pro-Israel PACs were operated by AIPAC officials.

1990: Pro-Israel Interests Contributions

Since 1990, Pro-Israel interests have contributed $56.8 million in individual, group, and soft money donations to federal candidates and party committees.

1992: David Steiner Resignation

In 1992, AIPAC president David Steiner resigned after being recorded boasting about his political influence in obtaining aid for Israel. Steiner claimed to have influenced Jim Baker and negotiated with the incoming Clinton administration regarding appointments.

2000: AIPAC Board Donations

Between the 2000 and the 2004 elections, the 50 members of AIPAC's board donated an average of $72,000 each to campaigns and political action committees.

2002: AIPAC Expresses Intent to Lobby for Iraq War Authorization

In 2002, AIPAC expressed intent to lobby Congress to authorize the use of force in Iraq.

2003: Iraq War Defended at AIPAC Events

In 2003, the Iraq War was defended at AIPAC events.

2004: AIPAC Board Donations

Between the 2000 and the 2004 elections, the 50 members of AIPAC's board donated an average of $72,000 each to campaigns and political action committees.

April 2005: AIPAC Officials Fired Amid Investigation

In April 2005, AIPAC policy director Steven Rosen and senior Iran analyst Keith Weissman were fired by AIPAC amid an FBI investigation. The investigation was into whether they passed classified U.S. information to the government of Israel.

May 2005: Lawrence Franklin Arrested for Providing Classified Information

In May 2005, Lawrence Anthony Franklin, a Department of Defense analyst, was arrested and charged by the FBI with providing classified national defense information to Israel. The criminal complaint mentioned a meeting where Franklin disclosed top-secret information to two AIPAC officials.

2005: AIPAC Espionage Scandal

In 2005, Lawrence Franklin pleaded guilty to espionage charges for passing U.S. government secrets to AIPAC policy director Steve J. Rosen and AIPAC senior Iran analyst Keith Weissman.

January 20, 2006: Lawrence Franklin Sentenced

On January 20, 2006, Lawrence Franklin was sentenced to 151 months in prison and fined $10,000 for passing government secrets. He admitted to giving classified information to both Rosen, Weissman, and an Israeli government official.

2009: Charges Dropped Against Former AIPAC Employees

In 2009, all charges against the former AIPAC employees, Rosen and Weissman, were dropped. This concluded the legal proceedings stemming from the investigation into the passing of classified information.

2012: Donna Edwards Failed to Back Resolutions in Support of Israel During Gaza War

In 2012, during the Gaza War, Donna Edwards failed to back resolutions in support of Israel. This became relevant in 2022 when AIPAC spent $7 million to defeat her in a Maryland primary.

2016: AIPAC Policy Conference

In 2016, AIPAC's yearly policy conference included both major parties' nominees: Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump.

2018: AIPAC Lobbying Expenditure

In 2018, AIPAC spent $3.5 million on lobbying.

February 2019: Ilhan Omar's Comments on AIPAC

In February 2019, U.S. representative Ilhan Omar tweeted that House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy's support for Israel was "all about the Benjamins," later clarifying that she meant AIPAC.

March 6, 2019: House Resolution on Antisemitism

On March 6, 2019, the Democratic leadership put forth a resolution on the House floor condemning antisemitism, which was broadened to condemn bigotry against a wide variety of groups before it passed on March 7.

2019: AIPAC Offices

As of early 2019, AIPAC had 17 regional and satellite offices and a new headquarters on K Street in Washington, D.C.

2020: Biden's Presidential Election

In 2020, Joe Biden won the U.S. presidential election. This became relevant in 2022 when AIPAC backed candidates who disputed the election results.

2021: United States Capitol Attack

In 2021, the United States Capitol attack occurred. This event became relevant in 2022 when AIPAC backed candidates who voted against certifying Biden's victory after the attack.

2021: AIPAC Forms Political Action Committee

In late 2021, AIPAC formed its own political action committee and announced plans for a Super PAC that can spend money on candidates' behalf.

March 2022: AIPAC Criticized for Backing Election Campaigns

In early March 2022, AIPAC was criticized for backing the election campaigns of 37 Republican members of Congress who voted against certifying Biden's 2020 U.S. presidential election victory after the 2021 United States Capitol attack.

2022: AIPAC Spending in Democratic Primaries

In 2022, AIPAC spent $24 million through its political action committee to defeat candidates not considered pro-Israel enough in the Democratic Party primaries. This funding was supported by Republican Trump campaign financiers.

August 2024: AIPAC Headquarters Vandalized

In August 2024, AIPAC's headquarters in Washington, D.C., were vandalized by anti-Israel activists. In the 2024 election cycle, AIPAC spent a record $45.2 million to defeat two progressive legislators critical of Israel, Jamaal Bowman and Cori Bush.

2025: AIPAC Membership

In 2025, AIPAC stated it has more than 5 million members in the U.S.

2025: Politicians Refuse AIPAC Donations

In 2025, several Democratic politicians, including Deborah Ross, Valerie Foushee, Morgan McGarvey, and Seth Moulton, said they would no longer accept donations from AIPAC.