"Shontel is a national symbol of a central truth that you can be both progressive and pro-Israel. The notion that you cannot be both is a vicious lie that should and must be finally put to rest." – Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY)
Last Tuesday night in Ohio, pro-Israel incumbent Congresswoman Shontel Brown handedly defeated her opponent, Nina Turner.
On the surface, an incumbent winning her primary with 66 percent of the vote may not be a major story. But this race was significant for the pro-Israel community.
Shontel Brown is a strong, passionate, pro-Israel progressive backed by President Biden, the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
Nina Turner is an anti-Israel challenger endorsed by Bernie Sanders and AOC.
Together we helped Shontel Brown prevail by employing all three legs of our new political strategy: The AIPAC PAC supported her, AIPAC members contributed directly to her campaign through the AIPAC PAC Portal, and United Democracy Project—a new Super PAC backed by AIPAC—independently ran ads educating voters about Rep. Brown and Nina Turner.
The Ohio-11 primary became a battle of Democratic principles—a fight of mainstream versus radical, Democratic party values versus those of far-left extremists—and, for our cause, pro-Israel versus anti-Israel.
This race is one of several critical Democratic primary races playing out across the country where pro-Israel candidates face anti-Israel challengers.
In eight days, voters in Pennsylvania and North Carolina will head to the polls, and we are deploying every political tool available to us to help Steve Irwin defeat anti-Israel Summer Lee, Don Davis defeat anti-Israel Erica Smith, and Valerie Foushee defeat anti-Israel Nida Allam.
Notably, just as Shontel Brown was backed by AIPAC and key leaders in the Democratic party, we are joined in our support of these candidates by mainstream Democrats. For example, Steve Irwin has been endorsed by major labor unions in his district, and both Don Davis and Valerie Foushee are endorsed by the former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, GK Butterfield.
In the coming months, we will be highlighting more campaigns that feature pro-Israel candidates versus anti-Israel candidates.
Winning Democratic primary races in overwhelming Democratic districts won’t change the partisan makeup of Congress, but it will determine whether more pro-Israel Democrats, or anti-Israel Democrats, are elected.
It will determine whether today’s small but potent anti-Israel Squad grows to become a sizable anti-Israel caucus.
It will determine whether there are more in Congress like Reps. Ritchie Torres and Shontel Brown—principled pro-Israel progressives willing to fight to strengthen America’s partnership with Israel—or more like Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Rashida Tlaib who actively work to undermine it.
We will not be passive as the future of the U.S.-Israel relationship is on the table. This is the political battle that will define our ability to keep Israel safe and strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship.
As with any political fight, we can expect anti-Israel candidates and the organizations that support them—including some organizations that masquerade as pro-Israel—to respond strongly against us.
Sen. Sanders accused us of deliberately targeting women of color, despite the fact that Shontel Brown is an African American woman.
Summer Lee—the anti-Israel candidate in Pennsylvania backed by J Street—singled out AIPAC as trying to "buy an election."
The attacks on us will continue, but our conviction will only grow stronger.
This fight is imperative for Israel’s security and the future of the U.S.-Israel relationship, and we intend to win it.
Events this Week
Israeli Politics and the Impact of the Abraham Accords: A Conversation with MK Ruth Wasserman Lande
Ruth Wasserman Lande is a member of Knesset, representing the Blue and White party. She is also an active member of the Internal Security Committee and the Foreign Policy and Security Committee, as well as the co-chair of the Abraham Accords Caucus. She focuses on mitigating crime and violence in Israeli-Arab neighborhoods and strengthening the relationships in Israeli-Arab cities.
Israeli Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates Amir Hayek joins AIPAC to discuss his role as Israel's first ambassador to the UAE following the signing of the Abraham Accords.
Ambassador Hayek reflects on what the Abraham Accords have accomplished thus far, the new era he has been a part of, and his vision for the future of the region.
Greece's Ambassador to the U.S. Alexandra Papadopoulou joins AIPAC to discuss the U.S.-Israel-Greece trilateral relationship.
Ambassador Papadopoulou dives into the shared history between the three countries and how the strategic relationship also benefits the broader Mediterranean region.
Wesley Hunt, the Republican nominee for the Texas-38 House seat, sits down with AIPAC to discuss his support for Israel, his trips to the Jewish state and the threat from Iran, as well as his upbringing in Texas and his military background.
Wesley Hunt is an AIPAC PAC Featured Candidate. Given the heavily-Republican makeup of the district, Hunt is all but assured to be elected to a full term in November.
"The policeman acted with great courage and determination...I am convinced that a much more severe a dangerous attack was avoided here," said Sami Marciano, Brigadier General of Israel's police force, moments after the attack.
Israeli app Sency uses artificial intelligence to help you stay in shape
VIDEO • May 9, 2022
Sency is an Israeli startup that leverages AI, computer vision, and mobile technologies to target ways to "improve human body conditions," says the company’s CEO and co-founder Gal Rotman.
The Tel Aviv-based firm provides ways to better the user’s activity levels, physical well-being, health, and balance, after Sency’s tech gets to know the person by tracking and charting his or her movements in real-time. The tracking is done via the use of a smartphone camera.
Yom Ha'atzmaut special, plus food phenom Eitan Bernath
PODCAST • The Jerusalem Post
Yaakov and Lahav are joined by Jerusalem Post analyst Herb Keinon and military correspondent Anna Ahronheim to discuss Israel's achievements and the challenges ahead, with a debate on fireworks: Triggering or fun?
Plus, TikTok and "Drew Barrymore Show" foodie Eitan Bernath talks about his new cookbook and being a proud Jew with a major following.
The mission of AIPAC is to encourage and persuade the U.S. government to enact specific policies that create a strong, enduring and mutually beneficial relationship with our ally Israel.
