No, AIPAC (the American Israel Public Affairs Committee) does not fall under 22 U.S.C. § 611. This is because AIPAC is an American organization which is founded by Americans, funded by Americans, and conducts its activity within in the United States without influence from a foreign government.

While you can read the full text of 22 U.S.C. § 611 on Cornell Law’s website, we will discuss the relevant parts of it to the AIPAC conversation in this article.

The Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), as outlined in 22 U.S. Code § 611, requires registration for entities that qualify as “agents of a foreign principal” engaging in certain activities on behalf of foreign interests. AIPAC is not required to register under FARA because AIPAC does not meet the statutory definition of such an agent. Here’s a breakdown, directly referencing the law to demonstrate why claims that AIPAC should register are off base—typically rooted in misunderstanding or misapplication of the law rather than evidence of foreign control.

1. AIPAC Is Not a “Foreign Principal” Itself by Any Means Whatsoever

Under subsection (b), a “foreign principal” includes:

• (b)(1): A government of a foreign country (e.g., the government of Israel) or a foreign political party.
• (b)(2): A person outside the United States, unless it is established that such person is not an individual and is “organized under or created by the laws of the United States or of any State” with its “principal place of business within the United States.”
• (b)(3): An organization “organized under the laws of or having its principal place of business in a foreign country.”

AIPAC falls squarely under the exception in (b)(2): AIPAC is a U.S.-based nonprofit corporation organized under U.S. laws (specifically, as a 501(c)(4) organization), with its headquarters and principal operations in Washington, D.C. It was founded in the U.S. by American citizens in 1963 as a domestic lobbying group representing pro-Israel Americans, not as an extension of a foreign entity. This means AIPAC itself cannot be classified as a foreign principal, which is a prerequisite for triggering agent registration requirements.

2. AIPAC Does Not Qualify as an “Agent of a Foreign Principal”

Subsection (c) defines an “agent of a foreign principal” as:

• (c)(1): Any “person” (which per (a) includes organizations like AIPAC) who acts “at the order, request, or under the direction or control” of a foreign principal (or someone substantially supervised/controlled/financed by one), and who engages in activities like:
  • (i): Political activities (defined in (o) as influencing U.S. policy or public opinion regarding foreign relations).
  • (ii): Acting as public relations counsel (per (g)), publicity agent (per (h)), information-service employee (per (i)), or political consultant (per (p)).
  • (iii): Handling money or contributions for the foreign principal.
  • (iv): Representing the foreign principal before U.S. government agencies/officials.
• (c)(2): Anyone who holds themselves out as such an agent.

While AIPAC does engage in “political activities” under (o)—such as lobbying Congress on U.S.-Israel policy and influencing public opinion—it does not do so “at the order, request, or under the direction or control” of a foreign principal like the Israeli government. AIPAC is funded primarily by private U.S. donors (American citizens and residents), operates independently, and sets its own agenda based on the views of its American membership. There is zero evidence of direct or indirect supervision, control, financing, or subsidization “in whole or in major part” by Israel, which is required to trigger the agent definition.

Courts and the DOJ have consistently rejected attempts to force AIPAC’s registration under FARA, finding no foreign control exists. For instance, AIPAC is registered as a domestic lobby under the Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA), not FARA, because its activities are on behalf of U.S. supporters of Israel, not as a proxy for the Israeli state.

This distinction is key: FARA targets agents controlled by foreign entities, not domestic groups advocating for policies aligned with foreign interests.

3. Exemptions and Irrelevance of Other Provisions

Subsection (d) provides an exemption for certain U.S.-based news/press services that are majority-owned by U.S. citizens and not controlled by foreign principals. This doesn’t apply to AIPAC, as it’s a lobbying group, not a media entity—but it underscores FARA’s focus on excluding truly domestic operations free from foreign direction.

Other definitions, like (e) for “government of a foreign country” or (f) for “foreign political party,” reinforce that Israel qualifies as a potential foreign principal, but without the control link in (c), AIPAC isn’t an agent.

Claims that AIPAC should register often ignore the “direction or control” requirement and conflate advocacy for pro-Israel policies with foreign agency. Such arguments have been raised (and dismissed) multiple times, including in legal challenges, because they lack proof of the necessary foreign ties.

In summary, AIPAC operates as an independent U.S. entity under subsections (b) and (c), without the foreign control or direction that FARA mandates for registration. Accusations otherwise stem from speculation and, increasingly, abject anti-semitism, not the law’s text or factual evidence.

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AIPAC is the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, an American organization which is funded by Americans and helps fund American politicians who support the Israeli-American relationship.

FARA is the Foreign Agents Registration Act. Foreign-controlled or funded entities such as RT (formerly Russia Today) or China Global Television Network must register under FARA. American-owned organizations funded by Americans, regardless of their purpose, are not required to register under FARA. Educational foreign-funded or controlled organizations such as the Confucius Institute were granted exemptions, however, since 2020, have had to register under the Foreign Missions Act.

While some conspiracy theorists and anti-Israel activists have stated that AIPAC should register under FARA, they often are either confused on what the purpose of FARA is or they are purposely obscuring the purpose to drive people who don’t know about the topic towards skepticism of Israel or overt antisemitism. Because AIPAC is an American organization and it is funded by Americans, it has absolutely no reason to be registered under FARA.

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The name “Israel” carries profound significance, reflecting both the identity and destiny of the Jewish people. Far from being just a geographic or political term, Israel encapsulates a spiritual and existential mission rooted in struggle, perseverance, and transformation.

The word “Israel” originates in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in Genesis 32:29, where Jacob, the third patriarch of the Jewish people, is given a new name after wrestling with a divine being. The verse states, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, for you have struggled with G‑d and with humans and have prevailed.” The Hebrew root of Israel, Yisrael, derives from Sarah (to strive or struggle) and El (G‑d), literally meaning “one who struggles with G‑d.”

This name defines not only Jacob but also the nation that descends from him—the Israelites, or the Jewish people. Jacob’s life was marked by constant challenges: he contended with his brother Esau, was deceived by his father-in-law Laban, and even wrestled with a mysterious angelic figure. Yet, through each struggle, he emerged stronger, earning the name Israel. This legacy of striving became the hallmark of the Jewish people.

What makes the name Israel particularly striking is its focus on the struggle itself rather than the victory. According to Jewish thought, as articulated by scholars like Rabbi Leibel Eiger in Torat Emet (Parshat Vayishlach), the essence of Israel lies in the act of grappling—with G‑d, with others, and with oneself. Judaism does not prioritize serenity, an afterlife, or a guaranteed happy ending. Instead, it celebrates the effort to pursue goodness, justice, and moral growth in the here and now, regardless of the outcome.

This ethos is reflected in the Jewish people’s history and the modern State of Israel. From ancient times through centuries of exile to the challenges of nationhood today, the Jewish people have faced adversity—external threats, internal debates, and spiritual questions. The name Israel embodies this resilience, a commitment to striving for a better world while wrestling with complex realities.

In essence, Israel is more than a place or a people; it is a mission. To be Israel is to embrace the struggle for truth, righteousness, and self-improvement, never accepting the world as it is but working tirelessly to make it what it could be.

Sources:

• Genesis 32:29.
• Torat Emet, Rabbi Leibel Eiger of Lublin, Parshat Vayishlach.

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