March 24, 2024
Scott J. Lawson
I’m a Conservative that wants to see justice prevail with a two-state solution regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict. I also happen to live in Michigan’s new 11th Congressional District, which heavily favors Democrats. So while political reality forces me to “embrace the suck” while living with a Congressional Representative that embodies the polar opposite of my ideological beliefs, insult was added to injury in 2022 when outside pro-hardliner Israeli groups spent millions of dollars promoting the Democrat candidate least likely to challenge the status quo and actually do anything to bring about a viable solution to the Palestine/Israel conflict.
Now that Israel’s offensive in Gaza in response to Hamas’ October 7th attack is bringing the issue of Palestine/Israel relations back front and center in the American consciousness, we should consider what role the Israel Lobby plays in helping shape American attitudes and political clout in the Congress and beyond. One of the more interesting results of the August 2, 2022 Michigan primaries was what occurred in the 11th Congressional District race on the Democrat side. I detailed that result in this article at the time.
In the aforementioned race, Haley Stevens surprisingly defeated Andy Levin for the Democrat candidacy to represent the newly drawn Michigan 11th Congressional District. Levin, who was among the most progressive members of the House of Representatives at the time, had tons of name recognition in the district as a member of a political family that has had a member in Congress longer than many Michigan voters have been alive. He had many powerful endorsements and other advantages over Stevens, a relatively new member of the House.
Some pundits labeled Stevens as more of a moderate, however the difference was rather small. Progressive outlet progressivepunch.org which tracks the voting records of Congressional members and rates them on how well they match progressive goals, had Levin labeled with a 99.65% overall progressive score and an “A” rating while Stevens, also a sitting Congresswoman at the time, sat at a 95.5% overall progressive score with an “A” rating.
Why was this race interesting? Other than the fact that a legacy candidate was defeated by a less-experienced challenger, this race was seen as heavily influenced by outside money. Specifically, millions of dollars from the pro-Israel lobby, including AIPAC, was poured in to support Stevens due to perceived hostility to the interests of Israel on the part of Levin, who is Jewish himself. This quote from a Times of Israel article details part of the reason why:
Levin, who was backed by J Street, the liberal pro-Israel lobby, is vocally critical of Israel and authored a “Two-State Solution Act” this session that would restrict how Israel could use US aid, has been in AIPAC’s crosshairs. AIPAC’s former director David Victor, a Detroit resident, called Levin “arguably the most corrosive member of Congress to the US-Israel relationship.” He also said in a letter to prospective donors in January that “less engaged Democratic colleagues may take [Levin] at his word” on Israel because of his Jewish credentials.
Money talks. If a Jewish member of Congress, that is part of a Jewish political dynasty, that is tailor-made for the district he is trying to represent, can be taken out over a difference of opinion on what is best for Israel via massive funding of his opposition, then the same can potentially happen to anyone else on any other issue- no matter how obscure. Former AIPAC Director David Victor (quoted above) sent out an email that was later posted on Twitter labeling Congressman Levin as “at the vanguard of the threat” to US/Israeli relations. Apparently no dissent or calls for accountability will be tolerated.
The Israel Lobby has received what they paid for with Haley Stevens. Her position on US/Israeli relations is about as standard as it gets. Her response to the current conflict too has been overwhelmingly compatible with the preferred positions of the more hardline Israel Lobby and the government of Israel. Perhaps more importantly, it is what she will not say and do that counts. Unlike some of her Democrat counterparts, including her former rival Congressman Andy Levin, Congresswoman Stevens will not whisper a hint of criticism regarding Israel or their actions in the current war, nor is she willing to lift a finger to actually promote the conditions necessary to bring about the two-state solution she pays lip service to in her policy positions page regarding the Israeli-Palestine Conflict. This is her position on US/Israel relations from her website;
U.S. Israel Partnership
“Chief among my priorities are safety and security, both here in the U.S. and abroad, and I believe that our strong and enduring partnership with the State of Israel is a cornerstone of maintaining these goals. The United States and Israel have maintained a steadfast partnership for over seven decades, bound by our shared commitment to common values. The U.S.-Israel partnership is one that must continue to thrive – and importantly, cannot become a partisan issue. I stand firm in my commitment to the U.S.-Israel alliance and will continue working in Congress to support policies that strengthen our strategic alliance. I had the opportunity to visit Israel for the first time in 2019, where I experienced its deep history, cultures, and natural beauty. I was also able to learn more about the innovative technologies Israel has created that Americans depend upon for agriculture, energy, healthcare, commerce, transportation, and national security, among many others. I look forward to finding new ways to develop strategic plans to build on these technological successes. I stand alongside Israel against the BDS movement, which seeks to undermine Israel’s economy and legitimacy. Its main goal is to delegitimize Israel’s existence and inflame tensions in communities and on college campuses, which undermines the prospects for peace. At a time when anti-Israel boycotts are prevalent around the country and globe, and the Anti-Defamation League is reporting a dramatic uptick in anti-Semitic hate crimes, it is now more important than ever to stand beside Israel and oppose state-sponsored BDS. I believe in Israel’s fundamental right to self-defense. As the only democracy in the Middle East and our strongest ally in the region, Israel’s safety is paramount to our interests at home and abroad. Congress must continue to unconditionally support critical programs that help Israel upgrade its fleets in air, land, and sea, enhance the mobility of its ground forces, and continue to strengthen its missile defense capabilities. The landmark Memorandum of Understanding reached under the Obama Administration provided Israel with robust funding to accomplish these goals, and I will continue to support funding from this historic agreement, as I have each year. We must prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon and further destabilizing the region. Diplomacy must be the first option and is the best solution but all options must remain on the table. I believe in the worth and value of every Palestinian and every Israeli and will work to support a negotiated solution resulting in two states—a democratic Jewish State of Israel, and a viable, democratic Palestinian state—living side-by-side in peace, security, and mutual recognition. This peace process should be settled by the parties directly.”
I wrote Congresswoman Stevens a letter on January 22, 2024 in an attempt to gain clarity on some of her positions, specifically regarding her supposed support for Palestinian rights and a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. From the letter;
“I have reviewed your published general policy positions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, your actions taken regarding past legislation related to Israel and Palestine, as well as your social media posts since the October 7th, 2023 Hamas attacks that reignited offensive hostilities and led to the current destruction in Gaza by the IDF. I am writing an article about the US-Israel-Palestinian relationship and I must request clarification from you and your office on a few issues. I noticed in the 117th Congress you did not co-sponsor HR 5344, the Two-State Solution Act, which was sponsored by Congressman Andy Levin. On your campaign website, in the foreign affairs section, it states, “I believe in the worth and value of every Palestinian and every Israeli and will work to support a negotiated solution resulting in two states—a democratic Jewish State of Israel, and a viable, democratic Palestinian state—living side-by-side in peace, security, and mutual recognition. This peace process should be settled by the parties directly.” Why did you not co-sponsor Levin’s Two-State Solution Act? Was there a specific part of the Act that you found objectionable? If you sincerely believe a two-state solution is necessary, should the United States not act in a manner that promotes such an outcome? If you believe the “peace process should be settled by the parties directly,” does this mean you are opposed to putting pressure on Palestinian and Israeli decision-makers to act in a manner that will increase the chances of a return to negotiations that include a two-state solution? If so, should we continue to give Israel unconditional foreign assistance and enable their behavior if their actions promote that which makes a two-state solution less likely, unjustly harms Palestinians, and/or threatens escalation and instability in the region? If not, what is your current stance and recommendation for policy action on moving the peace process forward – beyond the obvious effort to ensure Israel can secure its borders and protect its right to exist? I understand that the issue is complex and it can be difficult to address everything asked in an email reply. I would like to request any links to existing materials from your office that I may have missed that can fill in the gaps in understanding your positions on these matters. If there is any legislation currently proposed or introduced that you support regarding the conflict or a two-state solution, please include information about that as well.”
After several weeks waiting for a response, this was the letter I received:
As you can see from this form letter response, Congresswoman Stevens does not have a plan or an intent to act towards the goal of using US power and influence in any way to convince the Israeli leadership to act differently in their approach to handling the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. The “unconditional support” mentioned in her policy statement should never be a policy the the United States towards any foreign nation, no matter how long we have been allies. American support for allies ought to be based on our strategic interest but also on commitment to moral action. Additionally, touting support for aid to the Palestinians while enabling the Israeli war machine that is hurting them and creating a roadblock to peace essentially amounts to a public relations campaign and a cost of doing business for American/Israeli interests that are playing a long-game towards eventual Israeli dominance of the greater-Palestine area. It may even be part of the strategy to force migration of Gazans out of areas of interest and into new locations, including other countries. This is all antithetical to the notion of a sustainable two-state solution and it only risks further hostilities.
A review of Congresswoman Stevens’ social media posts regarding the conflict and relations between the groups suggests the same priorities and purpose. From October 7, 2023 until March 23, 2024, Congresswoman Stevens’ X(Twitter) account made 62 posts favorable to Israeli/Jewish interests and only 13 such posts with respect to Palestine/Gaza/Palestinians. Among those thirteen posts, the content was limited to general condemnation of Islamophobia/anti-Arab rhetoric & violence, support for/calls for aid to Gazans, and links to general discussions about the conflict with various people/groups. The sole instance of any call for action by the Israeli government was a general statement to “encourage the Israeli leaders and leadership throughout the region to do more to ensure aid is delivered and innocents are protected.” There were no posts of substance pertaining to how we might get to renewed negotiations for a ceasefire or a two-state solution, nor were there any posts acknowledging the true scope of the destruction and death the Palestinians are currently suffering in Gaza.
Congresswoman Stevens’ pro-Israel/Jewish posts included several condemnations of the October 7 attacks and Hamas, multiple reminders about hostages from October 7th (general & specific), posts about her House Resolution 793, general posts supporting the State of Israel, calls for continued US funding/support for Israel as an ally, local Jewish affairs/discussions, and many posts condemning anti-semitism/hate speech against Jewish populations. This is all well and good in itself, but it is important to recognize that it is all very safe rhetoric. This is not leadership and it is not courageous. This type of deliberately neutered response enables the continuation of a calculated narrative and the status quo; a status quo that has resulted in long-standing roadblocks to peace, further division, and a humanitarian disaster in Gaza.
Contrast this with the wording and intent of HR 5344 – The Two-State Solution Act – that Congresswoman Stevens failed to co-sponsor (and provide a reason for doing so as requested in my letter). The intent of the Act is, “To preserve conditions for, and improve the likelihood of, a two-state solution that secures Israel’s future as a democratic state and a national home for the Jewish people, a viable, democratic Palestinian state, an end to Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories, and peaceful relations between the two states, and to direct the Department of State and other relevant agencies to take steps to accomplish these ends.” Congresswoman Stevens cannot rely on her statement that the “peace process should be settled by the parties directly” because we are already violating that notion via our significant monetary investment and other aid to the Israeli government. Like it or not, America is involved, so it behooves us to ensure we are using our power and influence to direct the outcomes towards what we consider a logical and just solution (and Congresswoman Stevens concedes that the two-state solution is along those lines).
According to the Congressional Research Service, the bill would prohibit the United States “from providing support for projects in geographic regions that came under Israeli control after June 5, 1967. It also prohibits the use of any U.S. security assistance, defense articles, or defense services provided to Israel for efforts to annex or exercise permanent control over any part of the West Bank or Gaza.” The hardliners in the Israel Lobby did not like the Two-State Solution Act because it would threaten US aid to Israel if there was not a cessation of Israeli settlement building in what are widely considered Palestinian territories (among other reasons). You can read more about the possible implications of such an Act here. I am genuinely curious as to how Congresswoman Stevens can claim to support a two-state solution while opposing an action that would seek to deter the Israelis from continuing to build illegal settlements on well-recognized Palestinian land. This is one of the biggest roadblocks to peace and it has been acknowledged as such by the bulk of the international community for decades.
Congresswoman Stevens has been a compliant tool for the Israel Lobby during her terms in Congress. The $5.4 million AIPAC and others spent on her support and silence has worked out well for them. This is but one example of a well-oiled lobbyist machine in Washington and beyond. According to an analysis by The Guardian, pro-Israel groups have given over $58 million to current members of Congress during the last election cycle alone. It goes without saying that the vast majority of these politicians are supportive of Israel’s actions during the current conflict in Gaza (but if you need proof, click on the Guardian link above). Congresswoman Stevens was even one of only 12 Democrats to vote for a GOP bill to send aid to Israel without any humanitarian assistance for the people of Gaza. So much for her supposed commitment to them. It is of course a stretch to say this money and influence is the only reason these politicians are voting as they do, but it would be naive to suggest it is not a factor.
Democrats that have been taking this Israel money may be playing with fire politically however. Large percentages of Americans, especially Democrats, are beginning to stand with the Palestinians and are criticizing Israel’s heavy-handed approach in Gaza. Former Congressman Andy Levin warned in February of the political ramifications of this continued failed American policy for Democrats, citing the potential for a defeat in the Presidential election for Joe Biden in November if pro-Palestinian voters stay home, especially in the crucial state of Michigan. “”We can’t stand on 28,000 (now well over 30,000) people being killed,” said Levin. “Women and children being killed at the fastest rate of any conflict since World War II. The most journalists being killed of any conflict on record… Two thousand-pound bombs, provided by the U.S., being dropped on places, according to The New York Times, where the IDF told civilians to run to, and then our military officials say we wouldn’t use those bombs at all on such a dense population… I mean, people are super upset about this.” An accurate understanding of this conflict and US/Israeli/Palestinian relations demands more than simple propaganda phrases and dichotomous thinking. The more the truth of the situation on the ground is revealed, the closer we can get to a just policy that is fair to all.
The Israel Lobby may come out on top either way in 2024 however, as their grip on the Republican Party is even tighter than it is on the Democrats (and they need to spend even less money on them). Popular coalitions need to be built to unseat the politicians most likely to be influenced by this money and where they hold power they must be confronted about their support for these horrific policies that are harming civilians and are contrary to the long-term interests of the United States and even Israel. We must make “unconditional support” for genocidal acts and continued deliberate stonewalling of a legitimate peace process unthinkable, both morally and politically. Only then can The People defeat the power and influence of the big-money lobbyists like the ones massively funding Congresswoman Stevens.