California Jews Reject AIPAC
Dear Senate Candidates Rep. Adam Schiff, Rep. Barbara Lee, Rep. Katie Porter, and U.S. House Candidates,
We write to you as American Jews in California committed to a just and thriving future for all people in the United States, Israel, and Palestine. We are gravely concerned about the recent rise of antisemitism and right-wing extremism in the United States, attacks on democracy both in the United States and in Israel, and the escalation of Israeli military and settler violence against Palestinians. We are writing to bring to your attention the role of the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) in promoting extremist leaders and dangerous policies in both the U.S. and Israel-Palestine. Although they claim to represent us, AIPAC does not speak for the American Jewish community. We ask that you commit to reject AIPAC’s endorsement and contributions.
As outlined below, AIPAC’s actions undermine U.S. democracy and encourage the oppression of Palestinians. Like the worst actors in our political system – the NRA, the fossil fuel lobby, and anti-abortion groups – AIPAC spends millions of dollars to further an antidemocratic agenda. As proud American Jews, we are writing to you to say that AIPAC’s values and agenda have no place in our communities or in our politics.
AIPAC harms American democracy by endorsing right-wing extremists: In 2022, AIPAC endorsed 109 Republican Members of Congress who voted to decertify the results of the 2020 election, some of whom have employed the antisemitic and racist “Great Replacement Theory.” Several have at every turn obstructed the functioning of the U.S. government and blocked policies that would enable everyone in this country to thrive.
AIPAC lobbies against Palestinian rights: AIPAC lobbies against bills in Congress that criticize Israel’s military occupation, illegal settlement expansion, and the destruction of countless Palestinian homes and communities. AIPAC blames Palestinians for their own oppression, and demands that their endorsees provide unconditional and unaccountable support to Israel. AIPAC has also made clear its support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right government as it pursues an authoritarian agenda meant to entrench permanent, unchecked military rule over millions of Palestinians and an attack on Israel’s judiciary. These are real and serious issues, and AIPAC fights against their free discussion in the United States Congress.
AIPAC undermines our shared future: In order to advance their extremist agenda, AIPAC’s Super PAC, the United Democracy Project, has spent millions to defeat progressive members of Congress who are fighting for our climate, healthcare, and racial justice. This included spending over $5 million to defeat Jewish Rep. Andy Levin, a former synagogue president, who introduced a bill to prevent U.S. aid to Israel from being used to further violations of Palestinian human rights. AIPAC’s vision of Jewish safety is zero-sum, reliant on alliances with dangerous nationalist, religious fundamentalist, and militant movements. We believe that Jewish safety relies on the safety and well-being of all others, including Palestinians. Our shared future depends on drastic climate action, universal access to healthcare, including reproductive care, racial justice, and the protection of LGBTQ+ rights. AIPAC’s agenda actively works against this vision. Those of us who are queer Jews, Jews of Color, working class Jews, or are otherwise marginalized find ourselves doubly under threat from AIPAC and its far-right allies.
Our Jewish and American values demand that we speak up and take action in defense of freedom, human rights, and communal well-being. We envision a thriving future for all people in the United States, Israel, and Palestine, where everyone enjoys equality, justice, and freedom. AIPAC has demonstrated time and again that it is actively opposed to these basic values and will pursue its Jewish safety at the expense of American and Israeli democracy, ironically making Jews less safe. We ask you to uphold these values by committing to reject AIPAC’s endorsement and contributions.
Signed,
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