Victory of Israel-critical candidates in New York primaries highlights deepening divide within the Democratic Party. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Associated Press.
Varun Venkatesh, a 27-year-old Brooklyn resident, voted for Claire Valdez because she had "a clear and more consistent stance" on the Palestinian cause. Valdez was one of three insurgent candidates backed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani who won their congressional primaries. Israel was a key issue in each race.
The war in Gaza began with Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which responded with a yearslong counterattack that left more than 73,000 dead. About 1,000 have died since a ceasefire was reached in October, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, which does not differentiate between civilian and combatant casualties.
Human rights groups and a UN commission have described Israel's actions as genocide, a charge rejected by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Democrats on the left and some conservatives have increased pressure to suspend U.S. aid to Israel.
"The Israel question has become defining," said Matt Bennett, who leads the centrist Democratic group Third Way. He warned that some in Mamdani's camp have embraced "a new level of extremism" that Republicans could weaponize against mainstream candidates.
The schism over Israel, which widened during Joe Biden's presidency and undermined Kamala Harris' bid, remains an open wound. How Democrats attempt to stitch it closed will help define their future as they aim to retake Congress and set the stage for winning the White House.
Mamdani is unapologetic in his effort to reshape the Democratic Party. He sharply criticized the American Israel Public Affairs Committee for defending what he calls "a status quo of immorality" in Gaza.