One of the real shifts since Gaza is that the center-left in the U.S. is accepting the Israel/Palestine issue as part of a progressive agenda–thereby ending the reign of PEP, Progressive Except for Palestine. The Center for Responsive Politics is a good government group that seems to be reflecting this trend: Its report on the overwhelming vote to condemn the Goldstone report is titled, "Congressmen Denouncing U.N. Inquiry Receive Handsome Donations from Pro-Israel Lobby." The center makes a point of singling out pro-Arab groups too, but look at these figures:
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, pro-Arab organizations have spent $70,000 on lobbying efforts since 1998, while pro-Israel groups have spent $5.8 million within the same period. Excluding trips within the United States, members of Congress travel most frequently to Israel.
Much of the pro-Israel giving, by the way, doesn’t fall into that category. Its by devoted individuals. Steve Grossman gives a ton to candidates who support Israel. He doesn’t need a group to tell him what to do.
