Aug 21, 2023 Story by: Editor
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) has provided over $3.6 million to established members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) since last year, while targeting progressive members who are part of the Squad for challenges in the upcoming primaries. AIPAC, the most powerful pro-Israel lobbying group in the U.S., has focused its recruitment efforts on finding candidates to oppose these progressive CBC members, who have voiced support for Palestinian rights and criticized U.S. aid to Israel.
Despite these moves, the CBC has remained silent on AIPAC’s actions, which has revealed deeper divisions within the Democratic Party regarding Israel. AIPAC has already endorsed more than half of the CBC members and supported them with significant financial contributions. According to Federal Election Commission records, AIPAC-backed members of the CBC have received over $3.6 million since February 2022.
Prominent progressive voices, like Justice Democrats Executive Director Alexandra Rojas, have called on the CBC to defend its members from AIPAC’s challenges. Rojas emphasized that AIPAC and its Republican donors are specifically targeting Black progressive incumbents. Meanwhile, AIPAC defended its actions, stating that they continue to back pro-Israel African American Democrats, but base their endorsements on candidates’ voting records regarding U.S.-Israel relations.
These developments have further strained dynamics within the CBC, especially between long-serving members and newly elected Black progressives who challenge conventional stances on Israel. AIPAC’s financial support to centrist CBC members, such as Hakeem Jeffries and Steven Horsford, underscores the influence of the lobbying group on internal Democratic Party politics and has added to the complexities facing the CBC as it navigates intra-party divisions. Source: The Intercept
