Israel faces growing opposition in Congress as progressive Democrats seek House seats

A group of progressive Democratic candidates who have sharply criticized Israel, with some calling its Gaza campaign a genocide and demanding an end to US military aid, is poised to enter the House of Representatives after the midterm elections, raising concerns in Israel about the future of bipartisan support for the Jewish state.

Ahead of Tuesday's midterm elections, a growing group of progressive Democratic candidates who have sharply criticized Israel, called its military campaign in Gaza a genocide, and demanded an end to US military assistance is poised to enter the House of Representatives, raising concerns in Israel about the future of bipartisan support for the Jewish state. The potential arrival of these lawmakers comes as the Democratic Party continues to grapple with deepening divisions over Israel, particularly following the war in Gaza. Among the prominent candidates is Brad Lander, a former New York City comptroller running in New York's 10th congressional district, who was detained by the IDF while participating in an olive harvest and has described what he witnessed in the West Bank as 'ethnic cleansing.' Other candidates include Donovan McKinney in Michigan, who described Israel's actions as genocide; Delia Avila-Chevalier in New York, who criticized US funding of Israel; Angela Gonzales-Torres in California, who called BDS the 'bare minimum'; and Dr. Adam Hamawy in New Jersey, who worked in Gaza and accused Israel of genocide. The article notes that the larger concern is the political message these candidates could send to the next generation of Democratic leadership, particularly as the party positions itself for the next presidential election.