'Zionism has taken over': America First political action committee targets pro-Israel lobbying groups

A new initiative named the Anti-Zionist America Political Action Committee (Azapac) released an unprecedented video ad on Monday calling for donations and volunteers to help it build its momentum and counter the pro-Israeli lobbying groups in the US. 

The project, which kicked off earlier this year, is spearheaded by former New York University professor and author Michael Rectenwald, a self-described Libertarian, and has amassed more than 22,000 followers on X. 

"Our government acts like the servant of another country. That other country is, of course, the State of Israel," Rectenwald says in the ad, overlaid with images of the Israeli flag outside several offices of members of Congress.

"That's not policy. That's a national disgrace," he adds. "Their strings are pulled by donors loyal to the modern nation-state of Israel. This isn't an alliance. It's extortion."

As Rectenwald details the US contribution to Israel of $33bn since 7 October 2023, the ad shows images of Palestinians in body bags. 

"Gaza ripped off the mask," Rectenwald says. "This blind allegiance, this veto on our national sovereignty, this denial of reality must end," referring to the war on Gaza. Over 69,000 Palestinians have been killed in the genocide in Gaza. 

Azapac is already backing two America First, anti-Zionist candidates: Republican Aaron Baker in Florida, who aims to unseat fellow Republican Congressman Daniel Webster, the longest serving legislator in Florida history, and Independent Jose Vega in New York, who aims to unseat Democrat Ritchie Torres. 

Political action committees

Political action committees (Pacs) in the US typically represent a specific cause and raise money for or against candidates in election cycles. They must be registered with the Federal Election Commission.

According to the website OpenSecrets, which tracks contributions to political candidates, Pacs are allowed to give $5,000 to a candidate committee per election (primary, general or special) and $15,000 annually to any national party committee, as well as $5,000 annually to any other Pac. 

The American Israel Political Action Committee (Aipac), the most powerful pro-Israel force in US politics, is a Super Pac - a tier that only began in 2010. Super Pacs don't actually make direct monetary contributions to candidates or parties. Instead, they can spend unlimited amounts of money running ads for or against candidates, and doing things like sending out mailers to voters. 

Azapac isn't the first time a Pac challenging the dominant pro-Israel narrative has been launched.

A coalition of more than 20 progressive groups teamed up last year to protect pro-Palestinian lawmakers from Aipac's attacks.

The group, calling itself Reject AIPAC, is made up of several progressive and pro-Palestinian organisations, including the Working Families Party, Sunrise Movement, Jewish Voice for Peace, IfNotNow, Peace Action, Democratic Socialists of America, and others.

“For decades, AIPAC has been a hawkish, warmongering, and bullying force in US politics,” the coalition said in a statement that calls on lawmakers not to accept endorsements from Aipac or other political action committees aligned with it.

“[Aipac] advocates for a US foreign policy directly at odds with human rights and international humanitarian law, and has supported an unconditional flow of US military funding and weapons to the Israeli government that have been used to support human rights violations against Palestinians,” the statement added.

The coalition promised to launch a “seven-figure electoral defence campaign” for lawmakers who have been targeted by Aipac for their criticism of Israel, but has faced an uphill battle.

Now, two years after Israel's genocide in Gaza, and with searing criticism of Israel coming from hardline conservatives and supporters of US President Donald Trump's Make America Great Again movement, the winds have shifted. 

"America isn't a vassal state. We're no one's colony. We're not supposed to be an ATM and munitions depot for Israel," Rectenwald says in the Azapac ad.

"If you're done with the fear, done with our politicians taking bribes, done with being smeared with the antisemitic label, just because you want your country back. Then Azapac is your army."