History of AIPAC in Timeline
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is a prominent pro-Israel lobbying group in the United States. It focuses on influencing the U.S. legislative and executive branches to support policies favorable to Israel. AIPAC is considered one of the most influential lobbying organizations in the U.S., advocating for a strong U.S.-Israel relationship through various means, including direct lobbying, grassroots activism, and campaign contributions.
October 1953: Qibya Massacre
In October 1953, Israeli troops under Ariel Sharon killed at least sixty-nine Palestinian villagers, two-thirds of them women and children, in what became known as the Qibya massacre.
1953: AIPAC Founding
Although it had worked effectively behind the scenes since its founding in 1953, AIPAC only became a powerful organization in the 15 years after the Yom Kippur War in 1973.
1954: AIPAC Founded
In 1954, AIPAC was founded by Isaiah L. Kenen, a lobbyist for the Israeli government. This was partly in response to negative international reactions to Israel's Qibya massacre of Palestinian villagers that year.
1954: Founding of AZCPA
In 1954, Isaiah L. Kenen founded the American Zionist Committee for Public Affairs (AZCPA) as a lobbying division of the American Zionist Council (AZC).
1959: AZCPA Renamed AIPAC
In 1959, AZCPA was renamed the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee, reflecting a broader membership and mission.
1973: Yom Kippur War
After the Yom Kippur War in 1973, AIPAC became a powerful organization in the next 15 years.
1973: AIPAC's Budget Soars
In 1973, AIPAC's budget soared from $300,000 to over $7 million during its peak years of influence in the late 1980s.
1974: Kenen's Retirement
In 1974, Isaiah Kenen retired and was succeeded by Morris J. Amitay as the head of AIPAC.
1980: Thomas Dine becomes executive director
In 1980, Thomas Dine became the executive director of AIPAC and developed its grassroots campaign.
1984: Senator Percy defeated by Paul Simon
In 1984, Senator Charles H. Percy (R-Illinois) was defeated by Democrat Paul Simon. Simon was asked by Robert Asher, an AIPAC board member in Chicago, to run against Percy.
1987: AIPAC operated PACs
The Wall Street Journal reports that in 1987 at least 51 of 80 pro-Israel PACs were operated by AIPAC officials.
1990: Pro-Israel interests donations
According to the non-partisan OpenSecrets, Pro-Israel interests have contributed $56.8 million in individual, group, and soft money donations to federal candidates and party committees since 1990.
1992: David Steiner resigns after boasting about political influence
In 1992, AIPAC president David Steiner was forced to resign after being recorded boasting about his political influence in obtaining aid for Israel and claiming to negotiate with the incoming Clinton administration.
1995: AIPAC supports the Counter-Terrorism Act
In 1995, AIPAC was an early supporter of the Counter-Terrorism Act, which led to increased FBI resources being allocated to combat terrorism.
1996: Howard Kohr becomes CEO of AIPAC
In 1996, Howard Kohr became the CEO of AIPAC.
1997: Fortune magazine names AIPAC the second-most powerful influence group in Washington, D.C.
In 1997, Fortune magazine recognized AIPAC as the second-most powerful influence group in Washington, D.C., highlighting its significant impact on political affairs.
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: Intent to lobby Congress on Iraq
In 2002, AIPAC expressed its intent to lobby Congress to authorize the use of force in Iraq.
January 2003: AIPAC executive director Kohr claims "quietly" lobbying Congress to approve the use of force in Iraq
In January 2003, at an AIPAC meeting, executive director Kohr claimed that AIPAC was "quietly" lobbying Congress to approve the use of force in Iraq. However, AIPAC spokesman Josh Block denied any lobbying occurred and claimed Kohr was misquoted.
2003: Defense of Iraq War 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.
May 2005: Lawrence Anthony Franklin Arrest
In May 2005, Lawrence Anthony Franklin, a U.S. Air Force Reserves colonel and Department of Defense analyst, was arrested by the FBI for allegedly providing classified national defense information to Israel. The criminal complaint identified AIPAC and described a meeting where Franklin allegedly disclosed top-secret information to two AIPAC officials.
January 20, 2006: Lawrence Anthony Franklin Sentenced
On January 20, 2006, Lawrence Anthony Franklin was sentenced to 151 months in prison and fined $10,000 for passing government secrets to Rosen, Weissman, and an Israeli government official. Franklin agreed to cooperate in the federal investigation as part of his plea agreement.
2006: Betty McCollum demands apology from AIPAC
In 2006, Representative Betty McCollum demanded an apology from AIPAC, claiming an AIPAC representative had described her vote against the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006 as "support for terrorists."
2007: AIPAC annual policy conference blames Iraq War for increase in global terrorism
At the 2007 AIPAC annual policy conference, the ongoing violence in Iraq was blamed for an increase in global terrorism, undermining the earlier view that the Iraq War aligned the United States and Israel against Arab and Muslim radicalism.
March 2009: AIPAC requests military aid for Israel
In March 2009, AIPAC executive director Howard Kohr requested that Israel receive $2.775 billion in military aid in fiscal year 2010.
2009: Charges Dropped Against AIPAC Employees
In 2009, all charges against the former AIPAC employees were dropped.
2009: Brian Baird opposes House resolution condemning the Goldstone Report
In 2009, former congressman Brian Baird opposed a House resolution condemning the Goldstone Report on civilian deaths. He criticized the lack of informed voting on the resolution.
2010: Military aid requested for Israel
In March 2009, AIPAC executive director Howard Kohr requested that Israel receive $2.775 billion in military aid in fiscal year 2010.
2010: AIPAC opposes Jan Schakowsky
In her 2010 reelection campaign, AIPAC opposed Jewish member of Congress, Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-Illinois), after she was endorsed by the advocacy group J Street.
2012: AIPAC calls for "crippling" sanctions on Iran
In 2012, AIPAC called for "crippling" sanctions on Iran in a letter sent to every member of Congress, advocating for economic embargoes and increased sanctions on Iran.
2016: AIPAC Policy Conference includes Clinton and Trump
In 2016, AIPAC's yearly policy conference included both major parties' nominees: Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump.
2016: Nida Allam political director for the 2016 presidential campaign of Bernie Sanders
In 2016, Nida Allam was the political director for the 2016 presidential campaign of Bernie Sanders
2016: AIPAC Policy Conference held at Verizon Center with numerous delegates and speakers
In 2016, nearly 20,000 delegates, including 4,000 American students, attended the AIPAC Policy Conference. Held for the first time at Washington, D.C.'s Verizon Center, keynote speakers included Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, John Kasich, Ted Cruz, Paul Ryan, and Benjamin Netanyahu (via satellite).
2018: AIPAC lobbying expenditure
In 2018, AIPAC spent $3.5 million on lobbying.
February 2019: Ilhan Omar's "all about the Benjamins" tweet
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 she meant AIPAC. She then made another statement attacking "political influence in this country that says it is okay to push for allegiance to a foreign country”.
March 6, 2019: House resolution on anti-Semitism
On March 6, 2019, the Democratic leadership put forth a resolution on the House floor condemning anti-Semitism, which was broadened to condemn bigotry against a wide variety of groups before it passed on March 7.
August 2019: AIEF sponsors congressional trips to Israel and the West Bank
In August 2019, the American Israel Education Foundation (AIEF) sponsored week-long trips for 72 members of Congress (41 Democrats and 31 Republicans) to Israel and the West Bank, where they met with Benjamin Netanyahu and Mahmoud Abbas.
2019: AIPAC's new headquarters
As of early 2019, AIPAC had 17 regional and satellite offices and a new headquarters on K Street in Washington, D.C.
2020: Betty McCollum accuses AIPAC of hate speech
In 2020, Democratic congresswoman Betty McCollum accused AIPAC of hate speech and labeled the group as a hate group.
2020: Bernie Sanders says AIPAC provides a platform for bigotry
In 2020, Senator Bernie Sanders stated that AIPAC provides a platform for bigotry and announced he would not attend their conference.
2020: 37 Congresspersons voted to overturn the 2020 election of Joe Biden
In March 2022, AIPAC's PAC endorsed 37 Congresspersons of the "Sedition Caucus" who had voted to overturn the 2020 election of Joe Biden.
2021: United States Capitol Attack
Following the 2021 United States Capitol attack, AIPAC was criticised for backing the election campaigns of 37 Republican members of Congress who voted against certifying Biden's 2020 U.S. presidential election victory.
2021: AIPAC forms its own political action committee and announces plans for a Super PAC
In late 2021, AIPAC formed its own political action committee and announced plans for a Super PAC to spend money on behalf of candidates. This decision marked a shift from AIPAC's previous practice of not directly raising funds for political candidates.
2021: AIPAC forms its own political action committee
In late 2021, AIPAC formed its own political action committee and announced plans for a Super PAC, which can spend money on candidates' behalf.
March 2022: AIPAC PAC releases its first endorsements, including "Sedition Caucus" members
In March 2022, AIPAC's PAC released its first endorsements of 130 candidates, including 37 Congresspersons of the "Sedition Caucus" who had voted to overturn the 2020 election of Joe Biden. This endorsement drew criticism from various sources.
March 2022: AIPAC Criticized for Backing Election Campaigns
In early March 2022, AIPAC faced criticism for supporting 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.
May 2022: AIPAC spends millions through UDP to defeat progressive Democrats
In May 2022, it was revealed that AIPAC, through the United Democracy Project (UDP), spent millions to defeat progressive Democrats, particularly female candidates aligned with "the Squad."
August 2022: AIPAC tweets about George Soros backing anti-Israel groups
In August 2022, AIPAC tweeted that "George Soros has a long history of backing anti-Israel groups," leading to denouncements of antisemitism by the left-wing Jewish organization IfNotNow.
2022: AIPAC Spent Millions to Defeat Candidates
In 2022, AIPAC, through its political action committee (the United Democracy Project), spent $24 million to defeat candidates in the Democratic Party primaries who were not considered pro-Israel enough. This funding was supported by Republican Trump campaign financiers.
2023: Bernie Sanders says AIPAC attempts to destroy the American progressive movement
In 2023, on CBS Face the Nation, Senator Bernie Sanders said that AIPAC had evolved from being bipartisan to attempting to "destroy" the American progressive movement.
March 2024: Opponents form Reject AIPAC coalition to protect democracy and Palestinian rights
In March 2024, with reports of AIPAC and UDP planning to spend $100M to primary incumbent progressive House Democrats, opponents formed the Reject AIPAC coalition to "protect democracy & Palestinian rights".
August 2024: AIPAC Headquarters Vandalized
In August 2024, AIPAC's headquarters in Washington, D.C. were vandalized by anti-Israel activists.
2024: Elliot Brandt named CEO of AIPAC
In late 2024, Elliot Brandt was named the new CEO of AIPAC, succeeding Howard Kohr.
2025: Matt Gaetz speaks about "downward pressure" on congress members to participate in AIEF trips
In 2025, former Representative Matt Gaetz spoke about a “downward pressure” on congress members to participate in AIEF trips, particularly for members of the Foreign Affairs, Armed Services, or Intelligence committees.
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