Aipac’s brand has become toxic. Can its ‘pro-Israel, pro-peace’ rival J Street move in?

J Street, a “pro-Israel, pro-peace, pro-democracy” advocacy organization, is gaining traction within the Democratic establishment as its rival, Aipac, faces increasing toxicity, especially since October 7, 2023. J Street, which supports a two-state solution and opposes Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, has seen a 50% staff increase and doubled its budget and donor base in the last five years, raising $1.3 million in June—its largest monthly haul ever. Vice-president Tali deGroot stated, “J Street is ridiculously committed to transparency,” only raising money for publicly affiliated candidates. While some J Street-endorsed candidates have won, others have been defeated by more pro-Palestinian challengers, indicating a potential disconnect with a Democratic electorate that is rapidly moving left on Israel. Despite this, J Street founder Jeremy Ben-Ami views the progressive wave as an “epic” moment of change, offering a chance to redefine US-Israel relations.