A surprising twist in a New Jersey primary race showed how questions about Israel continue to roil American politics in unpredictable ways.
Feb. 6, 2026
[gift article]
The group’s allied super PAC spent at least $2.3 million against former Representative Tom Malinowski, who has said that he “would not deny anything Israel needs to defend itself” but left open the possibility of placing limits on aid.
It ran negative ads against him, sending a message that it was willing to punish Democrats seen as insufficiently supportive of Israel. And with the race still uncalled on Friday, Mr. Malinowski was indeed trailing narrowly. But the candidate leading him was not one of the other moderates in the race, but an outspoken critic of Israel: Analilia Mejia, a left-leaning political organizer who has said she believed the country committed genocide in Gaza.
It’s an interesting dynamic. AIPAC provides a clear path for politicians willing to toe the line of absolute, unthinking support of Israel in all things. But AIPAC only works towards Israel’s strategic depth if that support is truly absolute. They still have so much strategic depth that AIPAC occupies itself by denying even the conversation about how much support Israel should get through actions this one - there is no conversation, they must get whatever they ask for and anyone who disagrees is an anti Semite.
The problem with this all-or-nothing approach is that it lets them get completely out flanked - they can’t control someone who never wanted AIPAC support in the first place.