Airstrikes on Iran Roil Democratic Primaries in US
The joint US-Israel airstrikes on Iran are stirring up an internal Democratic Party debate on Israel policy, just as the primary election season begins. Politico reported that the military operation has pushed US-Israel relations to the center of national political discourse. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), a group spending heavily in the Democratic primaries, publicly praised President Donald Trump's decision to launch the airstrikes. This move has made the role of AIPAC and other pro-Israel lobbying groups a focal point of controversy within the party.
Saigon Sentinel Analysis
The Iran airstrikes have created a deeper rift within the Democratic Party – a division the party has tried to conceal for years. The progressive wing has long opposed military aid to Israel and criticized Tel Aviv's policies in the Gaza Strip. Now, with Trump ordering joint airstrikes with Israel, Democratic candidates must take a clear stance right in the primary season.
AIPAC is playing a shrewd game. The group spends millions of dollars to support candidates who are moderate on Israel and to defeat those who criticize Tel Aviv. AIPAC's immediate praise for Trump after the airstrike is a move to pressure Democratic candidates: Which side are you on?
Progressive candidates like Bernie Sanders or Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will condemn the airstrike, calling it a dangerous escalation. But more moderate figures, especially in states with large Jewish constituencies like New York or Florida, will be much more cautious. They don't want to lose funding from AIPAC, but they also don't want to alienate young voters – a group increasingly opposed to interventionist foreign policy.
Trump, despite being a Republican, benefits from this division. He can declare himself as "defending ally Israel" while the Democratic Party tears itself apart. AIPAC is no different – the organization doesn't care who wins the election, as long as that person supports Israel.
This year's primaries will be a test: will the Democratic Party dare to change its stance on Israel, or will it continue to concede to lobbying groups like AIPAC? The answer will