Arizona Dem tears into her own party over trend she deems antisemitic: ‘Sick and tired’
A notable trend is emerging within the Democratic Party as several lawmakers are increasingly rejecting financial contributions from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), a powerful pro-Israel lobbying group. This shift has sparked significant controversy and backlash, particularly from within the party itself. Arizona state representative Alma Hernandez has been vocal in her criticism, labeling this movement as “antisemitism under the guise of campaign virtue.” Her statements come in the wake of a broader realignment among Democrats, who are now gravitating towards more liberal Jewish organizations like J Street, reflecting a departure from the traditional bipartisan consensus that has historically characterized U.S. support for Israel.
The backdrop to this shift can be traced to the recent escalations in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, particularly following the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas on Israel. In the aftermath, AIPAC has consistently backed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s response, which has drawn criticism from various Jewish groups and some Democrats. This has created a rift within the party, as progressive members, including prominent figures from the “Squad” like Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have publicly called for a rejection of AIPAC’s influence, encouraging their colleagues to turn away from the organization. This has led to a series of Democratic lawmakers, including Rep. Morgan McGarvey of Kentucky and Reps. Deborah Ross and Valerie Foushee of North Carolina, pledging to refuse AIPAC contributions, further complicating the party’s stance on Israel.
Hernandez’s remarks underscore a growing concern that the rejection of AIPAC funding may be driven more by political expediency than genuine policy disagreement. She emphasized that many voters are unaware of the implications of such decisions and highlighted that AIPAC does not directly contribute to candidates; rather, it is a network of pro-Israel supporters who may feel alienated by this new trend. Hernandez warned her fellow Democrats against adopting this stance merely for political gain, asserting that it could mask underlying antisemitism. Her call to action serves as a reminder of the complexities surrounding U.S. foreign policy and the challenges the Democratic Party faces as it navigates the evolving landscape of support for Israel. As the debate continues, the implications of this shift could have lasting effects on the party’s identity and its approach to Middle Eastern politics.
A trend of Democrats rejecting money from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), one of the nation’s most influential pro-Israel groups, is garnering intraparty backlash after an Arizona state representative slammed the shift as “antisemitism under the guide of campaign virtue.”
Democrats have been pulling back from AIPAC and cozying up with other, more liberal Jewish groups, like J Street, highlighting a shift in the historical bipartisan consensus that saw both parties treat support for Israel as a given. This changing consensus, particularly within the Democratic Party, became more clear following the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on Israel by Hamas terrorists.
While some Jewish groups have criticized Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu’s
approach to the subsequent war that followed the attack, AIPAC has stood behind Netanyahu’s strong response.
AIPAC’s unwavering support for Israel after Oct. 7, 2023, was followed by a coalition of far-left Democrats, including Reps. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and other members of the “Squad,” who called for lawmakers to “REJECT AIPAC.” Since then, a handful of other Democratic Party lawmakers have also rejected or returned money from AIPAC.
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“I’m getting really sick and tired of
Democratic candidates
who are announcing they will not “accept” AIPAC money, as it’s apparently the cool thing to say when you are running now,” Democratic Arizona state Rep. Alma Hernandez said on X Wednesday.
“Let’s be clear: most voters have no idea what that even means. AIPAC itself doesn’t make candidate contributions; its supporters, many of whom, like me, are pro-Israel Democrats. I can assure you that most of you who are publicly announcing this would NEVER receive a dime from any of us.”
Following the cohort of radical Democrats in Congress launching their “REJECT AIPAC” coalition, other Democratic Party
members of Congress
took action to reject AIPAC money as well.
Less than a year after his 2024 election victory, which was financially supported by AIPAC, Rep. Morgan McGarvey, D-Ky., said he would no longer take donations from AIPAC. Rep. Deborah Ross, D-N.C., and Rep. Valerie Foushee, D-N.C., made the same commitment earlier this year.
Last month, Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., refunded past donations from AIPAC and pledged to reject any future funding from the group.
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Hernandez had a stark message for any more Democrats thinking about doing the same.
“There are plenty of elected officials and candidates who have privately sought support over the years, and yes, I have the receipts of your text and emails,” Hernandez said in her post on X. “So, to any of you who are thinking of jumping on that wagon because you think it sounds like the cool thing these days, think again.
“Don’t mask antisemitism under the guise of campaign virtue.”
Eric
Eric is a seasoned journalist covering US Politics news.
