Noah Kulwin discusses the unseen Al-Jazeera documentary 'The Lobby' exposing illegal lobbying efforts by the Israeli government. They explore media manipulation, surveillance, and the power of pro-Israel groups. They also expose the illegal activities of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies and discuss the origins of a documentary cancellation. The chapter ends by delving into a leaked video and the blockade of Qatar.
The documentary exposes illegal lobbying efforts by the Israeli government and its coordination with American think tanks.
The film highlights the lobby's targeted efforts to combat the BDS movement and shape support for Israel on college campuses.
The documentary reveals the pro-Israel lobby's tactics of tarnishing reputations and suppressing activism through false allegations and rumors.
Deep dives
The Influence and Tactics of the Israel Lobby
The documentary explores the covert influence of the Israel lobby and its tactics to suppress activism and discussions about the Israeli government. It reveals the lobby's focus on college campuses, conducting surveillance on student activists and coordinating efforts to combat the BDS movement. The film exposes the illegal activities and coordination between the Israeli government and American think tanks, specifically highlighting the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD). The media component of the lobby's activities is also explored, with a focus on astroturfing and manipulating the narrative through right-wing media outlets.
The Threat of BDS and Maintaining Support for Israel
The film emphasizes the fear and threat that the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions) movement poses to the Israeli government. The lobby views BDS as a growing movement capable of painting Israel as an apartheid state and actively fights against it. The documentary sheds light on the lobby's efforts to maintain support for Israel, specifically targeting college campuses and focusing on creating the perception of a consensus about the Israeli government's policies. It highlights the importance of the college campus as a battleground for shaping public opinion and support for Israel.
The Coordinated Efforts and Illegal Activities of the Lobby
The documentary exposes the coordinated efforts and illegal activities of the Israel lobby, particularly the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD). It reveals the FDD's role as a major influencer of American foreign policy, actively lobbying American officials on behalf of the Israeli government. The film also uncovers the lobby's surveillance operations on social media, creating dossiers on pro-Palestinian activists and using them to undermine their activism. It highlights the complicity of mainstream think tanks and organizations in promoting the lobby's agenda, despite their connections to the Democratic Party.
The Documentary Exposes Tactics Used by Pro-Israel Lobby
The podcast discusses a documentary that reveals the tactics employed by the pro-Israel lobby to suppress criticism and activism regarding Palestine. The documentary showcases instances where individuals' reputations were tarnished through the use of sexually explicit photos, insinuated rumors, and false allegations to damage their credibility. These tactics primarily targeted college students and aimed to prevent student activists who advocate for justice in Palestine from having future employment opportunities. The documentary also highlights the role of influential figures, such as Adam Millstein, a real estate mogul who funded campaigns to ensure pro-Israel candidates were elected and was associated with the Canary Mission database and the national council of AIPAC
Influence of AIPAC and Manipulation of Media
The podcast explores the influence of AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, as the largest and most influential pro-Israel lobby group. AIPAC uses a bundled donation strategy to support preferred political candidates, tapping into highly engaged donors within their network. The podcast reveals how AIPAC also organizes trips to Israel for politicians and journalists, influencing their perceptions and increasing support for the Israeli government's narrative. Additionally, the podcast highlights AIPAC's efforts to shape legislation and redefine anti-Semitism to exclude criticism of Israeli government policies. The media's compliance in ignoring the documentary's revelations is attributed to a blind spot in American media regarding the Palestinian issue and the fear of being labeled anti-Semitic
In light of the current situation in Palestine, we are unlocking this episode, recorded in 2020 with Noah Kulwin, with a brief new introduction. You can check out the other episodes mentioned here:
Episode 131: Norman Finkelstein Part 1
patreon.com/posts/episode-131-pt-1-46466625
Episode 132: Norman Finkelstein Part 2
patreon.com/posts/46617424
Episode 281: Next Year in Jerusalem
patreon.com/posts/episode-281-next-81129240
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We welcome back Noah Kulwin to discuss the explosive yet basically unseen Al-Jazeera documentary The Lobby detailing illegal lobbying efforts by the Israeli government and just why you literally have not seen this film
The Lobby UK: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzGHKb8i9vTzCgnbENCKuz7fqU12xNBce
The Lobby USA:
* Episode 1 — youtube.com/watch?v=3lSjXhMUVKE
* Episode 2 — youtube.com/watch?v=XytkI7afHcQ
* Episode 3 — youtube.com/watch?v=Mm-Dm4pO0xY
* Episode 4 — youtube.com/watch?v=_1OgxfCT044
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