In this episode of the Outside the Box podcast, host Dr. Michael Desch is joined by guests Dr. John Mearsheimer and Dr. Stephen Walt to discuss the taboo surrounding the Israel lobby. They highlight the historical backdrop of anti-Semitism in the West, conspiracy theories, and the tragic events of the Holocaust that make it challenging to discuss the lobby without triggering accusations of anti-Semitism. The guests also acknowledge that the lobby itself has used accusations of anti-Semitism to marginalize and silence critics. Overall, this episode delves into the intricate dynamics of interest group politics and criticizes not only the lobby but also Israel and the U.S.-Israeli relationship. Visit NDISC: http://www.ndisc.nd.edu Listen to past episodes of NDISC podcasts on SoundCloud:   / user-982486961  

Chapters: 0:00:00 – Introduction 0:02:25 – Conversation Begins

*** The views and opinions expressed by the authors are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of any employer past or present nor the University of Notre Dame, the College of Arts & Letters, and the Notre Dame International Security Center.