Today, Iron Dome Press is launching The Iron 100—America's definitive annual ranking of the 100 most influential supporters of Israel.
This isn't a list of celebrities or politicians performing support for cameras. It's a curated ranking of Americans who meaningfully advance US-Israel relations through leadership, advocacy, philanthropy, defense innovation, faith community work, and media influence.
Why This Matters
The pro-Israel movement in America is often treated as monolithic—either you're "all in" or you're not. But the reality is more sophisticated. American support for Israel comes from diverse sectors, motivations, and strategies:
- Congressional leaders who champion Israel in policy and budget debates
- Philanthropists who fund scholarships, hospitals, and innovation hubs
- Defense contractors who develop the technologies protecting both nations
- Faith leaders who mobilize faith communities around US-Israel partnership
- Media figures who inform public opinion and counter anti-Israel narratives
- Tech entrepreneurs who drive innovation and investment flows
- State department officials who shape diplomatic strategy
Each sector requires different metrics, influences different constituencies, and contributes differently to the alliance.
Methodology
The Iron 100 rankings reflect a mixed methodology:
Congressional Leaders
Ranked by:
- Committee positions on foreign aid and defense spending
- Voting record on Israel-related legislation
- Public advocacy and communications
- Constituent service on pro-Israel issues
- Fundraising for Israel-aligned candidates
Philanthropists
Ranked by:
- Total giving to Israel-related causes (annually and lifetime)
- Geographic diversity of funding (supporting communities across Israel)
- Strategic focus (Israeli innovation, American Jewish communities, diaspora engagement)
- Board service and active involvement (not just checkbooks)
- Community leadership and influence
Defense and Tech Leaders
Ranked by:
- Dollar volume of US-Israel joint defense projects
- Innovation contribution to shared capabilities
- Business relationships advancing dual-economy partnership
- Technology transfer and licensing arrangements
- Workforce development and training initiatives
Faith Leaders
Ranked by:
- Congregational size and engagement
- Pro-Israel programming and education
- Interfaith leadership and bridge-building
- Diaspora community mobilization
- Public advocacy and communications
Media Figures
Ranked by:
- Audience reach and influence
- Frequency and quality of pro-Israel coverage/commentary
- Countering anti-Israel narratives
- Strategic media partnerships
- Investigative work exposing anti-Semitism
What Makes Someone "Iron"?
This excludes:
- Transactional supporters: Those who support Israel only when politically convenient
- Single-issue advocates: Those whose involvement is limited to one context
- Performative solidarity: Those whose support consists primarily of social media posts
- Ideological extremists: Those whose support comes with anti-Palestinian or anti-Arab agendas that contradict American interests
The Iron 100 represents Americans who understand that supporting Israel is consistent with, and indeed essential to, American interests.
The Rankings This Year
The 2026 Iron 100 includes:
Congress (15 members): Senators and Representatives whose legislative work directly strengthens the alliance, from appropriations to normalization efforts.
Philanthropy (18 members): Foundations and individual donors whose contributions advance Israeli society, American Jewish communities, and shared innovation.
Defense & Technology (22 members): Corporate and individual leaders advancing the $5+ billion annual US-Israel defense partnership and technology cooperation.
Faith Communities (15 members): Religious leaders mobilizing congregations, building interfaith coalitions, and educating communities.
Media & Opinion (18 members): Journalists, commentators, and media executives who inform American public opinion.
State Department (7 members): Career diplomats and political appointees shaping bilateral relationships and regional strategy.
Entrepreneurs & Innovation (5 members): Individual leaders driving technology transfer and economic cooperation.
Why Rankings Matter
You might ask: isn't reducing complex contributions to numeric rankings reductive?
Rankings serve multiple purposes:
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Recognition: Many of these leaders work largely behind the scenes. They deserve recognition.
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Clarity: Rankings clarify that pro-Israel advocacy isn't monolithic. Different sectors, different scales of impact.
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Inspiration: Younger Americans see concrete examples of sustained pro-Israel leadership and are motivated to develop their own.
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Debate: Rankings invite productive debate. "Why is X ranked above Y?" conversations drive deeper understanding.
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Documentation: Future historians will understand who shaped the US-Israel relationship in 2026.
Moving Forward
The Iron 100 will be an annual publication. We'll rank members, update their status, celebrate newcomers, and bid farewell to those retiring from public service or moving to other priorities.
Over time, this list will become the definitive record of American pro-Israel leadership—understood not as controversial, but as documenting America's most influential supporters of a critical strategic partnership.
Conclusion
The Iron 100 represents something vital: America's diverse, sophisticated, sustained commitment to partnership with Israel. It's not monolithic. It's not ideological in the way critics sometimes suggest.
It's simply Americans—from Congress to faith communities to defense innovation—who understand that supporting Israel serves American interests while advancing shared values of democracy, entrepreneurship, innovation, and freedom.
That alliance deserves to be documented. These leaders deserve recognition.
The Iron 100 makes both possible.