(StraightNews.org) – A group backing left-wing Democratic lawmakers organized an event in Congress to demand conditions be placed on US aid to Israel. Our Revolution, founded by Independent Senator Bernie Sanders, welcomed Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal of Washington and controversial left-wing Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and New York’s Jamaal Bowman.
A press release from Our Revolution stated that it intends to challenge the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), which has criticized Congress members for not supporting Israel’s military action against Hamas and promised to provide funding for candidates who back the Israeli government.
Our Revolution plans to support contenders who have called for a permanent ceasefire and an end to the ongoing Middle East conflict.
AIPAC responded to news of the event, saying it was proud to help pro-Israel candidates and that it would not be “deterred by an extremist, anti-Israel fringe.”
One of the group’s targets is New York Rep. Jamaal Bowman, and AIPAC has given $600,000 to his competitor, George Latimer. Bowman was among 14 lawmakers who did not vote to condemn Iran’s recent aerial attack on the Jewish state, saying it fanned “the flames of war.”
Federal Election Committee documents in April revealed that Rep. Bowman is now trailing his competitor in funding terms, raising $1.3 million, compared to Mr. Latimer’s $2.2 million. Part of Latimer’s campaign hones in on Bowman’s approach to Israel, and he also slammed his fellow Democrat for voting “with MAGA Republicans against President Biden’s infrastructure bill.”
AIPAC has furthermore set its sights on Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, who has faced accusations of antisemitism and anti-Americanism throughout her Congressional career. The organization was accused of Islamophobia after running a series of ads claiming that Omar sees no difference between America and the Taliban, Israel and Hamas, or democracy and terrorism.
The ads referenced a tweet the Congresswoman posted in 2021. She wrote that the world has seen “unthinkable atrocities committed by the US, Hamas, Israel, Afghanistan, and the Taliban.”
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