Jeffries commits to defending anti-Israel incumbents facing primary challengers

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Alpha News/Daily Caller News Foundation

Former Minneapolis City Council member Don Samuels is challenging Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, saying she has "frightened the Jewish community."
Mary Lou Masters
November 17, 2023

Daily Caller News Foundation) — House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is committing to defending anti-Israel incumbent members who are facing primary challengers in 2024, Politico reported Thursday.

Members of the “Squad,” including Democratic Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Cori Bush of Missouri, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Pramila Jayapal of Washington, continue to call for a ceasefire while repeating anti-Israel sentiments after Hamas, a Palestinian terrorist group, attacked the U.S. ally on Oct. 7. Jeffries will attempt to defend the Progressive Caucus members’ seats in 2024, including those of Omar and Bush, who are facing pro-Israel Democratic primary challengers, as the party seeks to regain a majority in the lower chamber, according to Politico.

“The highly racialized targeting of many of these members, we absolutely need leadership that would defend our members from that,” Ocasio-Cortez told Politico.

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During a private meeting last Thursday between Jeffries, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chair Suzan DelBene and the members spearheading the Progressive Caucus’ political action committee (PAC), lawmakers urged Jeffries to ramp up his efforts in defending the incumbents who have condemned Israel’s counteroffensive in Gaza, according to Politico.

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