The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), which directly lobbies the United States Congress, plans on spending $100 million to take down representatives who will criticize Israel, fight for Palestinian human rights and call for a ceasefire – though most Americans already push for these.
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) called out the pro-Israel lobbying group over their reported plan saying: "Criticism of the Israeli gov is virtually nonexistent in U.S. politics, but apparently that's not enough," on X, formerly known as Twitter on Wednesday. "The acceptable level of dissent is 0."
Criticism of the Israeli gov is virtually nonexistent in US politics, but apparently that’s not enough.
Gotta spend *$100 million* to unseat the few who believe in Palestinian human rights & a ceasefire that most Americans already support.
The acceptable level of dissent is 0. https://t.co/fE4ftkNERq
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) November 15, 2023
AIPAC has already begun to back primary opponents to challenge Congressional members who are opposing Israeli military aid or criticizing Israel's government. During the last 10 days, they have launched ads in at least seven districts targeting those who have been particularly vocal in calling attention to the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. According to political writer Alex Sammon, Reps. Ocasio-Cortez (AOC), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Cori Bush (D-MO), Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), and Summer Lee (D-PA), who are "the most outspoken and unapologetically leftist contingent of the Democratic Party in national office," are among AIPAC's top targets.
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But recently Congressman Thomas Massie (R-KY) also announced he would not be voting to send billions of additional American taxpayer dollars to Israel on top of the billions we've already sent.
$88,000 of economic stimulus is flowing to my district this week!
I voted against sending $14+ billion of your money to a new war in the Middle East,
So lobbyists for Israel are running TV and radio ads against me.
They can pound sand. We are broke. Also, should this be legal? pic.twitter.com/DzcLzx4Zar
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) November 11, 2023
He believes, though, that the group won't fight him on this, "I don't think [the pro-Israel] lobby can beat me, and they definitely can't beat me with this topic," said the Massie, referring to his recent vote against military aid for Israel. "The price of defending apartheid keeps going up," quipped Palestinian-American writer and political analyst Yousef Munayyer in response to said news.
Meanwhile, Sammon noted that a recent Data for Progress poll found that two-thirds of U.S. voters, including 80 percent of Democrats, also back a ceasefire. It said that 66 percent of likely voters agree that "the U.S. should call for a ceasefire and de-escalation of violence in Gaza" and "leverage its close diplomatic relationship with Israel to prevent further violence and civilian deaths."
NEW POLL: 66% of likely voters agree that the U.S. should call for a ceasefire and de-escalation of violence in Gaza to prevent civilian deaths.https://t.co/Mh9xsLGJHX pic.twitter.com/xtdeTgXhHk
— Data for Progress (@DataProgress) October 20, 2023
Jewish-American group IfNotNow, which has helped organize major demonstrations in support of a ceasefire this week, said in response to the survey that "it's past time for our political leaders to listen to their constituents and put a stop to this violence."
Last month, more than 260 former staffers from Sen. Elizabeth Warren's (D-MA) 2020 presidential campaign released an open letter imploring the senator to "demand an immediate ceasefire and the return of Israeli hostages, and take concrete steps to end Israeli occupation." "In its attacks against Palestinians in Gaza, Israel has demonstrated a brazen disregard for human life, with some officials going as far as to make their genocidal intent public, and has broken international law repeatedly," the letter read.
AOC: AIPAC is racist and bigoted
The far-left congresswoman called AIPAC a "racist and bigoted organization" after she and her allies in the so-called "Squad" voted against a House resolution last week affirming U.S. support for the Jewish state and condemning the Hamas terror group.
Newly elected House Speaker Mike Johnson in October confirmed to take up the said Israel aid bill. Massie was the sole Republican to vote against the measure last week, joining 15 Democrats who either voted "Nay" or "Present."
"AIPAC endorsed scores of Jan 6th insurrectionists. They are no friend to American democracy," AOC said in a separate post on X. "They are one of the more racist and bigoted PACs in Congress as well, who disproportionately target members of color. They are an extremist organization that destabilizes U.S. democracy."
Meanwhile, AIPAC responded the following morning with: "More of the same tired lies & spin. @AOC and the Squad summed up: People who disagree with us are racist. AIPAC stands with pro-Israel Democrats and Republicans of all races, genders, and backgrounds who support the U.S.-Israel alliance. And we oppose those who don’t, like you." (Related: Republicans call for TikTok ban due to pro-Palestine content surpassing views of pro-Israel posts.)
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