WASHINGTON, 29 May — With so much focus on the bloodshed in the Israeli-occupied territories, the Israeli lobby has managed to win a battle in Congress that slipped by basically unnoticed in Washington.

Under the tutorage of Israeli lobbies, Congress managed last week to give a slap in the face to both the State Department and the Arab world. The House of Representatives voted to cut off $35 million in aid to Lebanon — unless it “takes control” of its southern border with Israel and blocks raids by the Hezbollah.

The vote is seen as a victory for AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which herded the amendment through the House. The cutoff puts heat on US Arab allies and blunts the administration’s efforts to appear even-handed in its effort to deal with the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

The aid cutoff threat, contained in an amendment to the State Department Authorization Bill put forward by Rep. Tom Lantos, D-California, passed by a narrow 216-210 margin, after 17 Congressmen gave into pressure by AIPAC and changed their votes at the last minute. And, on the Hill, it looks as though things are going from bad to worse. Rep. Gary Ackerman, D-New York, has also introduced a resolution calling for US sanctions against the Palestinians, including a ban on most forms of American economic aid.

All three measures reflect new efforts by Israel’s friends in Washington to work through Congress to stiffen America’s relationship to its Arab allies, according to sources close to AIPAC.

These measures by Congress have not been well received at the State Department. Secretary of State Colin Powell argued against the cutoff during a May 10 appearance before the House, saying, “a lot of the aid (to Lebanon)... is distributed to non-governmental organizations. So you’re hurting the ability of those non-governmental organizations to provide services to people in need.” Secretary Powell also charged that the anti-Lebanon measure would “severely impede” the progress of American policy in the region. He said the Lebanon aid package would “strengthen Lebanon’s central government institutions and provide a foundation for improved economic and social conditions.”

Lebanese media reports quoted David Satterfield, the American ambassador to Lebanon in Beirut, as saying the State Department would continue to oppose the measure, which will soon come before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

House debate on the Lebanese motion was heated. Among those arguing against the cutoff threat were Nick Rahall of West Virginia, John Dingell of Michigan and David Bonior of Michigan, all Democrats, as well as Republicans Jim Kolbe of Arizona and Darrell Issa of California. Rahall said: “The Lebanese themselves have suffered over the last couple of decades. The Lebanese are the victims.” Arab organizations in Washington have expressed alarm at the vote. In an “action alert” to its members, the Arab American Institute said the vote would “strain relationships with (America’s) Arab allies” and threaten America’s “balance on future matters involving the Middle East, including upcoming legislation that would cut aid to Egypt and the Palestinians.”