Anti-Israel Democrats Demand the Party Condemn AIPAC

AIPAC — the American Israel Public Affairs Committee — contributes through various means, including the United Democracy Project, to support candidates for political office who are deemed to be pro-Israel. It is precisely for that reason that many in the “progressive” — far-left — wing of the Democrat Party, who are resolutely anti-Israel, want Democratic candidates to refuse to take money from AIPAC, lest that make them more supportive of Israel. Those “progressives” will then oppose those who do not refuse AIPAC money. Naturally, there are still many Democrats who maintain their support for Israel, but others, especially younger Democrats, are clearly less pro-Israel than their predecessors. Now those “progressives” want the Democratic National Committee to go even further; they want it to not just refuse money from AIPAC, but to publicly condemn the organization. More on this attempt to diminish AIPAC’s support can be found here: “DNC to Consider Resolution Condemning AIPAC,” by Corey Walker, Algemeiner, March 30, 2026:

A newly introduced resolution within the Democratic National Committee (DNC) is putting the party’s relationship with pro-Israel lobbying money under renewed scrutiny, exposing a deepening divide between its progressive base and establishment leadership.

The measure, which is nonbinding, calls on Democrats across the US to reject or distance themselves from funding tied to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the premier pro-Israel lobbying group, and its affiliated political entities. While largely symbolic, the resolution would compel party officials and candidates to publicly take a position on whether to accept such financial support.

Allison Minnerly, a DNC member from Florida who sponsored the resolution, argues that the committee needs to take a more aggressive stance in fighting on behalf of Palestinians.

“At a time when Democratic voters might really not have felt represented or seen when it came to Gaza or seeing their party support Palestinian rights or stand against military conflict, this could be one step toward bringing those voters back into the party,” she told The Intercept.

Yes, some of those far-left voters, consumed with anti-Israel animus, might come back to the Democratic Party if it cut all ties with AIPAC, but how many? Such an expression of antagonism toward AIPAC, if the DNC adopted it, is sure to drive the six million members of AIPAC away from the Democrats and into the arms of the Republicans, as they have overwhelmingly become pro-Israel (Rep. Tom Massie and Senator Rand Paul always excepted).

Minnerly also presented a resolution last August which called for an arms embargo against Israel. That measure failed.

The new resolution comes as AIPAC and allied super PACs have become increasingly influential in Democratic primaries, spending millions to back candidates aligned with their positions. Critics within the party argue that this influx of money, including donations from Republican-aligned contributors, risks distorting Democratic contests and elevating outside influence.

What the critics of AIPAC can’t stand is that it is so successful. It has six million members, which means a great many of its members are not Jewish, but principled supporters of the Jewish state. It’s good at fundraising and in targeting the races, Congressional and state races that are most important for strengthening American ties with Israel, and supporting, or in some cases even finding potential candidates and urging them to run against members of Congress who have consistently displayed an anti-Israel animus, such as Rep. Tom Massie and Senators Bernie Sanders, Peter Welch, and Chris Van Hollen (whose father was a State Department Middle East specialist).

The resolution condemns AIPAC for its purported attempts to influence Democratic politics surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and undermining efforts to fortify “Palestinian rights” in Israel. The resolution accuses AIPAC of pouring over $100 million into Democratic competitions in an attempt to shift overall results….

Yes, how unfair and outrageous of a pro-Israel group to try to influence politicians to adopt a pro-Israel point of view. How dare AIPAC? And how dare AIPAC raise and spend so much money? In other words, AIPAC is to be deplored because it is so successful.

AIPAC does not directly contribute to political candidates. It does spend money on related groups that do support political candidates. It directs funds through its affiliated Super PAC, the United Democracy Project, and it also advises on individual donations. It publishes material drawing attention to candidates who are either pro- or anti-Israel, and to the candidates they may face in primaries or in the general election.

The Democratic “progressives” want to further strengthen the anti-Israel branch of the party, that is already on the upswing, and the campaign to diminish AIPAC’s influence, by making opposition to AIPAC a litmus test for Democrats, is key to that effort.

If the Democrats turn against AIPAC, that will infuriate its six million members, and one of the most important and effective political lobbying groups in America will have no choice but to increase its support for Republican candidates. Can the centrist Democrats allow their party to be hijacked in such fashion?