Anti-Israel wave sweeps New York Democratic primaries, signaling potential midterm shift

In a dramatic turn for American politics, anti-Israel sentiment has surged to become a decisive factor in New York City's Democratic primary elections for the U.S. House of Representatives. Three candidates who openly criticized Israel's war in Gaza and championed Palestinian rights secured victories on June 23, challenging established pro-Israel incumbents.

These winning candidates, publicly endorsed by New York City Mayor Eric Adams, centered their campaigns on strong criticism of U.S. foreign policy supporting Israel's actions in Gaza. This marks a significant departure from the traditional political landscape, particularly in New York, a city with a large Jewish population where pro-Israel and pro-Jewish stances were long considered prerequisites for electoral success. Now, an anti-Israel platform has become a potent force for winning elections.

Brad Lander, a former New York City Comptroller and an ally of Mayor Adams, decisively defeated incumbent Daniel Goldman in the 10th congressional district. Goldman, an heir to the Levi Strauss jeans fortune and a prominent Jewish figure, held a pro-Israel stance. In the 13th district, newcomer Jamaal Bowman ousted five-term Representative Adriano Espaillat. Bowman, a former activist who led protests at Columbia University during the Gaza conflict, ran on an anti-Israel platform. Meanwhile, in the 7th district, Queens and Brooklyn, Claire Valdez, a former New York State Assembly member, also won, having consistently condemned Israel's policies toward Palestinians.

The success of these candidates symbolizes a profound shift in the influence and standing of Israel and its lobbying efforts within American politics. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), a powerful pro-Israel lobby, has historically wielded significant influence, often campaigning against candidates critical of Israel. However, in this election, Espaillat, who received substantial support from AIPAC, lost to Bowman, an icon of anti-Israel activism. This suggests that strong pro-Israel endorsements may now be a liability, with candidates like Espaillat and Goldman facing sharp criticism from progressive voters for accepting donations from AIPAC.

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We can no longer continue to pay for Netanyahu's war with our taxes. Democratic voters are saying this louder and clearer.

Recent polling indicates a growing public disapproval of Israel, with 60% of American adults expressing unfavorable views in an April Pew Research poll, up from 53% the previous year. Among Democrats, this critical sentiment is even more pronounced, with 80% holding unfavorable views of Israel. This trend is also evident within the Jewish community, where anti-Israel voices are increasingly prominent. Lander, himself Jewish, proudly ran on a strong anti-Israel, pro-Palestine agenda. In his victory speech, he criticized President Biden's policy on the Gaza war as a "catastrophic mistake that makes us complicit in genocide" and declared, "We can no longer continue to pay for Netanyahu's war with our taxes." He asserted that "Democratic voters are saying this louder and clearer."

Progressive Jewish organizations actively supported these candidates. Beth Miller, political director of Jewish Voice for Peace Action, a leading anti-Israel group, stated, "Pro-Palestine won in New York City tonight," and advised, "The Democratic establishment had better pay attention." The Jewish progressive group Jews for Racial and Economic Justice, which backed Adams and Lander, framed the primary as "a fight for the future of the Democratic Party and the Jewish community," pitting "out-of-touch establishment politicians against a Jewish left that has a real vision for our community based on the dignity of all people."

The emergence of the anti-Israel agenda within the Democratic Party is poised to become a significant variable in American politics and the upcoming November midterm elections. While some fear this could lead to a Jewish exodus from the Democratic Party and a redirection of substantial Jewish political funding towards Republicans, others argue that any such departure would be minimal and outweighed by a stronger consolidation of progressive voters within the Democratic fold.

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Pro-Palestine won in New York City tonight. The Democratic establishment had better pay attention.