WASHINGTON, April 11 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) – In the halls of the United States Congress, there seems to be support for Israel’s military offensive in the West Bank, a U.S. daily newspaper reported Thursday, April 11.

“There have been no calls for trade embargoes or cuts in the $2.8 billion in foreign aid that Israel gets annually from the United States. The reaction stems from goodwill toward Israel as the lone democracy in the Middle East, as well as its partnership in the war against terrorism. But Israel and its supporters also have mounted a powerful lobbying campaign on Capitol Hill,” reported USA Today.

The paper added that Benjamin Netanyahu, ex-Israeli premiere lobbied two groups of senators and members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday on behalf of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's government.

"I am concerned that the state of Israel is being pressed to back down just when it is on the verge of uprooting Palestinian terror," Netanyahu told the senators. "Instead of praising Israel for seeking to minimize civilian casualties through careful and deliberate action, most of the world's governments shamelessly condemn it."

"America must show that it will not heed the international call to stop Israel for exercising its right to defend itself," Netanyahu said.

The paper added that according to polls conducted recently, Israel benefits from widespread support from the U.S. public.

In a USA Today/CNN/Gallup Poll taken last weekend, 50% said they sympathized more with Israel in the current conflict, compared with 15% who sympathized more with the Palestinian Arabs.

Rep. Tom Lantos, D-Calif., is drafting a resolution that will show Congress' "solidarity with Israel in its fight against terrorism." Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said she would reintroduce legislation to cut U.S. ties to the Palestinian Authority if Secretary of State Colin Powell's mission does not produce results. Last week, House Majority Whip Tom DeLay, R-Texas, a leader of conservatives in Congress, strongly defended the U.S. commitment to Israel, reported USA Today.

However, the paper added, there are voices in Congress that have criticized Israel and defended the Palestinian cause.

Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., whose Dearborn-area district has the most Arabs and Muslims in the country, warned about being too pro-Israel. "By censuring only the actions or inactions of the Palestinian side, we are increasingly viewed as an enabler and an obstruction to peace," he said. "This perception has already caused the United States to lose credibility in the region."

The paper said that James Zogby, head of the Arab-American Institute, said 80 members of Congress are sympathetic to the concerns of pro-Arab groups but refuse to speak publicly. He did not name one.

"Part of it comes from a perception, which is used by the people on the pro-Israel side, that there is a political price to pay," Zogby said. "The intimidation factor is there."

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the primary pro-Israel lobbying group, does not see it that way. AIPAC says its influence stems from the strong support for Israel from Americans of all backgrounds.

"Our office has been flooded with calls in the past week from members of Congress who want to do more to show their solidarity with the Israeli people," Rebecca Needler of AIPAC said.

Created in 1951, AIPAC has an annual budget of about $412 million and a staff of more than 140. It employs seven lobbyists in its headquarters off Capitol Hill and spends more than $1 million a year lobbying. Its money comes largely from donations from individuals. However, it is not the only player in the influence-peddling game, reported the USA Today.

There are about 5.3 million Jews in America, or 2.3% of the total population. Ten of the Senate's 100 members say they are Jewish, as do 27, or 6%, of 435 House members, it said.

Individuals and groups sympathetic to Israel contribute millions of dollars to candidates for federal office. Contributions were classified as pro-Israel by looking at the giving patterns of the donors, with weight given to those who also focused their giving to pro-Israel political action committees.

In the year 2000, $6.5 million dollars were contributed to democrats and republicans, the paper said.

In Europe, on the other hand, government officials have criticized Israel's military offensive aimed at “terrorists.”