Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu, speaks live via satellite, at the 2019 American Israel Public Affairs Committee Policy Conference, in Washington.File photo
| Photo Credit: GETTY IMAGES
They were warned that criticism of Israel’s conduct during its war on Hamas in Gaza could cost them politically. But in the four months since Israel’s blistering offensive was ignited by Hamas’s October 7 attack, progressives in the U.S. Congress who have called for a ceasefire are seeing record fundraising dollars as they fight to remain in office.
Members of the “squad” — a group of liberals in the House — are being singled out by pro-Israel Public Affairs Committees (PACs) like the American Israel PAC (AIPAC). The groups have pledged or plan to spend tens of millions of dollars to try to defeat them in Democratic primaries and the general election this year, turning the otherwise safely Democratic districts into election battlegrounds.
The cohort of lawmakers is facing what they see as an “existential threat” to their political careers. It’s a struggle that raises significant questions about who can be a Democrat in Congress, what positions are permissible about Israel and the Palestinians, and what role outside groups should have in determining both.
Unlike in previous cycles, progressives are being bolstered more and more by Arab American and Muslim groups who are organising in record numbers to ensure their voices are heard on Capitol Hill.
“The fact that amidst these AIPAC attacks, amidst us having a viable challenger, we have record-breaking fundraising quarter is because the Muslim community has felt erased and dehumanised throughout this process,” Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., said in an interview last month.
‘Consistent with values’
AIPAC has defended its track record, saying in a statement that “it is entirely consistent with progressive values to stand with the Jewish state,” and that the group has a history of supporting members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
Congressional Democrats have long been sensitive about the divisions around Israel, with even lawmakers aligned with AIPAC declining to discuss the situation on the record.
Mr. Bowman, who is among a group of 19 Democrats who have called for a cease-fire in Gaza, is facing a Democratic challenger backed by AIPAC. The group, which has historically yielded immense clout in Washington, has shifted strategy in the last several years, transitioning from strictly a lobbying organisation to helping elect centrist, pro-Israel Democrats. In 2022, it began challenging Democratic incumbents in primaries.
Ahead of November, the group and PACs connected to its ethos have once again begun contributing to candidates running against members of the squad. In addition to Mr. Bowman, the Democrats facing challengers include Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Summer Lee of Pennsylvania and Cori Bush of Missouri, all of whom have not only called for a cease-fire but have demanded an end to U.S. aid to Israel.
Progressive groups are closely watching the campaign as they track the unprecedented flow of money into congressional district races at a level usually seen for battleground Senate seats.
In 2022, AIPAC spent around $27 million targeting progressive candidates. Its war chest this cycle is expected to be more than twice that amount.
Beyond the four members of the squad — Mr. Bowman, Mr. Lee, Mr. Omar and Mr. Bush — who are already facing both primary and general election challenges, pro-Israel groups are still searching for candidates to take on some other vocal Palestinian advocates in Congress.
Case of Tlaib
One progressive who is no stranger to AIPAC-backed challenges since coming to Washington is Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, the only Palestinian serving in Congress.
While there has been an active effort to recruit an opponent against her this cycle, no candidate has accepted the appeals from various groups to take her on. Nonetheless, Ms. Tlaib has raised nearly $3.7 million since the start of the war in Gaza, record fundraising for the third-term congresswoman who has faced constant attacks from both sides for her criticism of Israel. She was censured by the House in November for her remarks about the war.
Before November, progressive members and the outside groups supporting them are looking beyond fundraising tactics to challenge AIPAC’s standing with the Democratic Party.
Candidates being targeted by the group are trying to raise awareness for what they say is AIPAC’s toxic role in Democratic primaries.
In recent years, several major Republican donors have helped fund the group’s effort to target candidates critical of Israel. In 2022, the majority of the money spent in the Democratic primary between then-Rep. Andy Levin and Rep. Haley Stevens in Michigan came from GOP donors.
After the last Israel-Hamas conflict in 2021, Mr. Levin, a self-proclaimed Zionist and former synagogue president, renewed his calls for a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine. That, in addition to redistricting in Michigan, resulted in a perfect storm against Mr. Levin, who faced an organised campaign by AIPAC that would funnel an unprecedented amount of money — over $4 million — to Ms. Stevens, a centrist, pro-Israel member. Ms. Stevens won the primary, helping push Levin and his vocal criticism of Israel out of Congress.
“I think this is really a structural issue for democracy in general and an existential issue for the Democratic Party,” Mr. Levin said last month. “What kind of a party are we, if we allow Republicans to come in and determine who we pick in a Democratic primary to run against the other side?”
