Epstein's Lawyer and the Covert BDS War
The New Arab article highlights an email from Epstein's lawyer, David Schoen, dated February 28, 2019, stating his imminent travel to Israel. The stated purpose: to 'advise government officials' on combating the BDS movement, with his trip funded by 'two unnamed organisations.' This revelation, unearthed from the 'Epstein Files,' forces a confrontation with deeply uncomfortable questions about the
nature of influence, accountability, and the opaque funding of international lobbying efforts. CASE A: The Coverage of Anti-BDS Efforts Mainstream reporting often frames efforts to combat BDS as legitimate, defensive actions against a movement perceived as antisemitic or an economic threat to Israel. Organizations like the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the American Israel Public Affairs
Committee (AIPAC) are frequently quoted advocating for legislation or public sentiment against BDS. The narrative often emphasizes the 'delegitimization' of Israel and the need to protect its economic interests. The focus is rarely on the sources of funding or the methods employed beyond public advocacy. CASE B: Parallel – Foreign Influence and Undisclosed Lobbying Contrast this with how financial
ties to other foreign powers are typically scrutinized. For example, when think tanks or individuals are found to be taking money from countries like Russia, China, or even Saudi Arabia for lobbying efforts, there is often immense media and government attention – often leading to calls for registration under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) of 1938. The FARA statute itself emerged from