>> But I can never understand why. <<

$$$ and religion. big money donors have politicians by the balls. and bible thumpers don't want the holy land to be put in the hands of muslims.

************ But I can never understand why. I mean why are politicians so beholden to AIPEC? ************

It is as it should be.
US support of Israel is an example of politicians paying attention to the voters.

The reason: Voters and money.
The US is jam packed with lots of people who feel a deep and abiding interest in the welfare of Israel.

And so long as this is so, then the politicians will be doing the right thing to listen to them.
After all we do want our reps to represent our interests right?
The welfare of Israel is high on the priority list for oodles of American citizens.

Looked at that way it all makes perfect sense. It is as it should be.

It's too damn bad they won't also pay as much attention to a hell of a lot of other things that oodles of voters have high in their priority lists.