Adam Schiff declines to swear off AIPAC support

California Democrat Adam Schiff has stated he will not reject financial support from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) or similar pro-Israel groups, despite his sharp criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Schiff, who has served in public office for over 25 years, has benefited from significant campaign donations from AIPAC, including $5 million from its United Democracy Project to a super PAC that backed his 2024 Senate campaign.

In an interview, Schiff described Netanyahu's actions as "heartbreaking" for damaging Israel's global standing and causing loss of life. However, he acknowledged a history of both disagreement with AIPAC, such as condemning certain weapons sales to Israel and supporting President Obama's Iran nuclear deal, and alignment, particularly after Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack.

Schiff's stance contrasts with other Democrats, including potential future presidential contenders, who have pledged to refuse funding from AIPAC and other pro-Israel lobbying organizations, sensing that such affiliations have become politically detrimental with certain voter segments. Schiff, a proponent of a two-state solution, asserted that financial backing from these groups does not influence his legislative decisions. He stated, "I’m going to continue to make the decisions I make and allow individuals and organizations to decide what to do with that, whether they want to support me or don’t want to support me."