Ties to Israel plague Democrats in top primaries post-Gaza

Democratic Candidates Face Scrutiny Over Ties to Israel Amid Growing Discontent

In the wake of a prolonged and devastating conflict in Gaza, Israel’s standing among many Democratic voters has taken a nosedive. This decline in popularity has led candidates in key primaries to exploit even the slightest associations with Israeli political figures as fodder for attacking their opponents.

Take, for example, a Democratic operative from Illinois who unearthed a 2019 visit by Senate hopeful Juliana Stratton to Israel, where she met Tzipi Livni, a prominent critic of Prime Minister Netanyahu. This operative, wishing to remain anonymous for fear of political retribution, even invoked a long-standing arrest warrant issued by a British court related to the Gaza conflict that began in December 2008. One of Stratton’s rivals has publicly condemned her trip, questioning its implications for her leadership.

Livni is notably a left-leaning figure in Israeli politics and has been an ardent supporter of a Palestinian state existing alongside a secure Israel. Despite her advocacy for a two-state solution, recent polls indicate that support for this concept among Israelis has plummeted. Livni has engaged in discussions with several Democratic luminaries, including Joe Biden in 2010, Barack Obama in 2013, and a congressional delegation led by Nancy Pelosi in 2018.

Yet, Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.), one of Stratton’s challengers in the Illinois Senate primary, has raised alarms over the implications of Stratton’s meeting with Livni. “Illinois voters value judgment,” Kelly stated in a POLITICO interview regarding Stratton’s connection. “Juliana Stratton owes them an explanation.” In an attempt to solidify her progressive credentials, Kelly has also emphasized her stance against injustices, claiming, “I’m the only candidate to call the events in Gaza a genocide, reject AIPAC funding, and turn down contributions from ICE contractors.”

Interestingly, Kelly’s position on Israel has shifted since she entered the Senate race in May. Both she and Stratton, who has the backing of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, are contending against Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.), currently leading the primary race set for March 17. Notably, just under a year ago, Kelly accepted funds from AIPAC, a pro-Israel lobby, and has visited Israel multiple times as part of congressional delegations. She recently declared she would no longer accept AIPAC contributions.

As the conflict with Iran escalates, any association with Israel could become a hot-button topic across campaigns nationwide. Following recent military actions involving the U.S. and Israel, all three candidates promptly condemned these operations, attributing them to what they deemed an overreach by Trump, executed without congressional approval. This has raised concerns among some Democrats about the potential for another extended war in the Middle East.

A Gallup poll released recently unveiled a significant shift in Democratic sympathies, revealing that approximately two-thirds of Democrats now express greater sympathy for Palestinians, while only around 20% identify with Israelis. This represents a stark decline from 2016, when half of Democrats were pro-Israel. Furthermore, nearly 50% of Democrats hold an unfavorable view of the Israeli populace, as noted in a Pew Research poll conducted in September.

Stratton is not alone in facing scrutiny for her ties to Israel; similar criticisms have emerged in the Michigan Senate race, where Abdul El-Sayed has attacked Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) for her vocal support of Israel. Protests have occurred outside her office in response to her AIPAC donations. Meanwhile, Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), facing a Senate primary soon, has had to defend her vote to fund defensive weaponry for Israel.

Stratton, who currently serves as Illinois’ lieutenant governor, participated in the “2019 Influential Women in Leadership Delegation,” a program organized by the America-Israel Friendship League and the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Video footage from the organization captures her meeting with Livni, a former vice prime minister and foreign affairs minister.

In a historical footnote, a British court issued an arrest warrant for Livni in 2009 over allegations of war crimes during Operation Cast Lead, a conflict that resulted in significant civilian casualties in Gaza. The warrant was later dropped when it was revealed that she was not present in the U.K. at the time, and the British government subsequently apologized.

Livni has expressed pride in her decisions during Operation Cast Lead, asserting that the conflict accomplished its objectives of safeguarding Israel and re-establishing its deterrent capability against Hamas rocket attacks.

Despite Israel not being a central campaign topic just yet, Stratton recently expressed a desire to “see the suffering end” in the region and called for Netanyahu’s resignation during a debate. When questioned about her trip, a Stratton campaign spokesperson clarified that the meeting with Livni was part of a larger delegation trip focused on promoting female leadership, emphasizing that Stratton did not arrange the meeting independently and was one of many participants. The spokesperson reiterated her commitment to a two-state solution and her aspiration for lasting peace in the region.

This report first appeared in Illinois Playbook. Sign up to receive it in your inbox every weekday.