AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, has recently conducted its second poll of the year, focusing on potential candidates to challenge members of Congress who have spoken out against Israel’s actions in Gaza. The poll has sparked speculation that AIPAC may be considering backing a primary challenger to Representative Summer Lee, who has been a vocal critic of Israel’s policies.
The poll, which was conducted among registered voters in Pennsylvania’s 34th district, where Lee serves, asked participants to choose between Lee and a hypothetical challenger who had the backing of AIPAC. The results showed that Lee would face a tough race, with the challenger receiving a significant amount of support from those polled.
This is not the first time AIPAC has shown interest in challenging Lee. Back in 2018, when Lee was running for office, AIPAC sent out a mailer to voters in her district, attacking her for her support of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which aims to put economic pressure on Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian territories. The mailer was widely criticized for its misleading and fear-mongering tactics.
Now, with the recent poll, it seems that AIPAC is once again testing the waters to see if they can successfully unseat Lee. This move by AIPAC has been met with backlash from those who see it as an attempt to silence criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Lee, who is the first African American woman to represent her district, has been a strong advocate for social and economic justice. She has also been a vocal supporter of Palestinian rights, which has earned her the ire of pro-Israel groups like AIPAC.
But Lee is not backing down. In response to the poll, she stated, “I will not be intimidated by AIPAC or any other group. I will continue to speak out against injustice and stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people.”
Lee’s stance on Israel’s actions in Gaza is not unfounded. In May of this year, Israel launched a brutal military campaign in Gaza, killing over 250 Palestinians, including 66 children. The bombardment also destroyed vital infrastructure, leaving thousands of Palestinians without access to clean water, electricity, and medical care.
Many have called Israel’s actions in Gaza a genocide, and Lee has been one of the few members of Congress to use this term to describe the situation. This has made her a target for pro-Israel groups like AIPAC, who have a long history of silencing critics of Israel’s policies.
But AIPAC’s tactics have not gone unnoticed. The Intercept, a progressive news outlet, has been closely following AIPAC’s actions and has raised questions about their involvement in local elections.
In a recent article, The Intercept questioned whether AIPAC was behind the recent poll and if they were actively seeking a challenger to Lee. The article also highlighted AIPAC’s history of targeting progressive candidates who support Palestinian rights.
It’s not surprising that AIPAC would view Lee as a threat. Her progressive values and strong stance on Palestinian rights are in direct opposition to AIPAC’s agenda, which is to maintain unwavering support for Israel, regardless of its actions.
But AIPAC’s attempt to unseat Lee is not just an attack on her; it’s an attack on democracy. By attempting to influence local elections and silence dissenting voices, AIPAC is undermining the very foundation of our democracy.
It’s time for AIPAC to be held accountable for its actions. The organization, which claims to be a bipartisan group, must stop using its influence to intimidate and silence those who speak out against Israel’s human rights abuses. We cannot allow AIPAC to dictate who gets to hold public office and who gets to speak out against injustice.
Representative Summer Lee is a strong and courageous leader who stands up for what is right, even in the face of powerful and well-funded opponents. She deserves our support and admiration for her unwavering commitment to social and economic justice.
It’s time for us to stand with Lee and all those who are speaking out against Israel’s actions in Gaza. We must reject AIPAC’s attempts to silence criticism and continue to fight for justice and equality for all people, regardless of their nationality or religion. Let’s send a clear message to AIPAC that their tactics will not work, and we will not be silenced.
