Editing AIPAC (section)

==American Israel Education Foundation==
The American Israel Education Foundation is a sister organization of AIPAC,<ref name=Abourezk>{{cite news|last1=Abourezk|first1=Jim|title=The hidden cost of free congressional trips to Israel|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0126/p09s01-coop.html|access-date=October 7, 2014|agency=csmonitor.com|date=January 26, 2007}}</ref> that handles educational work, rather than lobbying. It is a [[501(c)(3)#501(c)(3)|501(c)(3)]] non-profit educational organization that conducts educational programs, including educational trips to [[Israel]] for members of the [[United States Congress|U.S. Congress]] and other American politicians.<ref name="rice2013">{{cite web | title=AIEF Israel Seminar: Motley Rice member travels with other leaders interested in U.S.-Israel relations | website=Motley Rice | date=March 1, 2013 | url=https://www.motleyrice.com/article/aief-us-israel-relation | access-date=September 11, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.schusterman.org/programs/israel/american-israel-education-foundation | title=American Israel Education Foundation | publisher=Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation | access-date=November 27, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111118045515/http://www.schusterman.org/programs/israel/american-israel-education-foundation | archive-date=November 18, 2011 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all }}</ref>

AIEF trips for members of Congress occur every two years, becoming "the top spender on congressional travel" in those years.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.rollcall.com/issues/57_26/House_Members_Flock_to_Israel_With_Travel_Loophole_AIPAC-208599-1.html?zkMobileView=true | title=Members Flock to Israel With Travel Loophole | work=Roll Call | date=September 9, 2011 | access-date=November 27, 2011 | last1=Becker | first1=Amanda | last2=Bade | first2=Rachael}}</ref> In August 2019, the foundation sponsored week-long trips with 72 members of Congress: 41 Democrats and 31 Republicans.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jns.org/in-largest-ever-delegation-72-congressmen-dont-skipthetrip-express-bipartisan-support-for-israel/|title=72 representatives don't #skipthetrip, join largest-ever delegation to Israel|last=Traiman|first=Alex|date=2019-08-11|website=JNS.org|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-15}}</ref> They traveled to [[Israel]] and the [[West Bank]] and visited with Israeli prime minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] and [[Palestinian National Authority|Palestinian Authority]] President [[Mahmoud Abbas]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=232876 | title=81 Congressmen to Visit Israel in Coming Weeks | work=The Jerusalem Post | date=August 8, 2011 | access-date=November 27, 2011 | last1=Keinon | first1=Herb}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/16/us/politics/16congress.html?_r=1 | title=A Recess Destination With Bipartisan Support: Israel and the West Bank | work=The New York Times | date=August 15, 2011 | access-date=November 27, 2011 | last1=Steinhauer| first1=Jennifer}}</ref> Other educational activities include regular seminars for congressional staff.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.aipac.org/en/hill-staff | title=Hill Staff | publisher=AIPAC | access-date=November 27, 2011}}</ref>

Critics alleges that these trips are propaganda rather than education and do not tell the [[Palestinian territories|Palestinian]] "side of the story,"<ref name=Abourezk2>{{cite news|last1=Abourezk|first1=Jim|title=The hidden cost of free congressional trips to Israel|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0126/p09s01-coop.html|access-date=October 7, 2014|agency=csmonitor.com|quote=These trips are defended as "educational". In reality, as I know from my many colleagues in the House and Senate who participated in them, they offer Israeli propagandists an opportunity to expose members of Congress to only their side of the story. The Israeli narrative of how the nation was created, and Israeli justifications for its brutal policies omit important truths about the Israeli takeover and occupation of the Palestinian territories.|date=January 26, 2007}}</ref> and that they violate ethics rules prohibiting lobbying groups from gifting personal travel to congresspersons.<ref name="hill2019">{{cite web | last=Bowden | first=John | title=Activist group files ethics complaint against AIPAC over congressional Israel trips | website=The Hill | date=August 14, 2019 | url=https://thehill.com/regulation/lobbying/457456-activist-group-files-ethics-complaint-against-aipac-over-congressional | access-date=September 11, 2020|quote=Antiwar activist group Codepink has filed a claim with the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) arguing that yearly trips to Israel for freshman lawmakers hosted by the lobbying group American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) are unconstitutional.}}</ref>