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U.S. Israel lobby spends $30 million to unseat pro-Palestinian Democrat
๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ฎ Finland /Elections & Politics

U.S. Israel lobby spends $30 million to unseat pro-Palestinian Democrat

From Helsingin Sanomat · () Finnish

Translated from Finnish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • The influential "Israel lobby" in the U.S. has spent nearly $30 million on a primary election in Michigan to unseat a pro-Palestinian Democrat.
  • The spending by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is the largest single election investment in the group's history.
  • The race is seen as a referendum on American support for Israel and AIPAC's influence within the Democratic Party, with polls showing a tight contest.

The powerful "Israel lobby" in the United States has poured nearly $30 million into a Michigan primary election, aiming to defeat a pro-Palestinian Democratic candidate. This unprecedented spending by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and its affiliated groups marks the largest single election investment in the organization's history.

The race in Michigan is drawing significant attention as it could influence the balance of power in the U.S. Senate following the November congressional elections. While the Democratic Party is expected to maintain control of the House of Representatives, the Senate remains a tight contest, with this particular race in Michigan being closely watched.

What does AIPAC want? To send your tax dollars to a genocidal foreign government.

โ€” Abdul El-Sayedduring a campaign event, as quoted by Haaretz

AIPAC is actively opposing Abdul El-Sayed, an epidemiologist and Muslim American who has criticized Israel's actions in Gaza as genocide and called for an end to U.S. military aid to Israel, labeling it a "rogue state." His opponent, U.S. Representative Haley Stevens, has pledged unwavering support for Israel. El-Sayed, in turn, has accused AIPAC of wanting to send U.S. taxpayer money to a "genocidal foreign government."

Recent polls indicate that El-Sayed is leading Stevens by over 10 percentage points, despite significant investment in Stevens's campaign. The contest is being described by some Israeli media as a "referendum" on American attitudes toward Israel and AIPAC's sway within the Democratic Party. A recent poll found that a majority of Democratic voters view Israel's war in Gaza as genocide, highlighting the potentially divisive nature of the issue for the party.

he would not recognize Israel's right to exist as a state

โ€” Haley Stevensaccusing her opponent El-Sayed of not recognizing Israel's right to exist
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Helsingin Sanomat in Finnish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.