History of AIPAC in Timeline

AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, is a prominent pro-Israel lobbying group in the United States. It focuses on influencing the U.S. government's legislative and executive branches to support policies that benefit Israel. It is considered one of the most influential lobbying groups in the U.S. on matters related to the U.S.-Israel relationship.

October 1953: Qibya Massacre

In October 1953, Israeli troops committed the Qibya massacre, resulting in negative international reactions.

1953: AIPAC Founding

AIPAC had worked effectively behind the scenes since its founding in 1953.

1954: AIPAC Founded

In 1954, AIPAC was founded by Isaiah L. Kenen, a lobbyist for the Israeli government, partly to counter negative international reactions to Israel's Qibya massacre.

1954: Split of AZCPA from AZC

In 1954, the American Zionist Committee for Public Affairs (AZCPA) was founded as a lobbying division of the American Zionist Council (AZC), and they split in 1954.

1959: AZCPA Renamed AIPAC

In 1959, AZCPA was renamed the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee, reflecting a broader membership and mission.

1973: AIPAC Gains Power After Yom Kippur War

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

1973: AIPAC Budget Soars

In 1973, AIPAC's budget soared from $300,000.

1974: Morris J. Amitay Succeeded Isaiah L. Kenen

In 1974, Morris J. Amitay succeeded Isaiah L. Kenen as the leader of AIPAC after Kenen's retirement.

1980: Thomas Dine Becomes Executive Director

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

1982: AIPAC Affiliated Activists Back Durbin

In 1982, activists affiliated with AIPAC backed Richard J. Durbin to oust U.S. representative Paul Findley (R-Illinois).

1984: AIPAC Involvement in Senator Percy's Defeat

In 1984, Senator Charles H. Percy was defeated by Democrat Paul Simon, after Simon was asked to run against Percy by Robert Asher, an AIPAC board member.

1987: AIPAC Officials Operate Pro-Israel PACs

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

1990: Pro-Israel Interests Donations

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 resigns after boasting about political influence

In 1992, AIPAC president David Steiner resigned after being recorded boasting about his political influence in obtaining aid for Israel and claiming to be negotiating with the incoming Clinton administration over appointments.

1995: AIPAC supports the Counter-Terrorism Act

In 1995, AIPAC was an early supporter of the Counter-Terrorism Act of 1995, which led to increased FBI resources being allocated to fight terrorism.

1996: Howard Kohr becomes CEO of AIPAC

In 1996, Howard Kohr became the CEO of AIPAC.

1997: Fortune magazine names AIPAC second-most powerful influence group

In 1997, Fortune magazine recognized AIPAC as the second-most powerful influence group in Washington, D.C.

2000: AIPAC Board Member 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 for Iraq War

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

January 2003: AIPAC lobbying Congress for Iraq War support

In January 2003, AIPAC's executive director Kohr stated at an AIPAC meeting that the organization was "'quietly' lobbying Congress to approve the use of force in Iraq". AIPAC spokesman Josh Block disputed this, claiming Kohr was misquoted and that AIPAC did no such lobbying.

2003: Iraq War Defended at AIPAC Events

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

2004: AIPAC Board Member 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 FBI investigation

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

2005: Lawrence Franklin Pleads Guilty

In 2005, Lawrence Franklin, a Pentagon analyst, pleaded guilty to espionage charges of passing U.S. government secrets to AIPAC officials. Rosen and Weissman were fired.

2005: AIPAC Espionage Scandal

In 2005, a Pentagon analyst pleaded guilty to espionage charges for passing U.S. government secrets to senior AIPAC officials, leading to what became known as the AIPAC espionage scandal.

2006: Betty McCollum demands apology from AIPAC

In 2006, Representative Betty McCollum demanded an apology from AIPAC, alleging that an AIPAC representative had described her vote against the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006 as "support for terrorists."

2007: Memorandum of Understanding on Aid to Israel

AIPAC executive director Howard Kohr referenced the 2007 Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. and Israel allocating $30 billion in aid for Israel over 10 years.

2007: AIPAC Conference Addresses Iraq War Impact

By the time of the 2007 AIPAC annual policy conference, continuing violence in Iraq had undermined the earlier view that the war aligned the United States and Israel against Arab and Muslim radicalism. At a conference session in 2007, the war was blamed for an increase in global terrorism.

2007: Jim Moran criticizes AIPAC's Influence

In 2007, Democratic congressman Jim Moran caused national controversy and drew criticism from many Jewish groups after he told California Jewish magazine Tikkun that AIPAC had been "pushing the [Iraq War] from the beginning."

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 before the House Committee.

2009: House of Representatives resolution condemning the UN Goldstone Report on human rights violations by Israel in Gaza passed

In 2009, a resolution in the House of Representatives condemning the UN Goldstone Report on human rights violations by Israel in Gaza, passed with a vote of 344–36.

2009: Charges Dropped Against Former AIPAC Employees

In 2009, charges against the former AIPAC employees, Rosen and Weissman, were dropped.

2010: AIPAC Opposes Jan Schakowsky's Reelection

In 2010, AIPAC opposed Representative Jan Schakowsky's reelection campaign after she was endorsed by J Street, despite previously maintaining good relations.

2010: Requested 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 before the House Committee.

2012: AIPAC calls for sanctions on Iran

In 2012, AIPAC advocated for "crippling" sanctions on Iran, communicating this stance in a letter to every member of Congress.

2013: AIPAC lobbies for the Nuclear Weapon Free Iran Act

In 2013, AIPAC lobbied to levy economic embargoes and increase sanctions on Iran through the Nuclear Weapon Free Iran Act, but the effort stalled due to resistance from President Obama.

2016: AIPAC Policy Conference Includes Clinton and Trump

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

2016: AIPAC Policy Conference held in Verizon Center

In 2016, nearly 20,000 delegates, including approximately 4,000 American students, attended the AIPAC Policy Conference. The general sessions were held in Washington, D.C.'s Verizon Center for the first time in AIPAC's history to accommodate the large number of delegates. Keynote speakers included Vice President Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, Governor John Kasich, Senator Ted Cruz, and Speaker Paul Ryan. Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the conference via satellite.

2016: UDP spends money to support Valerie Foushee against Nida Allam in North Carolina senate primary race

The UDP spent $2m in 2016 in a North Carolina senate primary to support the incumbent Valeria Foushee against Nida Allam, the first Muslim American woman to hold elected office in North Carolina and the political director for the 2016 presidential campaign of Bernie Sanders.

2018: AIPAC Lobbying Expenditure

In 2018, AIPAC spent $3.5 million on lobbying.

February 2019: Ilhan Omar's "Benjamins" Tweet

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

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.

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. During the trips, the members met with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

2019: AIPAC Headquarters and Regional Offices

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 Criticizes AIPAC and Refuses to Attend Conference

In 2020, Senator Bernie Sanders stated that AIPAC provides a platform for bigotry and announced he would not attend their conference.

2020: AIPAC Endorses Candidates who voted to overturn 2020 election

In March 2022, AIPAC's PAC released its first endorsements, which included 37 Congresspersons of the "Sedition Caucus" who had voted to overturn the 2020 election of Joe Biden. This endorsement drew criticism.

2021: AIPAC Forms Political Action Committee

In late 2021, AIPAC formed its own political action committee (PAC) and announced plans for a Super PAC. Betsy Berns Korn, AIPAC president, cited changes in the political environment as the reason for the move. Dov Waxman of UCLA noted that AIPAC had previously refrained from forming its own PACs, relying on informal ties with pro-Israel PACs.

March 2022: AIPAC endorses 130 candidates for the House of Representatives and the Senate

In March 2022, the PAC released its first endorsements of 130 candidates for the House of Representatives and the Senate. The list included 37 Congresspersons of the "Sedition Caucus" who had voted to overturn the 2020 election of Joe Biden.

May 2022: AIPAC spends millions to defeat progressive candidates

In May 2022, it was revealed that AIPAC, through the United Democracy Project (UDP), was spending millions to defeat progressive Democrats, particularly female candidates who might align with "the Squad."

August 2022: AIPAC accuses George Soros of backing anti-Israel groups

In August 2022, AIPAC tweeted that "George Soros has a long history of backing anti-Israel groups...Now he’s giving $1 million to help @jstreetdotorg support anti-Israel candidates and attack pro-Israel Democrats."

2023: Sanders says AIPAC is attempting to destroy the American progressive movement

In 2023, during an appearance on CBS Face the Nation (February 19), Senator Bernie Sanders stated that AIPAC, formerly bipartisan, had evolved towards attempting to "destroy" the American progressive movement.

March 2024: Opponents form the Reject AIPAC coalition

In mid-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 CEO of AIPAC, succeeding Howard Kohr.

2025: Gaetz speaks about 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.