Originally published in Michigan Advance

By Jamie Beran

Nothing is more important for Jewish safety here in Michigan and across the United States than a robust, healthy democracy. Yet, we have unlimited dark money flooding the airwaves with political ads, thanks to a Supreme Court that prioritizes corporations over people.

As the leader of a national American Jewish organization with many members in the State of Michigan, fighting for free, fair, and just elections is my top priority this year. It is critical that the public knows who is spending millions of dollars to elect and curry favor with our future elected officials, and focusing on those big spenders is fair game, especially during the hotly contested primary and general election cycles for the open Senate seat.

Recent polling reveals that more than half of Michiganders have an unfavorable view of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), and rightfully so. As folks across the state continue to engage in these conversations, I’m hoping to offer advice on how to talk about AIPAC in meaningful and thoughtful ways, without inadvertently fueling antisemitism.

One of the biggest of those spenders is the AIPAC, a lobbying group and political action committee that works to strengthen the U.S.–Israel relationship. For decades, they never endorsed candidates—until 2022, when AIPAC launched a PAC, coming out of the gate by endorsing 109 January 6th insurrectionists. Since then, their strategy has been to funnel Republican dark money into Democratic primaries, using shell PACs, SuperPACs, and bundled donations, often without mentioning Israel or Palestine at all.

That strategy has defined this year’s primary season, with AIPAC’s main super PAC United Democracy Project spending record-breaking sums trying to defeat progressives, and it will continue to be a point of contention heading into the midterms.

But the way we talk about a big spender like AIPAC can have a meaningful impact on the safety of American Jews. It is critical to get this right, and to support our movement in keeping our focus and our rhetoric on the right track, I want to offer a few guidelines I urge progressives to adhere to.

Which brings me to my first recommendation: Do not talk about AIPAC like it is a Jewish organization because it is not. AIPAC does not represent the majority of American Jews, and in fact, most American Jews oppose its core priority: advocating for unconditional support, partnership and aid to Israel. AIPAC doesn’t even claim to be a Jewish organization—because they’re not. It is critical to never conflate AIPAC with Jews.

Like lots of unpopular organizations, from the gun lobby to crypto and AI, AIPAC can’t win on its own issue. AIPAC’s actual policy positions are deeply unpopular, especially among Democrats and Jewish voters. Over 90% of American Jews believe you can criticize the Israeli government and still be “pro-Israel,” and 70% of American Jews believe “criticizing Israel for any reason” is not a form of antisemitism. AIPAC’s strategy relies on obfuscation because it can’t win on the merits. Acknowledge this when you talk about AIPAC and your policy positions.

Second, avoid fueling antisemitic tropes when talking about AIPAC. Criticism of AIPAC can be weaponized as antisemitism. Be vigilant against framing that mirrors antisemitic tropes about Jewish “outside influence,” wealth, “puppet-mastery” or “dual loyalty.” Even though AIPAC is not a Jewish organization, attacks on it are too often extrapolated into attacks on all Jews.

Third, and because of number two above, precision in your language matters. Always specify when you’re talking about the “Israeli government,” the “State of Israel,” or the “Israeli military,” and never use “Israel” as shorthand. Avoid undefined terms like “pro-Israel,” “Zionist,” or “anti-Zionist,” and never use “Zionists” or “Zios” as a stand-in for “Jews.” These terms mean lots of different things to different people, and clarity and specificity is key.

Relatedly, fourth, use facts — not euphemisms — when talking about AIPAC’s involvement in campaigns. Frame them alongside other dark money (e.g. oil, crypto, AI) and call for campaign finance reform. Exaggerating AIPAC’s influence to make it appear more powerful than any comparable dark money group, or using terms like the “Israel lobby,” “Zionist lobby,” or “Jewish lobby,” can fall into some of the antisemitic tropes I mentioned above.

Fifth: resist the urge to ally or find common cause with the MAGA anti-AIPAC Right. There are some MAGA figures like Tucker Carlson or Marjorie Taylor Green who regularly criticize AIPAC and others with Israeli government ties, but the distinction is that their critique is rooted in xenophobia and Christian Nationalism, not solidarity. There is sometimes an urge when looking at unlikely bedfellows in politics to say “well, you gotta give it to them.” Under no circumstances do you have to give it to them. Don’t give credit to or ally with Christian nationalists and fascists.

Finally, it is critical that progressive leaders and movements make space for Jews and build fluency in fighting antisemitism. Build authentic relationships with your Jewish neighbors and include Jewish organizations in your coalitions. Use resources like those found at DismantlingAntisemitism.org. Including Jewish people in your vision for the future is an important step toward building the multiracial, multiethnic democratic society of our dreams and to thwarting the aims of groups like AIPAC and undermining the right’s intentional strategy of division.

We the people have a right to know — and raise concern about — who is funding our elected officials’ campaigns. But the way we do it matters. Progressives should be able to challenge powerful political organizations, debate U.S. policy toward the State of Israel without fear, and make space in our coalitions for Michigan Jews. Together, we can build a true multiracial democracy where all can thrive.