US Aid: Funding Israel's 'Propaganda Machine,' Not Just Its War
Al Jazeera asks about the 'price tag on Israel’s propaganda machine' targeting global public opinion. (Interesting they focus on its cost, not our contribution.) This 'machine' benefits from a symbiotic relationship with US political funding, where tax dollars flow into a PR war. While the network accurately highlights the financial scale, it often sidesteps the specific US legislative acts that
keep this system well-oiled. For example, the recently passed HR 815, signed into law on April 24, 2024, included billions in military aid for Israel. This robust financial support provides more than just weaponry; it frees up Israeli domestic funds for 'hasbara' (their term for public diplomacy). Many of the 366 Representatives and 72 Senators who voted 'yes' on HR 815 have significant financial
ties to pro-Israel lobbying groups like AIPAC. According to OpenSecrets.org, AIPAC spent $2.9 million lobbying Congress in 2023 alone, while its PAC contributed over $17 million to federal candidates in the 2022 election cycle. This nexus of donations and legislative outcomes—like the nearly 80% of Congress supporting expanded aid—shows a clear pattern of influence that fuels not just tanks, but
also Twitter campaigns. One might wonder if the 'price tag' of the propaganda machine isn't just a rounding error in the larger budget of unquestioning US support.