#BribedByAIPAC: US lawmakers on Zionist lobby payroll irked by ICC arrest warrants

By Maryam Qarehgozlou

After the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu and his former war minister Yoav Gallant over genocide in Gaza, several American politicians responded with threats and calls for sanctions against the court.

ICC pre-trial judges charged Netanyahu and Gallant with the use of starvation as a method of warfare, and crimes against humanity, including murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts in Gaza where more than 44,200 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli military since October 7 last year.

The Hague-based court determined that there was sufficient evidence indicating that the Israeli-imposed blockade on Gaza was intentionally designed to destroy the civilian population.

The much-delayed ruling, however, infuriated many American politicians from both major parties, who denounced and even threatened the international tribunal for doing the right thing.

As evidence reveals, all these Congressmen who lashed out at the ICC and turned into devil's advocates are on the payroll of powerful Zionist lobby groups in the US, including the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), which enjoys considerable influence on American politics. 

AIPAC was founded by Isiah Kenen, a contractor for the Zionist regime in 1963, and was initially known as the American Zionist Council. Shortly after the American Zionist Council was ordered to register as a foreign agent, Kenen incorporated AIPAC which did not register as a foreign agent.

What led to dilly-dallying in ICC arrest warrants against Netanyahu, Gallant

ICC arrest warrants against Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant came after the dilly-dallying of more than six months, stemming from the institution’s racist bias and external meddling.

‘A traitor’

Senator John Thune in a post on X criticized the ICC arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant as “outrageous”, “unlawful”, and “dangerous.”

“Leader Schumer should bring a bill to the floor sanctioning the ICC. If he chooses not to act, the new Senate Republican majority next year will,” he added.

Thune also sparked outrage among the American public with a contentious post on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “America Last, Israel First.”

The statement drew sharp criticism, with many denouncing the Senate majority leader and Senate Republican leader as a “traitor” for prioritizing the interests of Israel over those of the US.

“Senator, perhaps you don’t realize that you hold a position in the United States government. If you’d like to run for office in Israel you may do so but in the meantime, you’ve been elected to serve the American people. Start acting like it,” X user @endPACsNOW wrote in response to Thune who will be the next Senate majority leader in January.

“Can we not arrest him as a traitor?” wrote another user.

“Since he was picked to be majority leader 5 days ago, 4 of Thune’s 16 total posts have been pro-Israel messages. He obviously hasn’t posted about any other foreign country like this. And he hasn't even started the job yet,” another X user pointed out.

Pertinently, Thune is one of the biggest beneficiaries of the AIPAC, receiving handsome bribes for his pro-Zinist and anti-Palestine advocacy in the US.

TrackAIPAC, a grassroots anti-Zionist organization, exposed how Thune and many other US senators have received substantial bribes from the Israeli lobby groups in recent years, highlighting their powerful influence in swaying American policy in favor of the Tel Aviv regime.

TrackAIPAC is dedicated to systematically documenting the Israeli lobby group's financial contributions to US federal officials and works to end its stranglehold on the American power circles.

TrackAIPAC revealed that Senator Thune has so far received over $471,000 from the pro-Israel lobby during his tenure as South Dakota’s senator.

“John Thune is #BribedByAIPAC to pledge his support for a genocidal foreign government even if it means directly violating our own federal laws,” the organization wrote in a post on X.

‘A genocide supporter’

Thune is not the only pro-Zionist American politician miffed by the ICC arrest warrants.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham also accused the ICC of acting in an “absurd” and “irresponsible manner” by issuing warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant and called for sanctions against the ICC.

“The Court is a dangerous joke. It is now time for the US Senate to act and sanction this irresponsible body,” he wrote in a post on X.

Graham went a step further and also issued a threat of sanctions against US allies who may attempt to enforce the ICC arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant.

In an interview with Fox News, Graham stated, “To any ally, Canada, Britain, Germany, France, if you try to help the ICC, we’re going to sanction you.”

Graham has been paid $1 million by the Israel lobby “to put Israel first,” according to TrackAIPAC.

Social media users widely criticized Graham, with many saying that he should also be arrested by the ICC for supporting the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

“Turkey-neck Lindsey Graham is panicking that US politicians might be next—[…]. The only real question is whether you have any morality or soul left. You are pathetic,” wrote Nader, a Palestinian social media user on X.

“They should issue an arrest warrant for you too actually for being an aid to the murderers like Netanyahu,” wrote another user.

‘A servant of Netanyahu regime’

Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn, who won her reelection bid against Democratic state Rep. Gloria Johnson recently, also urged the US Senate to impose sanctions on “this kangaroo court.”

“I am calling on the Senate to immediately pass legislation sanctioning this kangaroo court," she wrote, referring to the Hague-headquartered international tribunal.

"Every individual involved in this decision to attack Israel should face severe repercussions."

TrackAIPAC, in response, said "Mossad Marsha has been activated!," revealing that the recently re-elected senator has received over $560,000 from the Israeli lobby.

Users lashed out at Blackburn for her loyalty to the Israeli regime and for prioritizing Israeli regime’s interests over those of her own country.

“You are a sitting member of the US Senate and you’ve just called the International Criminal Court of Justice a “kangaroo court”? We are witnessing the complete and utter meltdown of the world’s superpower. Maybe we should rename you Senator Marsha, Kangaroo Marsha?” Zachary Foster, a historian specializing in Palestine who earned his PhD from Princeton University, wrote on X.

Another user wrote, “It’s amazing how quickly you guys act when it comes to defending the genocidal Israeli regime. But you can never act that quickly when it comes to helping the American people. The only reason you’re melting down is because you’re complicit in the war crimes.”

“Your profile on X says you are serving the people of Tennessee; your words and actions show you are serving the Netanyahu regime,” a Palestinian surgeon under the handle @docjazzmusic wrote on X.

‘Paid to pledge allegiance to Israel’

Kowtowing to the Israeli lobby, US Senator Tom Cotton also jumped on the bandwagon and threatened military action against the ICC, motivated by financial contributions he has received from the Zionists.

“The ICC is a kangaroo court and Karim Khan is a deranged fanatic. Woe to him and anyone who tries to enforce these outlaw warrants,” Cotton wrote on X.

“Let me give them all a friendly reminder: the American law on the ICC is known as The Hague Invasion Act for a reason. Think about it,” he added.

In 2002, just a few weeks after the establishment of the ICC, the US enacted the American Service Members’ Protection Act, which later came to be known as the Hague Invasion Act.

This legislation empowers the US president to employ “all means necessary and appropriate” to secure the release of members of the US military and “covered allied persons,” who are detained or imprisoned “by, on behalf of, or at the request” of the ICC.

The term “covered persons” encompasses all US citizens acting on behalf of the US government, as well as any individuals acting for any allied government, such as NATO member states and “major non-NATO allies,” like Israel.

The law suggests that the US president has broad authority to challenge the court and authorizes the use of military force to liberate any American or citizen of a US-allied country being held by the court.

“Tom Cotton is paid to pledge allegiance to Israel,” TrackAIPAC wrote on X.

According to the anti-Zionist group in the course of his political career, Senator Cotton has accepted over $240,000 from the Israeli lobby, which activists say represents a mockingly low price for such a provocative stance.

“Pay a dog 200k and he’ll threaten the entire country of Netherlands for you,” @AdameMedia wrote on X.

“Tom, I can pay more than this hhhhhh,” wrote pro-Palesstine activist Azzan Alhadidi on X.

Others criticized Cotton for being more concerned with serving the interests of Israel, rather than the state of Arkansas that he represents, questioning his priorities and loyalty.

“Oh my god man, do you serve Israel or Arkansas? When’s the last time you posted about your state?” wrote Palestine Community in a post on X.

“America dude….. you were elected to serve America,” wrote another user.

‘A disgrace’

Mitch McConnell, a senior US Senator and the longest-serving senator in the history of Kentucky, also called the ruling “damning” and described ICC as a “sham court.”

“This is damning...Not for Israel, but for the impotent sham court flaunting its lack of moral clarity as a badge of honor” he wrote on X.

“This is damning... Mitch McConnell is compromised,” replied TrackAIPAC, revealing that McConnell has received nearly $2 million from the pro-Israel lobby.

“Was it a moral clarity when you accepted this payment?” wrote one user. “Did AIPAC write this post for you?” wrote another user.

Other users called McConnell a “disgrace” and demanded his immediate resignation for prioritizing Israel over his own country.

‘An embarrassment’

TrackAIPAC data shows that several other US lawmakers, such as Senator Jacky Rosen, Representative Josh Gottheimer, Senator John Fetterman, Senator Shelley Moore Capito, and Representative Burgess Owens, have also received financial incentives from the pro-Israeli lobby.

Some sold themselves “cheap” like Owens who only received the smaller sum of $80,000.

“The ICC is a kangaroo court,” Owens wrote, urging other countries to sanction the ICC.

“The People’s House passed a bill yesterday to call on all nations to join the US in combating antisemitism, building on legislation we passed earlier this year to sanction the ICC. The Senate must join us and pass these bills,” he wrote on X.

“Burgess Owens is #BribedByAIPAC to put Israel First and turn a blind eye to US and international law,” TrackAIPAC wrote in the comment section.

“You are such an embarrassment. I really wonder what your constituents think of you!” Ibrahim Zaba, Professor of Political Science at St. Bonaventure University wrote on X.

‘Subservience to a foreign entity’

Senator Moore Capito said ICC was the “legal arm of the global anti-Semitic movement” in response to the arrest warrants against Tel Aviv regime leaders.

She, like other US politicians and votaries of the Israeli apartheid regime, insisted that Israel’s genocidal policies in Gaza, including starving its 2.3 million population are “steps” that it is taking “to defend itself from existential threats.”

“The precedent set today by the International Criminal Court is a threat to any country, including the United States, that might seek to defend itself from attacks by entities who flout the laws of war to cause civilian harm. It’s past time to sanction the ICC,” she noted.

“Shelley Moore Capito is in the pocket of the Israel lobby. This senator is a traitor to America!” TrackAIPAC wrote revealing that she has also received $150,000 from the Zionist lobby.

“Can you tell me who your AIPAC person is? How much exactly did you get paid for this subservience to a foreign state?” wrote one user in the comment section.

‘Complicit in Netanyahu’s genocide’

Some other US lawmakers like Josh Gottheimer and Jacky Rosen were also bribed handsomely and received significantly larger amounts, with $1.87 million and $1.37 million, respectively.

In return, they parroted similar statements, calling for sanctions against the ICC and questioning its legitimacy for issuing warrants against two of the “greatest criminals in contemporary history.”

“This outrageous decision reflects the ICC’s well-documented anti-Israel bias. The evidence is clear: Hamas terrorists are responsible for wreaking havoc & sowing destruction. We must stand with Israel against this antisemitic decision,” Gottheimer wrote on X.

TrackAIPAC said in a post that Gottheimer has “illegally blocked” their account, and called on other users to respond to the lawmaker.

“Representative Gottheimer cannot provide an unbiased geopolitical analysis of this situation, because he accepts money from a foreign government to prioritize its interests over those of Americans,” Matthew Travis Barber a PhD candidate at the University of Chicago wrote.

Senator Rosen also expressed “outrage” at the ICC’s “politically motivated” move to target Israel.

“I’m outraged by the ICC’s politically-motivated efforts to target Israel and equate it to the Hamas terrorists who intentionally murdered, raped, and kidnapped civilians on October 7,” she said, repeating debunked allegations against Hamas resistance fighters.

“Jacky Rosen is complicit in Netanyahu’s genocide. She should join him at The Hague!” TrackAIPAN responded to her tweet.

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