AIPAC Needs to Rethink Its Strategy Before It Does Any More Damage

By Rabbi Seymour Rosenbloom

At this moment in American history, our democracy faces an unprecedented threat from within. Conspiracy theorists and extremists willing to overturn our election results have made their way not only into the national debate but into Congress and even the White House during the last administration.

It is incumbent on all of those who work in politics and support the nation’s core democratic ideals to think carefully about their actions, their impact and the future of our country.

That’s why it was so shocking to hear the CEO of AIPAC — one of the largest lobbying groups in Washington — tell The Washington Post in an interview last week that the idea of there being a red line for the type of politician the group would fundraise for was something he’d have to “think about.”

Howard Kohr’s response was alarming — and a deflection at best. Ever since it announced its slate of 2022 endorsements, AIPAC has been under sustained criticism, even from many of its top supporters, regarding its decision to endorse and fundraise for 109 Republicans who voted to overturn the 2020 election results following the insurrection on Jan. 6.

Very few seem to buy the explanation that AIPAC is a “single issue organization” as an excuse for endorsing and fundraising for political candidates who threaten our democratic values (values which, by the way, AIPAC frequently cites as cornerstones of the shared foundations of the US-Israel relationship and the rationale for American aid to Israel.)
For the overwhelming majority of Democratic voters and Jewish Americans like myself — whose shared history bears the scars of what happens when a democracy is overthrown — there can be no excuse for supporting candidates who openly threaten democratic rights and freedoms.

There can be no excuse for fundraising for the likes of U.S. Rep. Scott Perry, who sought a pardon from Donald Trump after plotting to reject the results of the 2020 election. No excuse for fundraising for U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, who promotes the deadly, racist and antisemitic “Great Replacement” conspiracy theory — putting her in the company of leading white nationalists.

How does this tactic serve AIPAC’s stated mission of strengthening bipartisan support for Israel? Former head of the Anti-Defamation League Abe Foxman called the group’s approach a “sad mistake,” adding that “those who undermine America’s democracy undermine America, and a weak America will not be able to stand and support its ally Israel.”

As AIPAC’s pro-Israel, pro-peace alternative, J Street, has said repeatedly: You cannot claim to support a strong US-Israel relationship while attacking the shared democratic foundations of that relationship.

This tactic is also driving a wedge between AIPAC, Israel and the American Jewish community — especially younger American Jews. It’s a community that is overwhelmingly repelled by former President Trump, that understands the nature of the threat to our democracy, and that actually holds quite nuanced, principled views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

That division is further exacerbated by AIPAC’s decision to form a super PAC — the cynically titled United Democracy Project — in order to defeat a number of mainstream progressives who don’t share the group’s hawkish view on Israel and have been openly critical of settlements and indefinite occupation. The super PAC has spent over $20 million in Democratic primaries — including millions donated by Republican billionaires — to defeat candidates like Michigan Rep. Andy Levin.

Levin, a proud Jew and a self-described Zionist, committed the apparent “sin” of opposing settlements and supporting a two-state solution with too much conviction. It was enough to earn him $4 million in AIPAC super PAC spending aimed at defeating him, spending which was successful when he lost his race earlier this month.

Is this what we want for the future of pro-Israel politics? To align support for Israel with the darkest actors in U.S. politics and deceptive campaigns that totally lack transparency?
As many American Jews and Democrats have pointed out, surely a group that is supporting 109 pro-insurrectionist Republicans has no place telling Democrats whom to vote for, especially when they’re using money donated by Republican mega-donors to do it.

It’s long overdue for AIPAC’s CEO to “think about” the impact of the group’s actions. About whether it’s really in the interest of Israel’s future to be opposing mainstream pro-Israel, pro-peace Democrats while supporting far-right, anti-democratic Republicans. About the health of a bipartisan US-Israel relationship if anti-democratic, pro-settlement extremists are victorious in Israel, and anti-democratic, pro-conspiracy theorist extremists are victorious here.

In the meantime, perhaps the rest of us in the Jewish community and in the Democratic Party should think about whether AIPAC can be a welcome political actor among us if they continue to ignore the clear majority in our community who know there can be no excuse for supporting those who threaten our future.

Rabbi Seymour Rosenbloom is the former rabbi of Congregation Adath Jeshurun in Elkins Park. He is a member of J Street’s Rabbinic and Cantorial Cabinet and the co-chair of the Public Affairs Committee for J Street’s Philadelphia chapter.