Pro-Israel group forms team to challenge ‘Squad’ in 2024, posing existential threat
The ‘Squad’ Is Facing an ‘Existential Threat’ as Pro-Israel Group Assembles Team to Take Down Its Members in 2024
As the 2024 congressional campaign begins to gather steam, a powerful pro-Israel group is planning to wage a major battle against what it believes are vulnerable members of the coterie of far-left Democratic House members who label themselves “the squad.”
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee is planning to spend more than $100 million — almost four times its 2022 spending of $26 million, according to Politico.
Democratic Rep. Jamaal Bowman of New York is high on the list of targets, although it is unclear if solidly ensconced Democratic Rep. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts will be targeted.
Members of “the squad” — Pressley, Bowman and Democratic Reps. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Summer Lee of Pennsylvania and Cori Bush of Missouri — have been highly critical of American support for Israel in the aftermath of the Oct. 7 slaughter of Israelis by Hamas.
AIPAC spokesman Marshall Wittman said the group is “in the process of evaluating races involving detractors of Israel, but we have not yet made any decisions,” according to the Daily Beast.
“Our sole criteria in evaluating candidates is their position on the U.S.-Israel alliance. We will not only oppose detractors but also strongly support champions of the U.S.-Israel relationship,” Wittman said, adding that the group supports members of both parties.
Ocasio-Cortez views AIPAC as a threat.
“They take money from Republican donors, they pour it into Democratic primaries, they exclusively — virtually exclusively — target Democratic incumbents. And so my concern is less about the dilution of progressive power,” she said, adding that the Democratic Party needs to support “squad” members.
“But what I have concerns about is the rupture that this could represent in the Democratic Party and the hostility that it could involve if our party does not stand together against some of the most disruptive tactics that we’ve seen,” she said.
Ocasio-Cortez was continued, saying it would be “destabilizing” if Democratic leadership did not come to the defense of incumbents.
“These members are going to have to be defended by our party leadership, and they need to be defended as vociferously as incumbents that have been primaried from other elements of the party,” she said.
Coupled with the loss of fundraising through the liberal group Justice Democrats, Max Berger, a strategist who formerly worked at Justice Democrats, said “the squad” could be in trouble.
“I can’t tell how bad it’s going to get in terms of setbacks and losses,” Berger said. “There are a few races that are going to be very close or have reason to think will be challenging.”
Usamah Andrabi, communications director for Justice Democrats, called the AIPAC intervention “an existential threat to the power you’ve already built.”
Omar and Bush are already facing challengers while one for Tlaib could be waiting in the wings.
Bowman is considered vulnerable because his antagonism for Israel runs against the grain for his district’s Jewish community. Democrat George Latimer, the Westchester County Executive, is a potential AIPAC-backed challenger.
Slate noted that pro-Israel PACS have already started airing ads against Lee, Bowman, Bush, and Omar a year out from the election.
The post The ‘Squad’ Is Facing an ’Existential Threat’ as Pro-Israel Group Assembles Team to Take Down Its Members in 2024 appeared first on The Western Journal.
What potential consequences could arise from AIPAC’s influence in unseating squad members and its impact on the Democratic Party’s stance on Israel
Adership did not support squad members in the face of attacks from pro-Israel groups like AIPAC. She expressed concern that this could lead to division within the Democratic Party and undermine their ability to enact progressive policies.
The rift between the squad and AIPAC is not new. The squad members have been outspoken about their opposition to American support for Israel, particularly in light of the recent violence between Israel and Hamas. They have called for more accountability for Israeli actions and have been critical of what they see as unconditional support for Israel from the US government.
AIPAC, on the other hand, sees itself as a staunch defender of the US-Israel alliance. The group has a long history of supporting candidates who align with their views on Israel and has been successful in influencing US policy towards the Middle East. With their significant war chest, AIPAC poses a formidable threat to the squad members they have targeted.
The outcome of this battle between AIPAC and the squad remains to be seen. It will likely be a key test for the future of the Democratic Party and its commitment to progressive values. If the squad members are able to withstand AIPAC’s attacks and maintain their positions in Congress, it could signal a shift in the party’s stance on Israel. On the other hand, if AIPAC succeeds in unseating squad members, it may reinforce the perception that criticizing Israel carries significant political risk.
In any case, the clash between the squad and AIPAC highlights the ongoing debate within the Democratic Party over the US-Israel relationship. As the 2024 campaign heats up, it will be interesting to see how candidates position themselves on this issue and whether AIPAC’s increased spending will have the desired impact.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
