Democrats toe a line on Israel as AIPAC’s grip on Congress starts to slip

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is experiencing a decline in its influence over the Democratic Party, as evidenced by recent House votes and primary election results. A symbolic House amendment to cut military aid to Israel saw 103 out of 211 Democrats vote in favor, a significant increase from previous years. This shift reflects growing Democratic voter sentiment, with a Pew Research Center survey indicating 80% of Democrats now hold an unfavorable view of Israel.

• Several progressive candidates who openly criticized Israel's actions in Gaza and opposed AIPAC-backed opponents have won Democratic primaries across the U.S.
• Even some Democratic leaders, like former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who voted for the aid cut, stated they did so to signal a need for a fundamental shift in U.S. policy toward Israel, asserting, "For the good of the Israeli people and the Palestinian people, it is clear that U.S. policy must change."
• This evolving dynamic suggests that for a growing segment of the Democratic electorate, opposition to AIPAC and Israel's policies is becoming an asset rather than a liability in campaigns.