Grant Smith

Grant F. Smith is the author of the new book Divert! NUMEC, Zalman Shapiro and the diversion of U.S. weapons-grade uranium into the Israeli nuclear weapons program. He is director of the Institute for Research: Middle Eastern Policy in Washington, D.C.

Israel’s Nukes Make US Aid Illegal

Peter Beinart’s New York Times essay "America Needs to Start Telling the Truth About Israel’s Nukes" earlier this month caused a firestorm. In it, Beinart noted how the prevalence of US "lies of omission" allow policymakers and politicians to pretend Israel does not have nuclear weapons. This in turn generates the false narrative that Iran’s … Continue reading “Israel’s Nukes Make US Aid Illegal”

‘Abraham Accords’ Discredit the US

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) continues to lobby Congress for more support for the so-called "Abraham Accords." This Trump administration initiative sought to transcend the spectacular failure of the "Deal of the Century" initiative that called for Palestinian acquiescence to annexation and renunciation of sovereignty rights in exchange for vague and uncertain economic … Continue reading “‘Abraham Accords’ Discredit the US”

‘Cut Aid Over Israeli Apartheid’ Say Americans: Poll

Israel’s American lobby has long categorically rejected assertions that Israel is or would ever become an apartheid regime. That position has become more difficult to maintain over time. Former President Jimmy Carter’s 2006 New York Times bestseller "Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid" argued that Israel’s construction of settlements and control of occupied territories were the primary … Continue reading “‘Cut Aid Over Israeli Apartheid’ Say Americans: Poll”

Energix Faces Opposition in Syria and Virginia

In early December hundreds of Syrians gathered to protest the Israeli company Energix as it began construction of massive wind turbines in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Energix is also facing growing community opposition across Virginia as it lobbies to secure permits to build solar energy utilities on mostly agricultural parcels with cultural, forest and natural … Continue reading “Energix Faces Opposition in Syria and Virginia”

The Jonathan Pollard Exception

Jonathan Jay Pollard sold thousands of sensitive American secrets to Israel while employed as an intelligence analyst in the Naval Investigative Service Command. Pollard was ideologically committed to becoming a spy for Israel, and after he was captured claimed he considered himself “a frontline soldier forgotten deep in enemy territory.” Pollard pled guilty to espionage … Continue reading “The Jonathan Pollard Exception”

The Israel Lobby’s ‘QME’ Scam

The United Arab Emirates bid to purchase F-35 multirole stealth aircraft caused a firestorm among Israel lobby operatives, pundits and congressional fellow travelers. They say the US has an obligation to maintain Israel’s "Qualitative Military Edge" if not Israel’s "Qualitative AND Quantitative Military Edge." QME is a doctrine that US war planners originally conceived to … Continue reading “The Israel Lobby’s ‘QME’ Scam”

Are Christian Zionists the ‘Largest Pro-Israel Lobby’?

The claim that US Christian Zionists are "the largest Israel lobby" is a canard now so commonplace that it appears within the first paragraph of Wikipedia’s page on the "Israel lobby in the United States." But are Christian Zionists really the largest Israel lobby? That all depends on your definition of "large," "lobby" and beliefs … Continue reading “Are Christian Zionists the ‘Largest Pro-Israel Lobby’?”

Virginia Israel Advisory Board Deal Improper Says IG

On May 1, 2020, the Virginia Office of the State Inspector General formally notified the Secretary of Commerce and Trade of improper financial dealings between the Virginia Israel Advisory Board’s vice chairman and the executive director of the Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission. According to the notification, the action was initiated following a whistleblower complaint to … Continue reading “Virginia Israel Advisory Board Deal Improper Says IG”

Is AIPAC Finished?

These are desperate times for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, AIPAC. AIPAC has canceled its single most important program. The lobby’s grip on Congress is slipping and its influence in the Foreign Affairs Committee has been truncated. Is AIPAC finished? There are three reasons to believe it may be. First came the cancellation of … Continue reading “Is AIPAC Finished?”

AIPAC Junket Spawned ‘Project Jonah’

Tazewell County in the Southwest corner of Virginia has been hit hard by declines in formerly vibrant industries such as coal mining and furniture manufacturing. Since launching in 1988 the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority VCEDA provides grants and low interest loans to diversify the economy. Likewise, Virginia’s Tobacco Region Opportunity Fund, or TROF, has … Continue reading “AIPAC Junket Spawned ‘Project Jonah’”