If you want to understand the IP conflict you will not be able to ignore American politics, and one way to get an appreciation is to read Mearshirmer and Walt's book, The Israel Lobby, where they present the details much more in depth than in their LRB article.

On the other hand, it my understand that this conflict has been debated here to death. How could that be the case without understand the ways in which Israel infouences the US Congress and White House. Best lobby in town, even better than the National Rifle Association.