A Note on AIPAC
Earlier this week, the pro-Israel news website Jewish Insider published a story about my engagement with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) early in this race. While Jewish Insider incorrectly attempted to characterize it otherwise, I have never sought — and would never accept — AIPAC’s support in this campaign. Today, Evanston Now published a similar story and referenced a paper I wrote about my positions on Israel and Palestine. I have posted that paper below, but I also want to give some context.
I did meet with local AIPAC representatives, just as I have met with a wide range of organizations throughout this campaign whether I agree with them on everything or not. In those meetings, I laid out my positions: support for a two-state solution, opposition to the humanitarian catastrophe the Netanyahu government has inflicted on Gaza and Israel’s illegal settlements in the West Bank, and the need to combat antisemitism. I do not share AIPAC’s hardline views, but I believed it was important to be direct and transparent about where I stand.
I had also seen AIPAC spend millions upon millions of dollars in recent Congressional races, raised in large part from a nationwide network of MAGA-aligned donors, and I hoped they might decide not to direct those MAGA donors to support Laura Fine. Perhaps naively, I wanted to show them that, while we disagree on Israel and Palestine, I have family in Israel who I care about deeply, that I take the issue of antisemitism seriously, and that I can engage respectfully with people who have views that are very different from my own.
During our discussions, AIPAC made clear that they viewed me as the frontrunner and sought to support my campaign, implying the availability of massive outside spending and advertising if I was willing to parrot their views. I don’t doubt that, had I compromised my values and told them what they wanted to hear, they would have spent millions to get me elected. My race may have been easier if I took this route and toed their line. But I knew then, as I do now, that I was not interested in their endorsement, and that once they knew more about my views on the issue, they probably wouldn’t be interested in me, either.
That turned out to be true.
As I’d expected, when I articulated my positions — and refused to let AIPAC’s representatives rewrite them — they backed state Sen. Laura Fine, who celebrated the Trump-backed bombing of Iran and said in a recent debate that she “[does] not believe in tying Israel’s hands.” That backing has since come with hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations for Sen. Fine from AIPAC-aligned fundraisers nationwide, including one hosted by AIPAC’s president – and a shameful pressure campaign to force another Jewish candidate out of the race. All the while, Sen. Fine has refused to be transparent about her alliance with AIPAC.
Now, AIPAC representatives are attempting to weaponize my willingness to speak to anyone to undermine my campaign and sow division. Rather than focusing on promoting their preferred candidate, they are trying to pit progressives against one another, split the vote, and clear a path for a pro-corporate and pro-AIPAC Democratic nominee in this district. You can expect to see a lot more smears aimed at both me and fellow candidate Kat Abughazaleh, given that AIPAC has labeled us both as “dangerous detractors.” For my part, I’m not going to take their bait and pile on when they go after Kat or anyone else in this race.
I expect that Chicago’s airwaves will soon be flooded with dishonest ads funded by AIPAC, with the goal of hurting my campaign and electing a representative who answers to them. For the sake of the 9th District, we cannot let that effort succeed. This campaign is powered by people – not right-wing special interests – and together, we’re going to win.
Before my campaign launched a formal “issues” page, many individuals and organizations asked for my positions in writing. That included groups working on Israel-Palestine issues, many with very different perspectives on the issue. I wrote a position paper that I shared with dozens of people and organizations, including AIPAC, upon their request. In the interest of transparency, you can read the document below. It was written last summer, amid Israel’s ongoing bombardment of Gaza, but before the full extent of Israel’s use of famine as a weapon was widely understood. It continues to reflect my values and positions, and I stand by it.
As the summer went on, the Netanyahu government’s blockade of food and aid laid bare the scale of the humanitarian disaster. In August, I published an essay further laying out my views, including support for recognition of a Palestinian state and halting U.S. weapons sales that fuel this conflict. In September, I launched my campaign “issues” page, where you can read my views on this and many other topics.
I encourage all candidates in the Ninth District who shared a position paper with AIPAC, particularly state Sen. Laura Fine, to make theirs public as well.
A Deep, Personal Connection
Daniel Biss is the descendant of Holocaust survivors who moved to Israel in 1948, settling in Herzliya, and the son of an Israeli citizen. His parents still have an apartment at the same Herzliya address where his mother grew up, and much of his extended family live in Israel today.
Daniel grew up with two passports, spending every summer in Israel, and speaking Hebrew. Daniel also spent a semester in Israel as an undergraduate, studying linguistics at Tel Aviv University and mathematics at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem after spending a month studying Hebrew at the Ulpan Akiva in Netanya.
For many American elected officials, even those who care deeply about Israel and the Jewish people, the question of peace and security in the Middle East is a relatively abstract one. For Daniel, this issue has always been and will always be deeply personal.
The U.S.-Israel Relationship
Like so many Jews and allies around the world, Daniel was horrified by Hamas’s terror attack of October 7, 2023, the deadliest attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust. He was heartened when the Biden administration made a clear statement in support of Israel’s right to exist and defend itself in the aftermath of this tragic day.
Daniel believes the special relationship between the United States and Israel means the U.S. must do all it can to ensure long-term protection and prosperity of the Jewish homeland.
To achieve that goal, the U.S. must play a leading role in brokering an agreement that brings home the remaining hostages, ends the war in Gaza, ends Hamas’s reign and brings its leaders and fighters to justice, and ultimately brings about a political settlement that can guarantee peace, security, and dignity for both the Israeli and Palestinian people.
Support for Palestinian Dignity and Self-Determination
Daniel believes the United States must play a key role in good-faith diplomatic negotiations and an agreement that eventually leads to a two-state solution with two states for two peoples, existing side by side, in peace and security. While this prospect currently seems far from reality, it must remain the ultimate goal in order to achieve stability and security for Israel in the region. A working and durable solution must include two truly independent states whose legal status relative to one another is fully symmetric.
To achieve this, any agreement must create a future where the Israeli people can live free from fear of attacks. It must also guarantee a viable, independent Palestinian state with a path to self-determination. To this end, the U.S must facilitate an Israeli commitment to ending settlement expansion, and a Palestinian recognition of Israel’s right to exist and a guarantee of an end to terrorism.
Daniel will also advocate for U.S. humanitarian assistance, delivered in partnership with civil society, established NGOs, and the United Nations to address the needs of the Palestinian people. Daniel supports fully funding humanitarian aid to ensure Palestinians in both the West Bank and Gaza have the resources to live with dignity.
A postwar Gaza must include the full disarmament and removal of Hamas from power as well as a multinational effort that includes our allies in the Middle East and the United States and ensures humanitarian aid and resources to rebuild Gaza. This must lead to a transition to fully autonomous Palestinian governance once agreed upon conditions are met.
Iran and its Proxies
The Islamic Republic of Iran is the world’s leading sponsor of terror and has played a destabilizing role in the entirety of the Middle East. Daniel believes the United States must engage in concerted, focused diplomacy to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. The last decade has reinforced the principle that diplomacy is the best, safest, and surest path to maintaining a non-nuclear Iran, and this observation must be a driving force behind U.S. foreign policy. A strong diplomatic agreement that stops Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon is the way to keep Americans, Israelis, and everyone in the region safe. Daniel also believes we must stand with women and all courageous people across Iran who are peacefully protesting for human rights and political freedom.
Fighting Antisemitism
Due to his family’s story and his Jewish faith, Daniel deeply understands the horrific consequences of antisemitism. He takes seriously and categorically condemns the rise of antisemitism targeting Jewish communities–particularly since the October 7th attacks.
Daniel strongly supports implementing the Biden Administration’s U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism, which includes (1) increasing awareness and understanding of antisemitism, including its threat to America, and broaden appreciation of Jewish American heritage; (2) improving safety and security for Jewish communities; (3) reversing the normalization of antisemitism and countering antisemitic discrimination; and (4) building cross-community solidarity and collective action against hate.
As Congress looks at ways to combat the scourge of antisemitism–whether targeting our communal institutions, campuses, or anywhere Jews call home–it must do so in a way that protects the freedom of speech, including legitimate criticism of actions by the Israeli government.
Boycott, Sanctions, and Divestment (BDS)
Daniel believes BDS is a tactic that has at times been used to advance anti-Semitic ideology, and that it moves us further away from a peaceful solution. In 2015, Daniel voted for Illinois’ bipartisan anti-BDS bill, which made Illinois the first state to divest its pension funds from companies that participated in the BDS movement. In 2017, he voted to expand that law to ban investments in companies with illegal ties to Iran. He will continue to oppose BDS as a member of Congress, while also opposing efforts to criminalize free speech or political activity.
Foreign Aid
Daniel recognizes the importance of the safety and security of a Jewish homeland in the State of Israel. As Israel’s closest friend and ally, the United States must always be committed to providing for Israel’s defense.
As a member of Congress, Daniel will support continued aid to Israel in accordance with the 2016 Memorandum of Understanding, and looks forward to seeing a renewed, expanded Memorandum of Understanding in the coming years.
In particular, Daniel believes the U.S. must aggressively support and expand funding for the Iron Dome, which is critical for the safety of the people of Israel. Daniel believes all military aid to every nation must be compliant with U.S. law.
The Abraham Accords
The United States has a deep interest in seeing normalization between Israel and countries across the Arab world. The United States should continue to pursue efforts to normalize relations between Israel and its Arab neighbors to ensure long term stability in the region.