BROOKLYN (JTA) – Former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, running for Congress in the city’s newly redrawn District 10, said he does not support AIPAC, the powerful pro-Israel lobby.
In a virtual candidate forum last Wednesday, in a discussion about campaign spending by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, de Blasio was asked point blank if he supports the organization.
“No, I don’t,” de Blasio said.
He said that he engaged with AIPAC in the past, but the organization has changed in a way that he called “unacceptable.”
“I am not seeking their endorsement and would not accept it even if it were offered,” de Blasio said.
WATCH: Former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, running for Congress in the city’s newly redrawn District 10, said he does not support AIPAC, the powerful pro-Israel lobby.
“I am not seeking their endorsement and would not accept it even if it were offered.” pic.twitter.com/KpA92NkHWK
— VINnews (@VINNews) June 28, 2022
De Blasio specifically mentioned progressive House candidate Nina Turner, who lost a primary election in Cleveland after AIPAC’s affiliated PAC and other pro-Israel political action committees contributed heavily to her opponent’s campaign. Turner had expressed solidarity with a Jewish group that accuses Israel of “apartheid” in its treatment of Palestinians.
“She’s an incredibly important progressive leader,” de Blasio said. “I thought the attack on her was not only horribly unjustified, it deprived our nation of someone who could have been a huge difference maker in terms of our progressive movement.”
De Blasio added that he believes in a two-state solution in the Middle East, which “needs to be put back on the agenda.”
“It’s the only path forward to peace in the region for both Israeli and Palestinian people to have their own states,” he said. “I would fight for that, and I would certainly fight against any organization that attacks my fellow progressives.”
Despite its name, AIPAC did not directly raise money for candidates until launching its own affiliated PAC in 2020. Liberals criticized the AIPAC PAC in March when its list of congressional endorsees included Republicans who voted against certifying Joe Biden as president.
De Blasio spoke at one of AIPAC’s annual policy conferences as recently as 2019.
In an interview with Jewish Insider, de Blasio emphasized that he has “a tremendous sense of personal loyalty to the State of Israel and to the Jewish community.”
He said while Turner is a friend of his, that “doesn’t mean I agree with every statement that she’s made.”
“From my understanding, Nina Turner thinks [U.S] aid [to Israel] should be conditioned,” de Blasio said. “I disagree with that. I think we have to protect Israel.”
De Blasio seems to be walking a thin line on Israel in a race in which he hopes to gain both the progressive vote and endorsements from haredi Orthodox leaders in a district that now includes Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn. He met with the latter last week and apologized for a tweet he wrote as mayor in 2020, criticizing the Jewish community for flouting COVID-19 restrictions.
He is one of 15 candidates running for the Democratic nomination, including Rep. Mondaire Jones, Councilwoman Carlina Rivera and Jewish attorney Dan Goldman. Another hopeful, Assemblywoman Yuh-Line Niou, has already been endorsed by the progressive Working Families Party.
No need to explain , Bill. That Bobov askan who endorsed you and shlepped you around isn’t interested in Israel. His buddies also have other things on their mind. Meanwhile , hordes are running the heck out of NY , the NY you helped destroy.
When can I vote against this good for nothing De Bozo ?
What DeBlasio is saying is: When I have to choose between my support for Israel and my progressive agenda, progressivism wins out. It is a religion for him and those like him. When Torah, or anything that matters to yidden conflicts with his stupid progressivism, it isnt Torah or Yidden that he will support.
Why are we supporting this left wing lunatic? For money?
An opportunist showing his true face
A good liberal is an unemployed one, no exceptions Ezra.
Same goes for Hochul & Murphey (and even the liberal Orthodox Jewish ones too, do well in fundraising)
then don’t expect to win the orthodox Jewish vote
In your face Fleischer Askan.
And I would like to believe that AIPAC would not give De Blasio their endorsement even if begged them for it.
Aipac is worthless but anyhow it shows where silber of aguda stands and all the self appointed self serving self important so called asnakim stand
One those tuition bills come in, the puppets will stop following their master and vote GOP.
Boro Park is going with Law & Order Public Safety Pro Police candidate for Congress NY-D10 Brian Robinson @VoteBrian Twitter)
Brian Robinson Supports the NYPD & is Very Pro Yeshivas, Pro Israel & Anti Covid Mandates.
Vote for Brian Robinson @VoteBrian on Twitter) to represent Borough Park in Congress.
DeBlasio is a radical police abolitionist, he is pro crime & he directly targeted our Borough Park Yeshivas & Stores during Covid.
And DeBlasio is Anti Israel.
Because of this Boro Park is supporting someone that shares our values and views, his name is Brian Robinson running for Boro Park Congress D10
Public Safety Law & Order Pro Israel candidate for Congress NY-D10 is Brian Robinson (search him up)
No Borough Park Yid will vote for this DeBlasio craziness.
Everyone is standing with his opponent Brian Robinson shares our values on everything, From pro Israel, Pro Police to supporting our Yeshivas & against covid mandates.
Vote for Congress Brian Robinson & NOT DeBlasio.
If Boro Park stands with Achdus & endorsed the same candidate then Brian Robinson can iyh win by a landslide.
Let’s get rid of DeBlasio, Vote Brian Robinson for Congress
Vote DeBlasio & his lawlessness out.
Chevra, here is your chance to vote in someone good, His name is Brian Robinson Congress.
Google him.
Keep voting Democrat and see where it gets the Jews
Ah, now all the flaming Zionist are out of the woodwork attacking and defaming all those who don’t go in lockstep.
DeBlasio in all the years serving the Jewish community did not show anything that he is an anti-Semite. If anything the Jewish community benefited from him greatly anything and everything. He is a good friend of Yidden.
Besides the Covid era where he had pressure from Mosrim from within our community.
But to the flaming Zionists Israel/Zionism Uber Alem it comes before everything.
What a Shanda!