We must be willing to be unwilling towards Israel

The Lobby pursues two broad strategies. First, it wields its significant influence in Washington, pressuring both Congress and the executive branch. Whatever an individual lawmaker or policymaker's own views may be, the Lobby tries to make supporting Israel the “smart?” choice. Second, it strives to ensure that public discourse portrays Israel in a positive light, by repeating myths about its founding and by promoting its point of view in policy debates. The goal is to prevent critical comments from getting a fair hearing in the political arena. Controlling the debate is essential to guaranteeing US support, because a candid discussion of US-Israeli relations might lead Americans to favour a different policy.

Mearsheimer and Walt also point to a powerful weapon that the Israel Lobby has at its disposal in terms of influencing US foreign policy, but which clearly shapes the media, community attitude and public policy throughout the Western world: the fear of being labeled “anti-Semite”. Mearsheimer and Walt note “the Lobby first boasts of its influence and then attacks anyone who calls attention to it. It's a very effective tactic: anti-Semitism is something no one wants to be accused of.”

It is time for considerations of justice and humanity, rather than the considerations of the powerful Israel Lobby, to shape US foreign policy. With Australia a puppet to US foreign policy, a position set to continue due to Prime Minister John Howard's decision to stay at least until the next election, the Australian Government must also change its tune.

Whistling to the song book of rhetoric produced by the Israel Lobby risks further devastation in the Middle East, and a widening of the gap between the operation of our foreign policy and humanitarian principles.