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Op-Ed

Advocacy groups criticize

AIPAC 's recent endorsements

BY CHUCK TAUMAN beyond Israel-related issues.
Other organizations that support Israel,
AIPAC, the largest pro-Israel lobby in such as J Street, Democratic Majority for
Published biweekly by the United States, recently formed two Israel and Jewish Democratic Council of
Jewish Federation of Greater Portland political action committees to give finan- America, have pledged to not endorse can-
9900 SW Greenburg Road, Suite 220 cial support to partisan candidates. One of didates who support the “big lie.”
Tigard, OR 97223 these PACs released its first Congressional “AIPAC’s support for these candidates
503-245-6219 endorsements – 120 candidates, including endangers American democracy and un-
JewishPortland.org dozens of Republicans who voted against dermines the true interests and values of
certifying the 2020 presidential election
results. These endorsements were made millions of American Jews and pro-Israel
Editor despite warnings from Jewish community Americans who they often claim to repre-
sent,” said J Street’s national political di-
Deborah Moon leaders and former AIPAC officials that of- rector, Laura Birnbaum.
editor@jewishportland.org ficially entering the campaign fray endan- The CEO of Jewish Democratic Council
503-892-7404 (message) gers AIPAC’s declared political neutrality of America, Halie Soifer, added that “this
and bipartisanship.
One prominent endorsee on the list is Rep. shouldn’t be a tough call. We don’t have
Circulation Jim Jordan of Ohio, one of 37 AIPAC-en- to choose between our values, our de-
To receive the Jewish Review in your dorsed Republicans who voted against mocracy, our decency, what we know is
email inbox, email your name and email certifying the election of President Biden. right and support of the U.S.-Israel rela-
address to Rep. Jordan also refuses to testify before tionship.” She said that the overwhelming
editor@jewishportland.org the Congressional committee probing the majority of American Jews rejects this
Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol, despite false dichotomy. Former Anti-Defamation
OPINIONS printed in the Jewish Review evidence of his involvement in events lead- League chief Abe Foxman criticized the
do not necessarily reflect those of the ing up to the violence that day. Another en- endorsements as a “sad mistake,” adding
Jewish Review or the Jewish Federation dorsee, Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, that “those who undermine America’s de-
mocracy undermine America, and a weak
of Greater Portland. has compared Democrats to Nazis and has America will not be able to stand and sup-
promoted white supremacist conspiracies
of “population replacement.” port its ally, Israel.”
Despite criticism, AIPAC is standing The bottom line: for generations, AIPAC
Jewish Federation by its endorsements of these supposed and others have described Israel as “the
of Greater Portland online pro-Israel lawmakers regardless of their only democracy” in the Middle East – indi-
anti-democratic positions on other issues. cating that they understand the importance
Website: jewishportland.org of defending democracy. But how can AI-
As AIPAC spokesman Marshall Wittmann
Instagram: instagram.com/jewishfederationpdx/ said in a March 6 Haaretz article: “Unlike PAC claim to defend democracy when it
other groups which have ideological and endorses lawmakers who clearly don’t be-
Facebook: facebook.com/JewishPDX lieve in democracy? Financially supporting
partisan agendas, we are a single-issue or-
Jewish Review: jewishportland.org/jewishreview ganization that is focused on our mission those who opposed the peaceful transfer of
of building bipartisan support in Congress power in 2020 is shameful political pan-
dering. AIPAC owes its supporters a rea-
Next issues to strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship.” sonable explanation for its anti-democratic
According to Haaretz, former AIPAC
Executive Director Tom Dine and former positions, or face loss of support from Jews
who support democracy – both here and in
Issue date Deadline chief lobbyist Douglas Bloomfield stressed Israel.
the need to combat the perception that AI-
PAC has drifted toward the Republican Par-
March 30 March 24 ty. They warned against endorsing fringe Chuck Tauman is a member of the Greater
candidates from either party, underscoring Portland JStreet Chapter executive com-
April 13 April 7 the need to judge candidates by their record mittee.

April 27 April 13 (early)
OPINIONS printed in the Jewish Review do not
necessarily reflect those of the Jewish Review or
Submit news, photos and obit-
uaries to editor@jewishportland.org the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland.

12 Jewish Review March 16, 2022