Campaign Initiated to Challenge Aipac’s Impact on US Politics | US Elections 2024
TL/DR –
A group of progressive organizations has launched a campaign – Reject Aipac – to undermine the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s (Aipac) influence on primary campaigns against progressive Democrats. This move is largely a response to congressional support for Israel’s campaign in Gaza and Aipac’s increased involvement in election campaigns over recent years. Reject Aipac’s goal is to disrupt the foreign policy influence that pro-Israel groups exert in Congress and to highlight Aipac’s alliances with far-right groups.
Progressive Coalition Counters Aipac’s Campaign Against Progressive Democrats
Progressive organizations are joining forces to counter the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac) spending in primary campaigns against progressive Democrats. The effort, dubbed Reject Aipac, is a response to congressional support for Israel’s Gaza campaign, linked to over 30,000 Palestinian deaths since 7 October. Find out more about the situation in Israel here.
Who is Behind the Reject Aipac Campaign?
The campaign involves progressive entities such as Justice Democrats, Jewish Voice for Peace’s advocacy arm, and the climate organization Sunrise Movement. The coalition argues that Aipac has tried to quash congressional dissent against Netanyahu’s Gaza assault, despite Democratic voters’ overwhelming preference for a ceasefire and opposition to increased funding for the Israeli military.
Aipac’s Shift in Focus
Since its founding in the 1950s, Aipac primarily focused on bipartisan support for Israel, especially in terms of military spending. However, this changed recently when Aipac formed its own political action committee in 2021, ramping up campaign funding through its Super Pac, the United Democracy Project (UDP), specifically targeting progressive Democratic candidates. Read more about Aipac’s focus here.
Aipac’s Impact on 2022 Election Cycle
The UDP spent heavily during the 2022 election cycle, particularly supporting candidates opposing progressive Democrats vocally supporting Palestinian rights. Aipac, which spent $2.3m on the Pennsylvania primary between Congresswoman Summer Lee and her opponent, is reportedly reaching out to Patel, Lee’s next opponent linked to Hindu nationalist groups.
Aipac’s Future Plans and Opposition
Aipac plans to spend $100m in the 2024 election cycle to oust candidates it deems insufficiently pro-Israel. Liberal pro-Israel group, J Street, which defended some candidates Aipac attacked in 2022, will reportedly withdraw from this role in 2024. A 2023 Guardian analysis found a correlation between politicians supporting Israel’s Gaza campaign and those benefiting from pro-Israel group donations like Aipac’s.
The Reject Aipac Mission
Reject Aipac organizers aim to disrupt the pro-Israel group’s foreign policy influence in Congress and highlight Aipac’s alliance with the far right. Top funders of Aipac affiliates include Republican mega-donors and Donald Trump supporters, and Aipac has endorsed Republicans who attempted to overturn Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential election victory.
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