Comparing Foreign Lobbying in the U.S.

Pro-Israel and Pro-Ukraine Advocacy

Abstract

This paper examines and compares the lobbying activities of Israel and Ukraine in shaping United States foreign policy. Lobbying has become an integral component of democratic governance and is widely recognised as a legitimate means of interest representation in major democracies. In the United States, both the Israel and Ukraine lobbies play significant roles in influencing foreign policy debates, though they differ considerably in their historical development, organisational depth, and strategic approaches. The study analyses these two lobbies by exploring their lobbying strategies, policy outcomes, and structural limitations. It finds that Israel’s influence over U.S. policy is longstanding and highly institutionalised, underpinned by strong bipartisan support in Congress, predictable aid frameworks, sophisticated advocacy networks, and deeply embedded political relationships. By contrast, Ukrainian lobbying is relatively recent, gaining prominence particularly after 2022, and relies more heavily on crisis narratives, extensive media engagement, coalition-building, and the mobilisation of emergency legislative measures. Through this comparative analysis, the paper highlights the institutional and strategic differences between the Israel and Ukraine lobbies and assesses their respective capacities to shape U.S. foreign policy. It argues that Ukraine faces greater constraints than Israel in securing sustained military and economic assistance as well as consistent diplomatic backing from the United States.