WORKERS PUT THE FINISHING TOUCHES ON THE STAGE AT THE ANNUAL AMERICAN ISRAEL PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON IN MARCH 2015. (PHOTO: PETE MAROVICH/EUROPEAN PRESSPHOTO AGENCY)
A group of progressive organizations have formed a coalition to counter the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s (AIPAC) spending this election cycle.
“We have watched as AIPAC has done everything it can to silence growing dissent in Congress against Netanyahu’s assault on Gaza—which has killed over 31,000 Palestinians—even as Democratic voters overwhelmingly support a ceasefire and oppose sending more blank checks to the Israeli military,” said the newly-formed Reject AIPAC in a statement.
Justice Democrats, the Working Families Party, US Campaign for Palestinian Rights Action, Jewish Voice for Peace Action, IfNotNow Movement, Sunrise Movement, Showing Up for Racial Justice, MPower Change Action Fund, the Democratic Socialists of America, CommonDefense.us, Jews for Racial and Economic Justice, Center for Popular Democracy Action, Our Revolution, Dream Defenders, Progressive Democrats of America, RootsAction, Grassroot Global Justice Action, Justice is Global Action, Future Coalition, Peace Action, National Iranian American Council Action, and Gen-Z for Change make up the coalition.
Reject AIPAC says it will launch a seven-figure electoral defense campaign to combat the group, to lobby on Capitol Hill, and push lawmakers to sign a pledge to not accept money from the organization.
“For decades, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) has been a hawkish, warmongering, and bullying force in U.S. politics,” reads the pledge. “AIPAC advocates for a US foreign policy directly at odds with human rights and international humanitarian law, and has supported an unconditional flow of US military funding and weapons to the Israeli government that have been used to support human rights violations against Palestinians. Domestically, they have supported and amplified far-right politicians and candidates, including insurrectionists.
“Therefore, I pledge not to take endorsements or contributions from AIPAC and/or any aligned PACs.”
AIPAC is expected to spend more than $100 million during this election, with a specific focus on ousting progressive House members who stand up for the rights of Palestinians. According to reporting from Politico, they’ve already bundled more than $19 million this cycle and their dark money Super PAC the United Democracy Project (UDP) is eyeing 15 to 20 House races to potentially become involved in. In recent weeks the group has endorsed Democratic candidates Wesley Bell, who is running against Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO) in Missouri and George Latimer, who is running against Rep. Jamaal Bowman in New York (D-NY).
AIPAC launched UDP before the 2022 elections and used the PAC spend $22 million during that cycle. Its intervention in Democratic primaries has been criticized not just over the lobbying group’s support for Israel, but also because AIPAC spends millions backing Republican politicians, including more than 100 who refused to certify Joe Biden’s victory over Donald Trump.
None of the ads that AIPAC runs against Democrats mention Israel or foreign policy at all, as numerous polls show a growing sympathy for Palestinians among Democratic voters and vast support for a ceasefire in Gaza.
The coalition was touted on Twitter by Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI), a frequent online target of AIPAC. “I wonder how AIPAC will react to a major campaign by values-based organizations attacking their use of Trump donor and other conservative dark money to oust Dems,” wrote the congressman. “Toxic money.”
Reject AIPAC’s launch comes just weeks after the liberal, pro-Israel lobbying group J Street announced that it would not be spending any money in Democratic primaries, preferring to focus on general election races.
Despite its big spending, it remains unclear how successful AIPAC will be this election cycle. The lobbying group spent $4.6 million opposing state Senator Dave Min in the Democratic primary for California’s 47th congressional district last week, but he prevailed anyway.
