Contributor Report: WOMEN’S ALLIANCE FOR ISRAEL PAC
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The Women’s Alliance for Israel PAC (WAIPAC), now frequently identified as the World Alliance for Israel PAC, is a California-based political action committee dedicated to pro-Israel advocacy through direct financial support of federal candidates. Established in 1989 and headquartered in Beverly Hills, California, the organization serves as a vehicle for the Southern California Jewish community to influence U.S. foreign policy by funding bipartisan candidates who support pro-Israel legislation.
1. Mission and Organizational Purpose
The Women’s Alliance for Israel PAC is characterized as a “single-issue political action committee” with the primary concern of providing funds for congressional and senatorial candidates who foster pro-Israel legislation (Jewish Journal (Note: having trouble producing a specific citation)). Unlike lobbying entities like AIPAC or charitable organizations like The Jewish Federation, WAIPAC is legally structured to make direct campaign contributions, filling a specific tactical niche within the pro-Israel lobby (Jewish Journal (Note: having trouble producing a specific citation)).
2. Relationship to the Israel Lobby
The organization maintains deep ties with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and other prominent pro-Israel advocacy groups through leadership overlaps and shared objectives.
- Leadership Overlaps: Founding president Carol Aminoff served as a vice-chairwoman and senior consultant for AIPAC Los Angeles and was a member of AIPAC’s national board (Aish (Note: having trouble producing a specific citation)). Former president Ada Horwich also chaired AIPAC in Southern California and served on its national board of directors (Nexus Project (Note: having trouble producing a specific citation)).
- Tactical Coordination: The PAC was established to provide the “pro-Israel community” with a mechanism for direct financial influence that 501(c) organizations cannot provide. Members often research candidates’ records on Israel to determine eligibility for support (Jewish Journal (Note: having trouble producing a specific citation)).
- Advocacy Background: Leadership has described their role as lobbying Congress and the White House for support of “various Israeli concerns” (Times of Israel).
3. Political Expenditures and Donor Profile
WAIPAC has historically been one of the more active pro-Israel PACs in the United States, raising approximately $500,000 annually at its peak (Jewish Journal (Note: having trouble producing a specific citation)).
- Recipients: The PAC supports a bipartisan range of candidates. Documented recipients include former Senators Tom Daschle and Harry Reid, as well as Representatives Silvestre Reyes and Loretta Sanchez (GovInfo; ProPublica (Note: having trouble producing a specific citation)).
- Evolution of Name: Around 2006, the organization began transitioning its branding to the “World Alliance for Israel PAC,” though it continues to be listed under its original name in various pro-Israel donor databases (Jewish Virtual Library; FEC).
- Donor Base: Its contributors are predominantly based in the Los Angeles and Beverly Hills areas, consisting of individuals committed to the “survival of the State of Israel” and strengthening U.S.-Israel relations (Aish (Note: having trouble producing a specific citation); Jewish Journal (Note: having trouble producing a specific citation)).
4. Regulatory Status
The committee is registered with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) under ID C00236596. While it has been listed as “Terminated” or having low activity in some recent cycles, it remains cited in contemporary pro-Israel advocacy lists as a significant historical and regional contributor to the lobby’s financial infrastructure (FEC; Powerbase).
Supported Candidates
| Candidate |
Years |
Direct Contributions |
Behested Payments |
| Doris Matsui |
2004 |
$1,000 |
$0 |