While a majority of Democrats support an immediate, permanent ceasefire in Gaza, and many are calling for the suspension of US military aid to Israel, NY-26 Congressional Candidate Tim Kennedy has accepted the endorsement of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), a right-wing organization that unconditionally supports the State of Israel's campaign to indiscriminately bomb and starve hundreds of thousands of innocent Palestinians. Kennedy has also accepted $17,196 in campaign contributions from AIPAC.

We call on Kennedy to reject AIPAC's endorsement and instead advocate for an immediate, permanent ceasefire, an end to Israel's blockade of desperately needed humanitarian aid to Gaza, and release of hostages. Kennedy should also oppose all US military aid to Israel as it carries out mass atrocities against civilians and supports violent settler expansion in the West Bank. 

According to AIPAC’s website, Kennedy “believe[s] any aid to Israel must remain free from any conditions not currently in law.” In fact, US military aid to Israel currently violates numerous US and international laws designed to prevent arms transfers to countries that openly violate human rights, including Israel. Yet AIPAC and their endorsed candidates continue to advocate for billions more for Israel's catastrophic siege on Gaza. 

AIPAC is also actively undermining the Democratic Party and its primary process through its dark money PAC, United Democracy Project (UDP). 9 out of 10 of UDP’s top donors are Republican billionaires who have also funded anti-abortion rights candidates, union-busting, and MAGA election deniers. AIPAC is injecting millions of dollars of this Republican dark money into Democratic primaries across the country in order to defeat Democratic candidates that question or challenge US support for the State of Israel. This is forcing progressive Democratic candidates, especially those who are people of color, to spend money in primaries that could be used in the general election against Republicans. 

Support from AIPAC is inconsistent with Kennedy's reputation as a progressive advocate for democracy, human rights, women’s rights, workers’ rights, justice, and peace. His ties to AIPAC implicate him in the human rights crimes of the Netanyahu government. As constituents in the NY-26 Congressional District, we call on Kennedy to #rejectAIPAC now.