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A Democratic National Committee<\/span> member is proposing a symbolic resolution for consideration at a DNC meeting next month to reject the American Israel Public Affairs Committee\u2019s massive spending on Congressional races.<\/p>\n The measure, sponsored by a young DNC member from Florida, could put party leaders on the spot about the pro-Israel lobbying group\u2019s outsized role in Democratic primaries.<\/p>\n A lobbying behemoth<\/a> that for decades courted<\/a> lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, AIPAC has become an increasingly toxic brand in the Democratic Party<\/a>.<\/p>\n In recent years, Israeli leaders and their backers in Washington have become more closely aligned with Republican politicians. At the same time, however, AIPAC\u2019s super PAC has focused tens of millions in spending on Democratic primary races.<\/p>\n \u201cThis could be one step toward bringing those voters back into the party.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n Allison Minnerly, the committee member sponsoring the resolution, said it is time for the party to formally distance itself from the group.<\/p>\n \u201cAt a time when Democratic voters might really not have felt represented or seen when it came to Gaza or seeing their party support Palestinian rights or stand against military conflict, this could be one step toward bringing those voters back into the party,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Neither AIPAC nor the DNC immediately responded to requests for comment.<\/p>\n Minnerly\u2019s resolution follows on the heels of another measure she sponsored last August calling for an arms embargo on Israel. That resolution was defeated, but not before it sparked a high-profile debate<\/a> on the party\u2019s relationship with Israel.<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Democrats have soured on Israel while becoming more sympathetic toward Palestinians, surveys show.<\/a><\/p>\n That has not stopped AIPAC, through a super PAC called the United Democracy Project and other campaign arms, from plowing cash into Democratic primaries to elect pro-Israel candidates. Most recently it spent at least $22 million on Democratic primaries in Illinois<\/a>, where its preferred candidates won two of four contested races.<\/p>\n \u201cGiven the recent primaries in Illinois, but also what we\u2019ve seen across the country, I think it\u2019s important that we specify that AIPAC as a growing force in our primaries needs to be specifically addressed when we talk about dark money,\u201d Minnerly said.<\/p>\n Minnerly\u2019s resolution notes that AIPAC has expended massive amounts on political campaigns, then adds that \u201ccorporate money PACs have concentrated spending in primary races to oppose candidates who have advocated for Palestinian human rights, ceasefire efforts, or changes to U.S. foreign policy, raising concerns about the role of large outside spending in shaping Democratic Party positions.\u201d<\/p>\n It later adds, \u201cDemocratic elections should reflect grassroots participation and the will of voters, rather than the disproportionate influence of wealthy donors or special interests.\u201d<\/p>\n While the resolution\u2019s is couched as a condemnation of dark money spending, it could nevertheless open a tense debate over AIPAC\u2019s role in the primaries that some party leaders would rather avoid.<\/p>\n Ahead of the debate over the Israel arms embargo resolution last year, Minnerly was pressured to withdraw her proposal. DNC Chair Ken Martin put forward a competing resolution.<\/p>\n The ultimate product of that debate was the creation of a working group that has yet to produce any public findings. Critics have derided the group as a stalling mechanism.<\/a><\/p>\n This time around, Minnerly fears that the timing of the DNC resolution committee meeting could curtail debate of the measure. Her measure is set for discussion on the morning of April 9, as many DNC members will still be arriving for the meeting in New Orleans.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n\n