DNC rejects resolution condemning influence of pro-Israel Aipac lobby

When it comes to addressing how the party should deal with Israel, the Democratic establishment went to their favorite answer: no thanks.

The Democratic National Committee’s resolutions committee voted on Thursday to kill a measure targeting the pro-Israel lobby group Aipac and deferred two further resolutions on Middle East policy to a working group that critics say exists mainly to avoid difficult decisions.

During a meeting in New Orleans, the party rejected a symbolic resolution to confront what its sponsors described as the outsized influence of dark money in Democratic primaries – singling out the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which spent approximately $14m in a single Illinois Democratic primary and has pumped tens of millions more into races across the country to block candidates critical of Israel.

The defeat, while anticipated, lands as a fresh blow to progressives who have grown increasingly furious at Aipac’s intervention in Democratic contests. Aipac has spent more than $221m in Democratic primaries since the 2022 midterms, and over $22m in Illinois alone last month, funneled partly through shell groups with names such as “Elect Chicago Women” whose ties to the pro-Israel lobby were only confirmed after votes had been cast.

In New Jersey in February, Aipac’s affiliated Super Pac spent more than $2m to defeat former congressman Tom Malinowski, though it backfired, with progressive activist Analilia Mejia, an outspoken critic of Israel, winning the primary instead.

The frustration runs deep, as rejecting Aipac’s support has become a defining issue in Democratic races, and polling consistently shows the party’s base has shifted sharply away from Israel since their decimation of Gaza began in 2023.

“Today’s vote once again showed that Democratic leadership is asleep at the wheel when it comes to one of the biggest existential threats to the party,” IMEU executive director Margaret DeReus said in a statement about the DNC’s decision. “Aipac’s extreme agenda for unconditional weapons funding to Israel is deeply out of step not just with most Democrats, but with the majority of the American people.”

Party leadership justified the outcome by pointing to a broader resolution condemning dark money that the committee passed separately, though an individual group was not named. DNC chair Ken Martin endorsed that approach on X, arguing the party should pursue a blanket rejection of outside money rather than target specific organizations.

“I have made my position on this clear from day one: We must end the influence of dark money in our politics and restore power back to the people,” he said.

Two further resolutions – one calling for recognition of a Palestinian state, another pushing the party to condition military aid to Israel – were referred to the DNC’s Middle East working group.

Florida Democrat Allison Minnerly, who sponsored the Aipac resolution, said the party’s base was owed more than procedural deflection.

“Democrats overwhelmingly want a party that stands for human rights and against increased conflict in the Middle East,” she said.