Who Influences US Policy on Israel? Marco Rubio Explains Who Rules Washington

When observers ask why many US politicians demonstrate strong support for Israel, one frequently cited explanation points to the influence of pro-Israel lobbying and campaign financing. Lobbying by private individuals and organizations remains legal under the First Amendment to the US Constitution, which protects political participation and free speech. Significant donations from individuals for whom support for Israel represents a priority flow into both the Republican and Democratic parties. Major Donors and Political Careers Prominent figures such as Bill Ackman, Michael Bloomberg, and Miriam Adelson, whose fortune is estimated at approximately $32 billion, actively fund US political campaigns and influence political trajectories. Politicians rarely conceal this financial backing. On March 2, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the United States carried out a "preemptive strike” against Iran because it knew that Israel intended to launch an attack. According to this argument, Washington could not restrain Israel under the circumstances described above.