Greyzone has obtained audio from the Off-The Records session from the 2025 AIPAC Summit, Israel’s leading US lobbying arm.
Audio recorded by attendees at the panel discussion featured AIPAC’s new CEO Elliot Blunt, explaining how he has cultivated his influence with three national security officers in the Trump administration, Secretary Marco Rubio, Mike Waltz and CIA director Coach John Ratcliffe, and how it “doesn’t you believe it will gain access?
Participating in the panel at Brandt was Dana Stroul, the highest civilian who previously oversaw Middle East issues in the Biden administration’s Department of Defense. Stroul made it clear that defending Israel’s strategic orders from within the US government is a top priority, arguing that Washington should deepen special “mutually beneficial” relationships with “strong partners” in Tel Aviv.
Stroul has rejected Bloodbath in Gaza as a result of Hamas’ tactics that appear to be aiming to maximize the number of children killed by Israel.
At the same time, she and her fellow Israeli lobbyists were worried about the impact of the war after July 7 on public support for the self-proclaimed Jewish state. She was particularly troubled by the senators.
Bernie Sanders’ attempt to force a vote for a military aid package to Israel should not be discussed publicly, in her view. Another unidentified AIPAC panelist worried that pro-Palestinian scholars could ultimately affect AI knowledge systems, leading to dangerous changes in national security policies unless crucially restrained.
The Congressional summit has permeated with anxiety as AIPAC leaders told Rank and File members to hide their badges when they left the Marriott Hotel for fear of facing anti-Genosid protesters. Other than a few sessions, including keynote speeches by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the meetings were not strictly recorded.
Turning the camera off, AIPAC leadership provided very candid details of their activities. On the obvious entrance, Brandt explained how he and his lobbying organization groomed future CIA directors and other Trump officials as pro-Israel assets.