PA-12: The Israel-Hamas war has become a defining issue of Lee-Patel Democratic primary for Congress
As America braces itself for the 2024 election, the polls will tell you that voters are most concerned about such issues as the economy, immigration, the survival of democracy itself. But in Pittsburgh’s most bitterly contested Democratic primary race, that’s easy to forget.
The campaign in Pennsylvania’s 12th Congressional District has been dominated by the war in Gaza, as first-term Congresswoman Summer Lee’s criticism of Israel has been attacked repeatedly. It was a defining issue in a candidates forum last month, and Lee’s chief rival, Bhavini Patel, raised it again this week.
Patel’s campaign blasted Lee for accepting a handful of donations from Palestinian activists who’ve drawn fire for remarks on Israel. Lee must “distance herself from these hateful, dangerous individuals by returning their tainted contributions,” Patel said in a statement.
Patel singled out donations from four people, including two leaders of American Muslims for Palestine and two involved in the Council on American-Islamic Relations. Both groups have been criticized by organizations such as the Anti-Defamation League, as have the donors themselves.
https://www.wesa.fm/politics-government/2024-02-23/israel-hamas-war-lee-patel-democratic-primary
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