{"id":2228643,"date":"2024-04-23T21:52:03","date_gmt":"2024-04-24T01:52:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/squad-member-summer-lee-prevails-in-primary-that-drew-attention-to-anti-israel-views\/"},"modified":"2024-04-23T21:54:38","modified_gmt":"2024-04-24T01:54:38","slug":"squad-member-summer-lee-prevails-in-primary-that-drew-attention-to-anti-israel-views","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/squad-member-summer-lee-prevails-in-primary-that-drew-attention-to-anti-israel-views\/","title":{"rendered":"Squad&#8217; Member Summer Lee Wins Primary Highlighting Anti-Israel Stance"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fsquad-member-summer-lee-prevails-in-primary-that-drew-attention-to-anti-israel-views%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2228643&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The &#8216;Squad&#8217; member, Rep. Summer Lee, claimed victory in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/major-media-project-trump-winner-of-iowa-caucuses\/\" title=\"Trump declared winner of Iowa caucuses in major media project\">closely watched primary<\/a>, defeating pro-Israel candidate Bhavini Patel. Lee&#8217;s win, seen as a referendum on \u200dDemocrats&#8217; views of the Israel-Gaza conflict, faces \u2062criticism and puts pressure on Senator Bob Casey over his support. The\u200c <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-slammed-by-new-hampshire-secretary-of-state-for-decision-to-shun-voters\/\" title=\"NH secretary of state criticizes Biden for 'ignoring' voters.\">primary serves<\/a> as a precursor to upcoming challenges within the\u200b &#8216;Squad.&#8217; Rep. Summer Lee of the &#8216;Squad&#8217; secured a significant win in a closely monitored primary, prevailing \u2063over \u2062pro-Israel candidate Bhavini \u200dPatel. This \u2063victory is perceived as a reflection\u2062 of Democrats&#8217; stance on \u2063the Israel-Gaza\u2062 situation. Lee&#8217;s success triggers scrutiny and places Senator Bob Casey\u2064 under pressure regarding his endorsement.\u2062 The primary outcome foreshadows future tests for \u200dother &#8216;Squad&#8217; members.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>The anti-Israel &#8220;Squad&#8221; notched an early primary season victory on Tuesday after Rep. Summer Lee (D., Pa.) defeated pro-Israel progressive Bhavini Patel in one of the most closely watched contests of the primary election cycle.<\/p>\n<p>Lee led Patel, a councilwoman in the borough of Edgewood, Pa., 59 percent to 41 percent when the Associated Press called the contest. The freshman lawmaker will go on to face Republican businessman James Hayes in November.<\/p>\n<p>The race was seen by some as a referendum on Democrats&#8217; views of the Israel-Gaza war. Lee, one of Israel&#8217;s loudest critics in Congress, has accused the Jewish state of committing genocide in Gaza. She was one of the first members of Congress to call for an Israeli ceasefire, with no conditions for Hamas&#8217;s release of hostages.<\/p>\n<p>Critics of the &#8220;Squad&#8221; are likely to downplay the significance of Lee&#8217;s victory. Mark Mellman, the head of Democratic Majority for Israel, a group backing pro-Israel Democrats, recently said the Lee-Patel race was &#8220;not really a serious test&#8221; of the &#8220;Squad&#8217;s&#8221; position on Israel given that the &#8220;national pro-Israel community did not engage in this race.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Mellman&#8217;s group and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee stayed out of the Lee-Patel contest, spending heavily against other anti-Israel candidates.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;There will be tests yet to come,&#8221; Mellman <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/politics\/2024\/04\/23\/progressives-stare-down-primary-challengers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">told<\/a> the <em>Washington Post<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Those <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/exclusive-montana-ag-investigating-gofundme-for-removing-freedom-convoy-fundraiser\/\" title=\"EXCLUSIVE: Montana AG Investigating GoFundMe For Removing \u2018Freedom Convoy\u2019 Fundraiser\">tests include<\/a> the primary challenges against Lee&#8217;s fellow &#8220;Squad&#8221; members, Reps. Jamaal Bowman (N.Y.) and Cori Bush (Mo.), both of whom <a href=\"https:\/\/freebeacon.com\/democrats\/pro-israel-primary-challengers-outraise-and-outpoll-vulnerable-squad-members\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">trail their challengers<\/a> in fundraising and polling. Bowman trails his challenger, George Latimer, by 17 points in recent polls. Latimer outraised Bowman $2.2 million to $1.3 million in the first quarter this year. Bush is 22 points behind her challenger, Wesley Bell, who raised $954,000 to her $608,000 in the first quarter.<\/p>\n<p>By contrast, Lee outraised Patel by $2.3 million to $600,000, thanks in large part to an influx of out-of-state donations, many from anti-Israel activists. Nihad Awad, the executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), contributed $3,000 to her campaign. Osama Abu Irshaid, the head of American Muslims for Palestine, contributed $500, and Zainab Billoo, the head of CAIR&#8217;s San Francisco office, gave $350.<\/p>\n<p>The White House denounced Awad last year after the CAIR leader said he &#8220;was happy&#8221; that Hamas attacked Israel. Abu Irshaid and Billoo have extensive histories of praising Hamas and of making anti-Semitic remarks.<\/p>\n<p>Local Jewish leaders opposed Lee over what they called her &#8220;openly antisemitic&#8221; rhetoric. The rabbi at Tree of Life, the site of the worst anti-Semitic attack in U.S. history, was one of more than 40 Jewish leaders to sign a letter opposing Lee. The congresswoman&#8217;s district encompasses Tree of Life, where 11 parishioners were murdered in 2018.<\/p>\n<p>Though Lee&#8217;s victory provides a boost for the &#8220;Squad,&#8221; it creates a political headache for another Pennsylvania incumbent.\t<\/p>\n<p>Sen. Bob Casey (D.), who faces a tough reelection fight in November, has faced pressure to rescind his endorsement of Lee over her anti-Israel position. Casey, who won his uncontested primary on Tuesday, last week offered <a href=\"https:\/\/freebeacon.com\/democrats\/bob-casey-does-delicate-dance-with-besieged-squad-member-summer-lee\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a lukewarm endorsement<\/a> of Lee and told reporters that he and the congresswoman have &#8220;clear&#8221; policy differences.<\/p>\n<p>Casey did not immediately react to Lee&#8217;s primary victory.<\/p>\n<div>\n<p><strong>Published under:<\/strong> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/freebeacon.com\/tag\/anti-semitism\/\" title=\"View all posts in Anti-Semitism\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAnti-Semitism\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t, \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/freebeacon.com\/tag\/bob-casey\/\" title=\"View all posts in Bob Casey\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBob Casey\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t, \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/freebeacon.com\/tag\/cori-bush\/\" title=\"View all posts in Cori Bush\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCori Bush\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t, \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/freebeacon.com\/tag\/hamas\/\" title=\"View all posts in Hamas\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHamas\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t, \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/freebeacon.com\/tag\/israel\/\" title=\"View all posts in Israel\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIsrael\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t, \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/freebeacon.com\/tag\/jamaal-bowman\/\" title=\"View all posts in Jamaal Bowman\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJamaal Bowman\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t, \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/freebeacon.com\/tag\/pennsylvania\/\" title=\"View all posts in Pennsylvania\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPennsylvania\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t, \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/freebeacon.com\/tag\/pennsylvania-senate\/\" title=\"View all posts in Pennsylvania Senate\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPennsylvania Senate\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t, \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/freebeacon.com\/tag\/primary\/\" title=\"View all posts in Primary\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPrimary\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t, \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/freebeacon.com\/tag\/summer-lee\/\" title=\"View all posts in Summer Lee\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSummer Lee\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t, \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/freebeacon.com\/tag\/the-squad\/\" title=\"View all posts in The Squad\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe Squad\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In a closely watched primary, Rep. Summer Lee of the anti-Israel &#8216;Squad&#8217; triumphed over pro-Israel progressive Bhavini Patel. Lee, representing Pennsylvania, secured a notable victory with 59% of the votes compared to Patel&#8217;s 41%. The race garnered significant attention during this primary election cycle<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":155,"featured_media":2228644,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/freebeacon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Summer_Lee_campaigning_736x514.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[544],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2228643","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-free-beacon"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/freebeacon.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Summer_Lee_campaigning_736x514.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2228643","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/155"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2228643"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2228643\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2228644"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2228643"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2228643"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2228643"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}