Dem v. Dem, Israel pal v. an anti-Israel Jew

Rep. Haley Stevens spoke last week during a virtual interview for supporters of AIPAC about her pro-Israel beliefs, after the organization endorsed her in her primary contest against Rep. Andy Levin.

Both Stevens and Levin are Michigan Democrats. After the state lost a seat in Congress, Stevens ended up in an incumbent-on-incumbent race in the 11th CD, which has the largest Jewish population in the state. Israel issues have been prominent in the race as the two candidates have vastly different track records.

Levin, who is Jewish, has often criticized Israeli policies towards Palestinians and has occasionally joined the small group of progressive Democrats in the House of Representatives in condemning Israeli actions. While he said he believes in a two-state solution and considers himself to be pro-Israel, he introduced a bill that would place conditions on US military aid to Israel. He is supported by J Street.

AIPAC President David Victor wrote that Levin is the most “corrosive” member of Congress to the US-Israeli relationship.

Meanwhile, Stevens, who is not Jewish, has gained strong support for her campaign from numerous traditional pro-Israel organizations and is outspoken in her support for Israel’s right to defend itself.

“I’m very clear,” she said. “We can’t get into the place where we’re forcing Israel to make all the concessions, or being silent when things like the Commission of Inquiry and the Amnesty International reports come down.”

Stevens, 38, said that she believes her pro-Israel actions represent the future of the Democratic Party, as she is one of the younger members of Congress, as well as the first woman elected to represent her congressional district.

She said that concern for Israel’s security is an issue that’s close to her heart, having had friends and friends of friends hiding in bomb shelters during rocket attacks on Israel, such those that occurred last May, launched into civilian population centers by Hamas in Gaza.

She called silence against such attacks complicity.

“We do need to be clear — we don’t need to be sympathizing with terrorist organizations or egging them on or engaging in activities that might embolden Iran, who is a true enemy, not only of Israel but also of the United States,” she said. 

Stevens said that in 2019, she and her mother visited Israel on an AIPAC-sponsored trip, where they met with soldiers in addition to thought leaders and Israeli government officials. She was able to learn about Israel’s borders and the importance of its security, which she called “eye-opening.”