His critics have called him a member of the Israel lobby.

Individual journalists each have their own opinions on how powerful the Israel lobby is.

But that a powerful Israel lobby exists could hardly be denied by anyone who knows how Washington works.

As it happened, though, the Arab speakers mainly wanted to talk about the Israel lobby.

The argument that the Israel lobby constricted debate was itself bigoted, he said.

Does the Israel Lobby affect our foreign policy choices?

Hagel later clarified these remarks saying he was referring to the Israel lobby.

"I didn't like the crack of - it's just little old me against all those Jewish lobbyists, or whatever it was, the Israel lobby."

Clearly, the "Israel Lobby" in America has been planning this trick for some time.

What sets the Israel Lobby apart is its extraordinary effectiveness.