Zionist tail, imperialist dog – who wags who?
JVL Introduction
Do governments in the US, UK, Germany and other western countries back Israel because they are influenced and/or controlled by a powerful, wealthy Zionist lobby?
It’s a seductive argument, one which seems more and more plausible as those governments unleash unprecedented repressive measures against growing movements in solidarity with Palestinians among their own populations, egged on by pro-Israel groups who cry “antisemitism” at the slightest whiff of anti-Zionist sentiment.
In this article, Rob Ferguson takes issue with a new book, America In the Grip of a Foreign Power—Israel’s Lobby, in which authors Eli Clifton and Ian Lustick argue that US-Israel policy is driven by “the lobby”. On the contrary, says Ferguson, it’s a mistaken analysis that “lets imperialism off the hook and opens the door to conspiracy theories that weaken and undermine the movement.”
He sets out the well-known facts about Britain and the US nurturing the militarised, settler colonial Israeli state as a bulwark against threats to their interests in the critically important West Asia region, as evidence that neither the US ruling class nor our leaders in the UK need to be bribed to support Israel. The Zionist tail is certainly attached to the imperialist dog, but it can only wag as long as its masters allow it to.
This article was originally published by Socialist Worker on Fri 14 Aug 2026. Read the original here.
The Zionist lobby, the left and the far right: Don’t let imperialism off the hook
The movement should reject the idea that US imperialism backs Israel because of a Zionist lobby
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a court last week found that David Miller was anti-zionist not anti-semitic and that anti-zionism is an honourable stance.
Thank you for that comment but that is not exactly what the court found but the Court certainly concluded that Anti-Zionism is now a protected belief in law, joining other protected non-religious views such as humanism, environmentalism and gender-critical views. We are obviously pleased with the outcome and that this now carries legal weight. We explore the history of the case and our concerns about some of the statements David Miller has madehere posted on 4th August. https://jewishvoiceforliberation.org.uk/statement/anti-zionism-confirmed-as-a-protected-belief/
It provides a clearer, more accurate, analysis of what we are facing, enabling a way forward.
As a gentile and a Spaniard, I agree with Ferguson’s analysis. That is not to deny that a Zionist lobby exist, it clearly does and it is very effective.
However, the Zionist lobby is allowed to exist because it backs up the imperialism of the US and Western Europe.
I often compare the status of the Jews in the US with the status of Jews in 14thC Spain. At the time, the daughters of wealthy Jews were married in exchange for a healthy dowry to the sons of both Castilla’s and Aragon’s nobility.
A brother of Henry III, king of Castilla married a Jew while the great grand mother of Ferdinand, husband of Queen Isabela was a Jew too. Hence, it could be argued that at the time Jews held a great deal of influence in both crowns.
However, a century later in 1492, the Spanish Jews were given an ultimatum: convert to Christianity or leave Spain leaving all the silver and gold behind.
We are seeing a similar phenomenon in the US with Trumps’s and Clinton’s daughters marrying Jewish men.
I wonder if when the fate of Israel turn to the worse, the fate of US’s Jews will turn too. I hope to be wrong but, I believe history has a way of been circular.
Solidarity, with all Jews that stand in defence of Palestinians!!
“Al Jazeera” reports the first USA direct talks with Hamas (in Cairo, with Jared Kushner). Perhaps the start of new thinking about the Middle East? It has more the “end of an era” feel about it, I feel.
Kushner spoke to the Hamas leaders before journeying on to Israel and talks with Netanyahu. “Al Jazeera” thought the Hamas meeting showed Trump’s general state of desperation.
Sorry, but Rob Ferguson is not an academic. He seems to repeating things that we’ve heard many times before from him and the organisation’s apparatchiks.
Lustnick & Clifton are academic, and their book is thorough and evidenced.
Here, in an interview they gave to Prof Glenn Diesen. They are asked to address the issue of conspiracy theory – very convincingly. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aczrWTESzw0
He seems to repeating the same SWP lines many in SWP/Sutr groups have experienced. Dissenters experiencing behaviour bordering on bullying.
“Mearsheimer and Walt ……..argued that Israel had led the US into the disastrous war in Iraq and was distorting its entire Middle East policy.
This is to defy reality and absolve the US of its crimes.” No, no, no. Regardless of the motive the US invaded Iraq and remains guilty of the crime of illegally attacking Iraq aided by our Rev Blair giving cover to enable the gormless Bush to do the deed. Blair, at a critical time, oversaw a corrupt manipulation of evidence re. the non-existent ‘WMD’ supposedly held by Iraq encouraging the gormless Bush to proceed to start a fire in the Middle East which continues to burn.