The Israel lobby and U.S. foreign policy / John J. Mearsheimer and Stephen M. Walt.

"Portions of this book were originally published, in different form, in the London Review of Books in March, 2006."

Includes bibliographical references and index.

The great benefactor -- Israel: strategic asset or liability? -- A dwindling moral case -- What is the "Israel lobby"? -- Guiding the policy process -- Dominating public discourse -- The lobby versus the Palestinians -- Iraq and dreams of transforming the Middle East -- Taking aim at Syria -- Iran in the crosshairs -- The lobby and the Second Lebanon War -- Conclusion : what is to be done?

"The Israel Lobby," by John J. Mearsheimer of the University of Chicago and Stephen M. Walt of Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government, was one of the most controversial articles in recent memory. Originally published in the London Review of Books in March 2006, it provoked both howls of outrage and cheers of gratitude for challenging what had been a taboo issue in America: the impact of the Israel lobby on U.S. foreign policy. Now in a work of major importance, Mearsheimer and Walt deepen and expand their argument and confront recent developments in Lebanon and Iran. They describe the remarkable level of material and diplomatic support that the United States provides to Israel and argues that this support cannot be fully explained on either strategic or moral grounds. This exceptional relationship is due largely to the political influence of a loose coalition of individuals and organizations that actively work to shape U.S. foreign policy in a pro-Israel direction. Mearsheimer and Walt provocatively contend that the lobby has a far-reaching impact on America's posture throughout the Middle East--in Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, and toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict--and the policies it has encouraged are in neither America's national interest nor Israel's long-term interest. The lobby's influence also affects America's relationship with important allies and increases dangers that all states face from global jihadist terror. -- From publisher description.

Describes how the remarkable level of material and diplomatic support that the United States provides to Israel is due to the influence of the Israel lobby, which has a far-reaching impact on America's foreign policy decisions throughout the Middle East.