A major shift in U.S. political dynamics is unfolding as the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) abandons its long-standing practice of endorsing candidates and making direct contributions, signaling a retreat from its once-unquestioned influence. The move reflects growing unease among politicians about openly aligning with Israel amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, where public sentiment has turned sharply against the issue. Critics have seized on the decision as evidence of how deeply the war has reshaped political calculations, forcing candidates to reconsider their traditional support for pro-Israel positions. The reversal highlights a broader realignment in American foreign policy priorities and the challenges of maintaining bipartisan backing for Middle East policy.
‘Political candidates’ once reflexive support for Israel has increasingly become a liability’When the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the most prominent pro-Israel lobby group in the US, announced on Wednesday that it would stop endorsing candidates or make direct contributions to them, its many critics were quick to hail the development as Aipac’s admission of how toxic its brand had become.The announcement marked a significant reversal that underscored just how profoundly US public opinion of Israel has shifted over the latest war in Gaza, and how political candidates’ once reflexive support for Israel has increasingly become a liability. Continue reading...
