AIPAC has funded trips to Israel for hundreds of lawmakers — to bolster backing for its hardline government
The nonprofit division of "America’s pro-Israel lobby" is making significant investments to influence U.S. lawmakers’ perspectives on Israel’s conservative government.
TroibNews 
On June 16, in the midst of Benjamin Netanyahu's ongoing defiance of Joe Biden regarding the war in Gaza, a delegation of eight U.S. House members and two staffers checked in at Tel Aviv’s luxurious Kempinski Hotel for an immersive four-day experience focused on Israeli politics.
During their visit, the lawmakers and aides toured the country and engaged with a series of speakers predominantly reflecting the conservative viewpoints of the Israeli prime minister, including Netanyahu himself.
This trip, one of many similar excursions over the past decade, was organized by the nonprofit arm of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Describing itself as “America’s pro-Israel lobby,” AIPAC wields significant influence in U.S. politics and advocates for the priorities of the Israeli government.
After a hiatus following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, AIPAC resumed its trips this year, hosting a total of eight visits for 71 House members and staffers from March through early September. Notably, slightly more Republicans than Democrats participated in AIPAC's trips during that timeframe.
As lawmakers encounter pressure regarding U.S. aid — facing criticism from figures like Sen. Bernie Sanders, who calls for a pause on arms sales amidst Israel’s offensive in Lebanon, and support from Sen. Lindsey Graham, who urges more funding for Israel’s defenses — they are relying on insights gleaned from their AIPAC travels to inform their perspectives.
Rep. Glenn Ivey, who has participated in two AIPAC trips since September 2023 and received $6 million in independent expenditures from AIPAC during his 2022 congressional campaign, noted the significance of his experiences in Israel for understanding a crucial U.S. partnership.
“It's useful to try and get out and see things firsthand,” he remarked. He recalled that powerful moments from the June trip included meeting the families of hostages and visiting the site of a music festival where many civilians were killed or injured.
“It was a very somber trip,” Ivey added. “There’s no question about that.”
While AIPAC is well-known for facilitating trips to Israel to cultivate support for the Jewish state, the full scale of this travel had not been thoroughly analyzed until recently. A new study by the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism at the University of Maryland indicates that Israel has been the most common destination for privately sponsored foreign travel by members of the House and their aides.
More than a quarter of the approximately 4,100 privately sponsored foreign trips reported by House members since 2012 were to Israel. This figure surpasses travel to all other Western Hemisphere and African destinations combined.
The Howard Center analyzed travel records spanning the past decade, creating a database of around 17,000 trips taken by House representatives or staff members, either individually or in delegations. Most of the participants — at least three out of every four — were staffers responsible for shaping policy and drafting legislation.
In contrast to the House's extensive travel data, the smaller Senate reported over 2,600 trips during the same period; however, its disclosure forms do not readily disclose sponsors or destinations for easy analysis.
The Howard Center's analysis utilized travel disclosures, nonprofit tax records, lobbying registrations, and various data sources, including OpenSecrets and LegiStorm, to map the relationships between lobbyists and trip sponsors.
Critics argue that these trips cultivate a one-sided understanding of U.S.-Israel relations and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, often reinforcing the hardline policies of the current Israeli government.
“Whoever frames the discussion wins the debate,” stated former Rep. Andy Levin, a progressive Jewish politician and AIPAC critic.
Approximately 75 percent of trips to Israel were funded by AIPAC’s charitable affiliate, the American Israel Education Foundation (AIEF). This structure enables AIPAC to navigate around a 2007 law that restricts lobbyists' participation in most privately sponsored travel, thanks to a legal loophole that allows certain 501 organizations to sponsor trips. AIPAC advocated for this exemption, known informally as the “AIPAC loophole.” Without it, AIPAC would be limited to subsidizing only one-day trips as a registered lobbyist organization.
Though other organizations exploit this loophole, none have matched AIPAC’s extensive influence over what U.S. representatives and staff experience and the narratives they encounter during visits to Israel and the occupied West Bank.
Marshall Wittmann, an AIPAC spokesperson, declined multiple requests for interviews but issued a written statement countering what he deemed "false characterizations" regarding AIPAC's trips.
Wittmann wrote:
“AIEF-sponsored trips help educate bipartisan political leaders about the importance of the U.S.-Israel relationship through firsthand experiences in Israel, briefings by experts on Middle East affairs, and meetings with Israeli leaders from across the political spectrum.”
He emphasized the comprehensive, policy-focused nature of the trips, covering topics such as regional security, technology, and health. In light of the Hamas attacks on October 7, Wittmann noted, these trips deepen members of Congress's understanding of the threats Israel faces.
AIPAC's initiatives extend beyond travel, hosting an annual conference for elected officials, which former Rep. Brian Baird described as the "largest gathering of members of Congress" aside from the State of the Union address. Last year, AIPAC spent over $3 million on lobbying, and its projected expenditures for 2024 position the organization among the top 3 percent of all tracked lobbyist groups. AIPAC's PAC and super PAC collectively contributed $50.9 million to the 2022 election cycle.
AIPAC's recruitment of members and staff for trips to Israel highlights the significance of its travel program, which has cost at least $10 million from 2012 to 2023, according to LegiStorm. The Howard Center’s study found that approximately half of current House members have traveled with AIPAC since 2012.
Among them, Ivey's first AIPAC trip saw him traveling with eight other members of the Congressional Black Caucus. They visited Jerusalem on September 2, 2023, just a month prior to the Hamas attacks. While they met senior Israeli officials, Ivey observed a significant absence of Palestinian perspectives during the trip.
“The itinerary included a meeting with a Palestinian-Israeli peace activist, but not people in Gaza, and not the Palestinian Authority,” he explained. “So, heavy focus on Israel and Israeli politics.”
During his second trip in June, there was a different focus that incorporated discussions surrounding the October 7 attacks. Ivey recounted arriving in Israel to find the airport adorned with the faces of hostages who had been captured.
Despite meeting with Palestinian-Israelis, the trip did not extend to Gaza or the West Bank. In line with previous AIE trips, the delegation encountered high-profile Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and National Unity Party leader Benny Gantz, as indicated in Ivey's itinerary.
However, Ivey noted, “the focus was totally different” on this visit compared to his previous trip, which had a stronger emphasis on exploring potential paths to a two-state solution. When asked whether that topic was still on the agenda this June, Ivey pointed out that he was not allowed to disclose specific meeting details, but he acknowledged widespread doubts about the viability of a two-state resolution.
"I think that’s true in Israel. I think that’s true… among many Palestinians,” he remarked. “Many people doubt or have questions about whether it is still a realistic option.”
AIPAC's nonprofit arm funded roughly $68,000 for Ivey’s two trips, encompassing luxury accommodations. His first visit was notable not only for its discussions on Israel but included an exploration of connections between Israel, Rwanda, and the U.S.
Ivey insists that no one has questioned whether his travel with AIEF has influenced his views. “They focus more on the $7 million in independent expenditures in my election. My view is that, you know, it's fair game, it's all publicly disclosed; people can take a look and draw their own decisions. And as far as I know, we follow the rules.”
According to FEC data, AIPAC’s super PAC—the United Democracy Project—spent $6 million on independent expenditures for Ivey’s 2022 primary. His campaign also received around $750,000 through contributions funneled from another AIPAC affiliate and over $400,000 of outside spending from a separate pro-Israel group, The Democratic Majority for Israel.
In April, Ivey voted for a military aid package for Israel, underscoring his commitment to assist Israeli defense while ensuring additional humanitarian aid to Gaza. He later opposed a bill in November that did not allocate aid for Gaza.
Former Rep. Donna Edwards, who served from 2008 to 2017, chose not to travel with AIPAC during her time in office, opting instead for visits with more liberal organizations like J Street, which advocates for a different approach toward Israel-Palestine relations.
Having traveled with J Street, Edwards gained insight into how Israeli settlements in the West Bank obstruct the two-state solution. “You can see how antithetical that is to a desire for a two-state solution. Where in the world would you draw the two states?” she remarked.
Comparative itineraries reveal that travelers on AIPAC trips tend to meet with fewer Palestinians than those on J Street trips.
The Howard Center reached out to over 30 current and former House members and staff who traveled to Israel from 2012 to 2023, including 23 individuals who participated in AIPAC trips at least once. The only AIPAC travelers willing to discuss their experiences were Ivey and Baird, who traveled with AIPAC in 1999, a journey not included in the Howard Center database.
Among those declining interview requests were Rep. Mike Levin, a California Democrat who traveled to Israel three times between 2012 and 2023—twice with AIPAC and once with J Street—and Democratic Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, who took four trips with AIPAC, most recently leading a Democratic delegation in August 2023.
Levin noted in his 2022 disclosure report that the U.S.-Israel relationship is a recurring topic among his constituents and emphasized the trip's value in informing his decisions. Similarly, Jeffries remarked in his 2023 disclosure, "As the Democratic leader of the U.S. Congress, I have been asked to engage in my leadership capacity in issues related to the US-Israel relationship for this trip."
Communication teams for both Levin and Jeffries did not respond to interview requests.
AIPAC maintains that support for Israel necessitates backing the Israeli government, which has leaned rightward for much of the 21st century under Netanyahu, as explained by Dov Waxman, professor and director of the UCLA Y&S Nazarian Center for Israel Studies.
Among achievements highlighted on its website, AIPAC cites its lobbying success in securing billions in military aid to Israel and increasing sanctions on Iran, while also working to restrict participation in Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions campaigns against Israeli entities and endorsing continued military operations in Gaza until Hamas’s political and military presence is dismantled.
In its early years, AIPAC was described as "unrivaled" in the pro-Israel lobby. However, Waxman observes that the rise of J Street, established in 2007 and active in congressional travel since 2010, poses a challenge to AIPAC's dominance. Even though J Street has sponsored trips to Israel, the volume of AIPAC-sponsored travel since 2012 has outnumbered J Street's efforts nearly sevenfold.
Despite the same geographical focus, AIPAC and J Street trip participants report significantly different experiences. For instance, in February 2022, contrasting delegations from AIPAC and J Street visited Israel and the West Bank simultaneously, with both Democratic groups even residing in the same hotel. Following separate discussions with Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh, Rep. Jared Huffman remarked that while AIPAC participants were primed to "do pro-Israel combat," his J Street group was there to "listen and learn."
One of the few organizations uniquely dedicated to engaging with Palestinian families living in Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank is the small group Rebuilding Alliance, which has coordinated trips for House staffers since 2018.
Nisreen Malley, senior advocacy coordinator at Rebuilding Alliance, emphasized the impact of witnessing the realities on the ground: “When you're physically [visiting someone] who's talking to you about how their home was demolished … it's hard to ignore that when you're thinking about your policies.”
Levin's former colleague, Andy Levin, argues that Congress's substantial focus on Israel has resulted in neglect of other significant international issues.
“Israel and Palestine are very important,” he stated. “But so are Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean. … Obviously, Asia — South Asia, East Asia — there are many important conflicts and difficult conflicts and economic opportunities.”
Baird concurs with this perspective. “I think we've neglected our own hemisphere, and to our detriment because the Russians and the Chinese surely have not neglected our hemisphere,” Baird observed. "The focus on the Middle East takes the oxygen out of the room for so many other issues."
Aidan Hughes, Cait Kelley, and Daryl Perry contributed to this report for the University of Maryland's Howard School for Investigative Journalism, with additional insights from PMG's Mike Zapler.
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
During their visit, the lawmakers and aides toured the country and engaged with a series of speakers predominantly reflecting the conservative viewpoints of the Israeli prime minister, including Netanyahu himself.
This trip, one of many similar excursions over the past decade, was organized by the nonprofit arm of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Describing itself as “America’s pro-Israel lobby,” AIPAC wields significant influence in U.S. politics and advocates for the priorities of the Israeli government.
After a hiatus following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, AIPAC resumed its trips this year, hosting a total of eight visits for 71 House members and staffers from March through early September. Notably, slightly more Republicans than Democrats participated in AIPAC's trips during that timeframe.
As lawmakers encounter pressure regarding U.S. aid — facing criticism from figures like Sen. Bernie Sanders, who calls for a pause on arms sales amidst Israel’s offensive in Lebanon, and support from Sen. Lindsey Graham, who urges more funding for Israel’s defenses — they are relying on insights gleaned from their AIPAC travels to inform their perspectives.
Rep. Glenn Ivey, who has participated in two AIPAC trips since September 2023 and received $6 million in independent expenditures from AIPAC during his 2022 congressional campaign, noted the significance of his experiences in Israel for understanding a crucial U.S. partnership.
“It's useful to try and get out and see things firsthand,” he remarked. He recalled that powerful moments from the June trip included meeting the families of hostages and visiting the site of a music festival where many civilians were killed or injured.
“It was a very somber trip,” Ivey added. “There’s no question about that.”
While AIPAC is well-known for facilitating trips to Israel to cultivate support for the Jewish state, the full scale of this travel had not been thoroughly analyzed until recently. A new study by the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism at the University of Maryland indicates that Israel has been the most common destination for privately sponsored foreign travel by members of the House and their aides.
More than a quarter of the approximately 4,100 privately sponsored foreign trips reported by House members since 2012 were to Israel. This figure surpasses travel to all other Western Hemisphere and African destinations combined.
The Howard Center analyzed travel records spanning the past decade, creating a database of around 17,000 trips taken by House representatives or staff members, either individually or in delegations. Most of the participants — at least three out of every four — were staffers responsible for shaping policy and drafting legislation.
In contrast to the House's extensive travel data, the smaller Senate reported over 2,600 trips during the same period; however, its disclosure forms do not readily disclose sponsors or destinations for easy analysis.
The Howard Center's analysis utilized travel disclosures, nonprofit tax records, lobbying registrations, and various data sources, including OpenSecrets and LegiStorm, to map the relationships between lobbyists and trip sponsors.
Critics argue that these trips cultivate a one-sided understanding of U.S.-Israel relations and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, often reinforcing the hardline policies of the current Israeli government.
“Whoever frames the discussion wins the debate,” stated former Rep. Andy Levin, a progressive Jewish politician and AIPAC critic.
Approximately 75 percent of trips to Israel were funded by AIPAC’s charitable affiliate, the American Israel Education Foundation (AIEF). This structure enables AIPAC to navigate around a 2007 law that restricts lobbyists' participation in most privately sponsored travel, thanks to a legal loophole that allows certain 501 organizations to sponsor trips. AIPAC advocated for this exemption, known informally as the “AIPAC loophole.” Without it, AIPAC would be limited to subsidizing only one-day trips as a registered lobbyist organization.
Though other organizations exploit this loophole, none have matched AIPAC’s extensive influence over what U.S. representatives and staff experience and the narratives they encounter during visits to Israel and the occupied West Bank.
Marshall Wittmann, an AIPAC spokesperson, declined multiple requests for interviews but issued a written statement countering what he deemed "false characterizations" regarding AIPAC's trips.
Wittmann wrote:
“AIEF-sponsored trips help educate bipartisan political leaders about the importance of the U.S.-Israel relationship through firsthand experiences in Israel, briefings by experts on Middle East affairs, and meetings with Israeli leaders from across the political spectrum.”
He emphasized the comprehensive, policy-focused nature of the trips, covering topics such as regional security, technology, and health. In light of the Hamas attacks on October 7, Wittmann noted, these trips deepen members of Congress's understanding of the threats Israel faces.
AIPAC's initiatives extend beyond travel, hosting an annual conference for elected officials, which former Rep. Brian Baird described as the "largest gathering of members of Congress" aside from the State of the Union address. Last year, AIPAC spent over $3 million on lobbying, and its projected expenditures for 2024 position the organization among the top 3 percent of all tracked lobbyist groups. AIPAC's PAC and super PAC collectively contributed $50.9 million to the 2022 election cycle.
AIPAC's recruitment of members and staff for trips to Israel highlights the significance of its travel program, which has cost at least $10 million from 2012 to 2023, according to LegiStorm. The Howard Center’s study found that approximately half of current House members have traveled with AIPAC since 2012.
Among them, Ivey's first AIPAC trip saw him traveling with eight other members of the Congressional Black Caucus. They visited Jerusalem on September 2, 2023, just a month prior to the Hamas attacks. While they met senior Israeli officials, Ivey observed a significant absence of Palestinian perspectives during the trip.
“The itinerary included a meeting with a Palestinian-Israeli peace activist, but not people in Gaza, and not the Palestinian Authority,” he explained. “So, heavy focus on Israel and Israeli politics.”
During his second trip in June, there was a different focus that incorporated discussions surrounding the October 7 attacks. Ivey recounted arriving in Israel to find the airport adorned with the faces of hostages who had been captured.
Despite meeting with Palestinian-Israelis, the trip did not extend to Gaza or the West Bank. In line with previous AIE trips, the delegation encountered high-profile Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and National Unity Party leader Benny Gantz, as indicated in Ivey's itinerary.
However, Ivey noted, “the focus was totally different” on this visit compared to his previous trip, which had a stronger emphasis on exploring potential paths to a two-state solution. When asked whether that topic was still on the agenda this June, Ivey pointed out that he was not allowed to disclose specific meeting details, but he acknowledged widespread doubts about the viability of a two-state resolution.
"I think that’s true in Israel. I think that’s true… among many Palestinians,” he remarked. “Many people doubt or have questions about whether it is still a realistic option.”
AIPAC's nonprofit arm funded roughly $68,000 for Ivey’s two trips, encompassing luxury accommodations. His first visit was notable not only for its discussions on Israel but included an exploration of connections between Israel, Rwanda, and the U.S.
Ivey insists that no one has questioned whether his travel with AIEF has influenced his views. “They focus more on the $7 million in independent expenditures in my election. My view is that, you know, it's fair game, it's all publicly disclosed; people can take a look and draw their own decisions. And as far as I know, we follow the rules.”
According to FEC data, AIPAC’s super PAC—the United Democracy Project—spent $6 million on independent expenditures for Ivey’s 2022 primary. His campaign also received around $750,000 through contributions funneled from another AIPAC affiliate and over $400,000 of outside spending from a separate pro-Israel group, The Democratic Majority for Israel.
In April, Ivey voted for a military aid package for Israel, underscoring his commitment to assist Israeli defense while ensuring additional humanitarian aid to Gaza. He later opposed a bill in November that did not allocate aid for Gaza.
Former Rep. Donna Edwards, who served from 2008 to 2017, chose not to travel with AIPAC during her time in office, opting instead for visits with more liberal organizations like J Street, which advocates for a different approach toward Israel-Palestine relations.
Having traveled with J Street, Edwards gained insight into how Israeli settlements in the West Bank obstruct the two-state solution. “You can see how antithetical that is to a desire for a two-state solution. Where in the world would you draw the two states?” she remarked.
Comparative itineraries reveal that travelers on AIPAC trips tend to meet with fewer Palestinians than those on J Street trips.
The Howard Center reached out to over 30 current and former House members and staff who traveled to Israel from 2012 to 2023, including 23 individuals who participated in AIPAC trips at least once. The only AIPAC travelers willing to discuss their experiences were Ivey and Baird, who traveled with AIPAC in 1999, a journey not included in the Howard Center database.
Among those declining interview requests were Rep. Mike Levin, a California Democrat who traveled to Israel three times between 2012 and 2023—twice with AIPAC and once with J Street—and Democratic Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, who took four trips with AIPAC, most recently leading a Democratic delegation in August 2023.
Levin noted in his 2022 disclosure report that the U.S.-Israel relationship is a recurring topic among his constituents and emphasized the trip's value in informing his decisions. Similarly, Jeffries remarked in his 2023 disclosure, "As the Democratic leader of the U.S. Congress, I have been asked to engage in my leadership capacity in issues related to the US-Israel relationship for this trip."
Communication teams for both Levin and Jeffries did not respond to interview requests.
AIPAC maintains that support for Israel necessitates backing the Israeli government, which has leaned rightward for much of the 21st century under Netanyahu, as explained by Dov Waxman, professor and director of the UCLA Y&S Nazarian Center for Israel Studies.
Among achievements highlighted on its website, AIPAC cites its lobbying success in securing billions in military aid to Israel and increasing sanctions on Iran, while also working to restrict participation in Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions campaigns against Israeli entities and endorsing continued military operations in Gaza until Hamas’s political and military presence is dismantled.
In its early years, AIPAC was described as "unrivaled" in the pro-Israel lobby. However, Waxman observes that the rise of J Street, established in 2007 and active in congressional travel since 2010, poses a challenge to AIPAC's dominance. Even though J Street has sponsored trips to Israel, the volume of AIPAC-sponsored travel since 2012 has outnumbered J Street's efforts nearly sevenfold.
Despite the same geographical focus, AIPAC and J Street trip participants report significantly different experiences. For instance, in February 2022, contrasting delegations from AIPAC and J Street visited Israel and the West Bank simultaneously, with both Democratic groups even residing in the same hotel. Following separate discussions with Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh, Rep. Jared Huffman remarked that while AIPAC participants were primed to "do pro-Israel combat," his J Street group was there to "listen and learn."
One of the few organizations uniquely dedicated to engaging with Palestinian families living in Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank is the small group Rebuilding Alliance, which has coordinated trips for House staffers since 2018.
Nisreen Malley, senior advocacy coordinator at Rebuilding Alliance, emphasized the impact of witnessing the realities on the ground: “When you're physically [visiting someone] who's talking to you about how their home was demolished … it's hard to ignore that when you're thinking about your policies.”
Levin's former colleague, Andy Levin, argues that Congress's substantial focus on Israel has resulted in neglect of other significant international issues.
“Israel and Palestine are very important,” he stated. “But so are Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean. … Obviously, Asia — South Asia, East Asia — there are many important conflicts and difficult conflicts and economic opportunities.”
Baird concurs with this perspective. “I think we've neglected our own hemisphere, and to our detriment because the Russians and the Chinese surely have not neglected our hemisphere,” Baird observed. "The focus on the Middle East takes the oxygen out of the room for so many other issues."
Aidan Hughes, Cait Kelley, and Daryl Perry contributed to this report for the University of Maryland's Howard School for Investigative Journalism, with additional insights from PMG's Mike Zapler.
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
