Progressive Democratic candidates put US support for Israel under scrutiny

A group of progressive Democrats critical of Israel is approaching Tuesday's midterm elections with prospects of entering the House of Representatives, raising concerns in Israel about the durability of bipartisan American support. Their campaigns reflect widening disagreements within the Democratic Party over Gaza, military assistance and Washington's relationship with Israel.

The Jerusalem Post reported expectations that at least seven lawmakers could join the seven-member progressive group known as the Squad. Several candidates have accused Israel of genocide or advocated ending military assistance, while others support sanctions and boycotts. Their potential victories could strengthen positions already voiced by progressive members of Congress.

Among those expected to win is Brad Lander, a former New York City comptroller campaigning in New York's 10th congressional district with support from New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. Israeli troops recently detained Lander and approximately 60 activists during an olive harvest with Rabbis for Human Rights. The military said the activists had entered a closed military zone in Judea and Samaria.

Speaking to CBS News, Lander characterized what he said he witnessed in the West Bank as ethnic cleansing. When journalist Major Garrett questioned the basis for that accusation, Lander said his assessment came from direct observation. He also alleged that settlers had forced Palestinians from Jordan Valley villages, burning homes individually and leaving places that previously housed 1,500 people empty.

In Michigan's 13th congressional district, Donovan McKinney has characterized Israel's actions in Gaza as genocide and said he would favor ending American assistance if Israel were found to be committing genocide. McKinney said he reviewed the definition after the United Nations described the situation that way and reached the same conclusion himself.

Delia Avila-Chevalier, running in New York's 13th district, has criticized continued American funding and weapons supplies to Israel. She described feeling powerless while viewing images and names of Palestinians killed in Gaza after Israel's military response to the October 7 Hamas massacre. She argued that influencing how Washington spends taxpayers' money offered her a way to affect the conflict. Her activism includes Columbia University demonstrations and participation in a pro-Palestinian rally on October 8, 2023.

California candidate Angela Gonzales-Torres has endorsed ending US aid to Israel, imposing sanctions and a free Palestine. In a podcast interview, she presented stopping weapons transfers as a minimum requirement and said support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement should be a basic political position. Gonzales-Torres also participated in campus protests.

In New Jersey's 12th district, physician Adam Hamawy is expected to win a seat after making his wartime work in Gaza central to his campaign. He has repeatedly accused Israel of genocide and said his experiences convinced him that practicing medicine alone was insufficient. He described seeking a role in Washington to challenge the use of American taxpayers' money. Already in Congress, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has argued that unconditional assistance helped enable what she called genocide in Gaza.

For Israel, the implications extend beyond congressional votes on aid. The Jerusalem Post described concern that successful campaigns built around restricting assistance, sanctions or boycotts could pressure the next Democratic presidential nominee to adopt similar policies. The broader question is whether future Democratic leaders can sustain strong support for the US-Israel relationship while retaining an increasingly influential progressive electorate.