Leaked documents have revealed that Israeli government officials, along with Zionist lobby groups, actively sought legal advice to circumvent U.S. regulations under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) in their efforts to influence American elections and push anti-constitutional legislation.
According to a joint investigation by The Guardian, Lee Fang, and Jack Poulson, Israel consulted with legal experts, including former Democratic National Committee counsel Joseph E. Sandler and FARA specialist Joshua I. Rosenstein. They advised creating a U.S.-based nonprofit to avoid registering as foreign agents. Liat Glazer, a legal adviser to Israel’s Strategic Affairs Ministry, emphasized that while the nonprofit would not operate officially from Israel, it would still receive oversight through “informal coordination mechanisms.”
In a scheme aimed at avoiding U.S. regulations under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), a legal adviser to Israel’s Strategic Affairs Ministry, Liat Glazer, emphasized that the proposed U.S.-based nonprofit would not be officially operated from Israel. However, despite the formal separation, the nonprofit would still receive oversight and management from Israeli officials through “informal coordination mechanisms,” ensuring that Israel’s influence efforts in the U.S. could continue without triggering the requirements for foreign agent registration.
Israeli concerns about the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) intensified after Donald Trump took office in 2016, as the act was increasingly enforced during the Russiagate investigation. Officials in Tel Aviv recognized that FARA’s application was extending beyond adversaries to include U.S. allies. This concern was heightened when Thomas Barrack, a close associate of Trump and head of his inaugural committee, was accused of acting as a foreign agent for the United Arab Emirates, although he was eventually cleared of those charges.
While the influence of the pro-Israel lobby, like AIPAC, in swaying U.S. elected officials is widely recognized and often openly touted, the Israeli government’s covert operations in the U.S. remain far more clandestine. These secretive campaigns are carefully designed to operate under the radar, contrasting sharply with the more transparent activities of lobbying groups, and involve sophisticated efforts to shape American policy and public opinion in favor of Israel without drawing attention to the source of the influence.
A January investigation by The Guardian revealed that Democratic Party Congressmembers who opposed progressive candidates in their primary races were the top recipients of funding from pro-Israel lobby groups. The report also found that those lawmakers who strongly advocated for U.S. military intervention in favor of Israel and were vocal supporters of Israel’s actions in Gaza at the onset of the conflict received the highest levels of financial backing from these lobby groups.
Despite the bipartisan support for pro-Israel legislation in the U.S., the efforts by Israel to avoid registering under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) reveal the extent of direct influence from Tel Aviv in shaping U.S. policy and public opinion. Leaked documents show that much of the discussions focused on a “Public Relations (PR) Commando Unit” formed by Israel’s Ministry of Strategic Affairs in 2017, aimed at improving Israel’s image and countering the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement.
The private-public partnership known as the PR Commando Unit, which has undergone several name changes over the years and was recently revamped following the October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel, has directly supported American nonprofits. These nonprofits have promoted anti-BDS legislation and coordinated efforts to counter pro-Palestine activities on college campuses. Additionally, the group has provided financial assistance to Christian Zionist organizations such as Christians United For Israel (CUFI), further expanding its influence and reach in the United States.
At least 38 U.S. states have passed anti-BDS laws and executive orders, effectively barring citizens and companies from boycotting Israel—legislation widely argued to violate the U.S. First Amendment. Despite concerns from the State Department and leaked internal memos questioning Israel’s adherence to U.S. and international law, particularly regarding the use of American weapons and potential violations of international law in Gaza, the Biden administration approved a $20 billion weapons package to Israel last Wednesday, even amid ongoing resignations, protests, and controversies surrounding U.S. support for Israel.
In November, the Israeli Finance Ministry increased its ‘Hasbara’ (propaganda) budget by 63 million shekels. This move underscores the importance of avoiding registration under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) for Israel’s pro-Israel campaigns in the U.S., as officials feared potential donors might withdraw if required to fund a registered foreign agent. In 2022, the Israeli cabinet approved $30 million in covert funding for the PR Commando Unit, now known as ‘Concert,’ which previously received $80 million from government and private donors.
While much of the pro-Israeli lobbying in the U.S. is legal, recent revelations suggest that Israeli government officials have been concerned about the legality of some of their public relations operations for some time. When these direct Israeli initiatives are paired with the Israel Lobby’s significant influence on U.S. elected officials, it raises serious questions about the extent of foreign interference in American domestic politics and the legal boundaries being pushed in these lobbying efforts.
Israel’s richest billionaire, Miriam Adelson, for instance, has pledged $100 million to Donald Trump’s campaign, reportedly in exchange for his support of the annexation of the illegally occupied West Bank—a move that would flagrantly violate international law and contradict decades of U.S. foreign policy. Campaign contributions from pro-Israel donors like Miriam and her late husband Sheldon Adelson are also said to have influenced Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, highlighting the significant impact of pro-Israel funding on U.S. policy decisions.
Despite the lack of legal repercussions for Israel’s covert PR operations and the apparent avoidance of FARA registration by pro-Israeli groups, recent revelations have shed new light on the extent of Israel’s influence in American politics and its role in shaping public discourse. These disclosures highlight the ongoing concerns about the legality and transparency of these efforts while offering the public a clearer understanding of the intricate relationship between Israeli initiatives and U.S. domestic policy.
Feature photo | Former New York congressman Lee Zeldin speaking during the Republican National Convention, July 17, 2024, in Milwaukee. J Scott Applewhite | AP
Robert Inlakesh is a political analyst, journalist and documentary filmmaker currently based in London, UK. He has reported from and lived in the occupied Palestinian territories and hosts the show ‘Palestine Files’. Director of ‘Steal of the Century: Trump’s Palestine-Israel Catastrophe’. Follow him on Twitter @falasteen47