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Dear editor:
At first glance, one would think that Bruce Ticker is right. AIPAC didn’t need to give so much financial support to the man running against Jamaal Bowman in the Democrat Party primary. (“How Not to Fight Antisemitism” Boulder Jewish News July 18, 2024) Bowman had been criticizing Israel ever since he took a J Street sponsored tour of “occupied” Hebron, had supported putting restrictions on US aid to Israel, had claimed that Israel was committing genocide in Gaza, and, most recently, had criticized Orthodox Jews in Westchester for living “segregated” lives.
https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/06/21/jamaal-bowman-israel-trip-reelection-00163788
Thus, it was highly likely that George Latimer, the popular Westchester County Executive Officer, would be able to replace Bowman as the Democrat Party’s nominee for the seat in the House of Representatives which has been held by Bowman since 2021, with or without AIPAC funding. Yet, likelihood is not certainty and AIPAC may have felt that was important to show support for a strong supporter of Israel and that, having seen such support given to a pro-Israel candidate, other such candidates would be encouraged to seek backing from AIPAC’s new federal and Super PACs, the mechanisms set up by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee to provide direct assistance to political candidates. Even before AIPAC was making direct contributions to candidates, AIPAC was a well-run lobbying group with a large donor base. The money spent on George Latimer’s campaign will not prevent AIPAC from funding other candidates via the Political Action Committees launched in 2021.
I am writing this letter on the day that President Biden has announced that he will not be seeking reelection. I am hoping that the November elections will lead to a return to Trump Administration policies (America being energy-independent, Iran rendered unable to fund its anti-Israel proxies, Israel being lauded for its amazing success in minimizing civilian casualties as it fights its just war against Hamas, the Abraham Accords being expanded so that Israel will have partners in its efforts to demilitarize Gaza and deradicalize the Palestinians.)
Toby F. Block
Atlanta, GA
