Since 7 October 2023, at least 26 Democratic and 52 Republican representatives have attended trips to Israel funded by the American Israel Education Foundation (AIEF), a charitable affiliate of the pro-Israel lobby Aipac, according to a Guardian analysis of congressional ethics filings and other public records. The trips, which have cost more than $4.2 million, included lavish accommodations, fine dining, and one-sided briefings on Middle East politics, even as American support for Israel has plummeted.
Trips Amidst War and Declining Support
The AIEF-funded delegations took place during Israel's expanding wars on its neighbors and despite polls showing that eight in 10 Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents view Israel unfavorably, along with six in 10 Americans overall. Lawmakers and staffers from both parties met with Israeli officials, military contractors, and civil society figures, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and advocates for West Bank annexation and Palestinian displacement from Jerusalem.
Lavish Itineraries and High Costs
The ethics filings reveal that members and staff were hosted at luxurious hotels like the King David in Jerusalem and the Magdala in Galilee, dined at top-tier restaurants, and received briefings in at least one West Bank settlement. Per-traveler costs ranged from roughly $16,000 for single members to over $37,000 for those traveling with family. The total declared value of one trip for Democratic members alone reached about $400,000.
Prominent Democrats like Steny Hoyer, Greg Landsman, and Brad Schneider took multiple AIEF-funded trips during this period. The group paid an average of over $26,600 per member, with some trips including family members, such as Schneider's wife, whose attendance brought his travel costs to over $44,200.
AIEF's Role and Legal Status
AIEF, incorporated in 1988, is a charitable affiliate of Aipac that enjoys non-profit status, allowing Aipac to skirt federal prohibitions on lobbying organizations funding overseas travel for US officials. AIEF relies on Aipac infrastructure, including office space, and is bankrolled by a small number of Jewish philanthropic foundations, including those of Republican mega-donor Paul Singer.
In response to the Guardian's findings, AIEF spokesperson Deryn Sousa said in an email: “AIEF missions are designed to educate participants about the US-Israel relationship, the security concerns confronting our closest ally in the Middle East, and the geo-strategic challenges and opportunities in the region.” She added that participants visit historical and religious sites and meet with Israeli officials and civilians from across the political spectrum.
Continued Participation Despite Controversy
The continued participation of Democratic lawmakers is particularly noteworthy given the ebbing sympathy for Israel among Democratic voters and efforts by some politicians to distance themselves from Aipac. However, the trips have continued, with a trip from 6-14 August 2025 bringing at least 15 Democrats, including Wesley Bell, George Latimer, Eugene Vindman, and Gil Cisneros. Earlier that month, 20 GOP House members, including Randy Fine, enjoyed a similar trip.
Bell and Latimer were elected with the help of millions from Aipac's Super PAC, which defeated incumbents Cori Bush and Jamaal Bowman. The August 2025 trip included a keynote by Tal Becker, Israel's lead legal counsel at the International Court of Justice in the genocide case brought by South Africa, and a visit to the City of David archaeological site in occupied East Jerusalem, operated by the settler organization Elad Foundation.
Staffer Trips and Settlement Briefings
An earlier AIEF “senior congressional staff” trip in February 2025 brought 13 House aides to Israel, where they met with Simcha Rothman, architect of Netanyahu's judicial overhaul. On the trip's final day, they received a briefing at Alfei Menashe, an illegal Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank.
AIEF hospitality continued into 2026, with a February trip that included five Democratic and seven Republican staffers, who heard from Ohad Tal of the Religious Zionist party, which advocates for full annexation of occupied territories. AIEF paid just under $17,000 per staffer for that trip.
Expert Analysis and Shifting Influence
Stephen Walt, a professor of international relations at Harvard's Kennedy School, said: “These trips have been a standard tool for building support for Israel on Capitol Hill. Agreeing to go on one of these trips is also a litmus test for politicians who want to signal a pro-Israel position to Aipac and to important donors.” He added that recent trips represent “continuity more than change,” but noted that “winning people over is getting harder to do given the situation in Gaza and the West Bank and the rightward shift within Israeli politics itself.”
While Aipac's influence remains significant, recent Democratic primary results suggest its power is waning, with many Democrats seeking to distance themselves as support for Israel erodes.
