New Hampshire Primaries Reveal Shifting Democratic Views on Israel

New Hampshire's Democratic primaries on Tuesday presented contrasting dynamics regarding the candidates' stances on Israel. In the race for the Senate seat, moderate Congressman Chris Pappas, who has a strong pro-Israel record, defeated progressive challenger Dr. Karishma Manzur, who made accusations of genocide against Israel a central theme of her campaign. Pappas secured approximately 63% of the vote, advancing to face Republican incumbent John Sununu in a key midterm election battle.

Pappas, a 46-year-old openly gay man and grandson of the inventor of the chicken tender, has historically been a reliable ally for Israel. He previously voted to condemn Representative Rashida Tlaib's "from the river to the sea" slogan and supported Israel's right to self-defense. However, in recent months, Pappas has distanced himself from the current Israeli government, stating Prime Minister Netanyahu "must go" and expressing reservations about heavy arms shipments. His opponent, Manzur, accused him of being an "AIPAC messenger" and alleged he was "paid" by the lobby.

Meanwhile, in the contest for the House seat Pappas is vacating, Stephanie Shaeen, daughter of a prominent political family, won her primary. Her campaign, which focused on healthcare, also increasingly targeted her opponent, Marine veteran Maura Sullivan, over her ties to pro-Israel donors. Shaeen's campaign ran ads accusing Sullivan of being "funded" by the pro-Israel lobby and displayed a picture of Netanyahu with the slogan "Let's show them New Hampshire is not for sale."

Sullivan denied any direct support from AIPAC, calling the accusations a "malicious and desperate conspiracy theory." Shaeen, who has received support from J Street, a liberal pro-Israel group, and has Jewish supporters, advocates for ending military aid to Israel. While both candidates support a two-state solution, Shaeen's position on aid and the pro-Israel lobby places her to the left of the Democratic establishment represented by her mother.

The primary results highlight a significant shift within the Democratic Party, indicating that stances on Israel and its relationship with the U.S. are no longer peripheral issues but critical tests for candidates seeking office.