Demokratische Illusionen: Einheit der Elite über Israel

tims to the overwhelming public support for a ceasefire in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? The answer lies in the influence of the pro-Israel lobby and the power of campaign donations in shaping political behavior.

The pro-Israel lobby has long been known to have significant influence in U.S. politics. It mobilizes quickly against critics of Israeli policies and cuts across both the Democratic and Republican parties. Political donations, which are the lifeblood of politics in the United States, allow the capitalist class to set the boundaries of acceptable political behavior. While parties do not usually receive direct marching orders from the bourgeoisie, they understand what topics are out of bounds for discussion or legislation.

For example, single-payer universal healthcare, despite having support from supermajorities of Democrats in states like New York and California, has never been brought up for a vote. This is because it goes against the interests of the capitalist class, which includes the healthcare industry. Similarly, there is no significant industry bloc that has joined the protest movement in support of Palestinian liberation, such as the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement. This indicates that industries are either supportive of pro-Israel policies or indifferent to them, as they stand to profit from contracts with the U.S. military-industrial complex.

In this context, political parties can be seen as quasi-state institutions that give voice to the demands of the capitalist class and serve the interests of the U.S. as a global hegemon. Maintaining this status requires investment in the military-industrial complex, securing alliances, and turning developing allies into client states. As a result, parties are limited in their ability to articulate positions contrary to the interests of their donors and the imperial state.

Therefore, the near unity within the Democratic and Republican parties on support for Israel, despite the overwhelming public support for a ceasefire, can be attributed to the influence of the pro-Israel lobby and the power of campaign donations. The opinions of the average voter, even if they are ideologically coherent, have virtually zero impact on legislation and policies. The interests of the capitalist class and the maintenance of U.S. imperial state interests take precedence over the will of the voters

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Democratic Illusions: Elite Unity on Israel

Photograph Source: U.S. Embassy Tel Aviv – CC BY 2.0 A very strange vision for these uncertain times appeared on stage in Washington, DC on Nov. 14: House Speaker Mike Johnson joined hands with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. They stood together, along with Sen. Jodi Ernst, to celebrate Israel’s genocidal war on and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in Gaza. The handholding underlines the lack of daylight between bourgeois parties at each other’s throats in this era of partisan polarization. An eerie understanding arises that perhaps the last unifying force in America is not just war, but war crimes. Awash in media that portrays the political leadership of the United States as mortal enemies

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