DNC rejects resolution condemning influence of pro-Israel Aipac lobby

Panel’s decision a blow to progressives who are unhappy with group’s involvement in Democratic contests Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inbox When it comes to addressing how the party should deal with Israel, the Democratic establishment went to their favorite answer: no thanks. The Democratic National Committee’s resolutions committee voted on Thursday to kill a measure targeting the pro-Israel lobby group Aipac and deferred two further resolutions on Middle East policy to a working group that critics say exists mainly to avoid difficult decisions. During a meeting in New Orleans, the party rejected a symbolic resolution to confront what its sponsors described as the outsized influence of dark money in Democratic primaries – singling out the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which spent approximately $14m in a single Illinois Democratic primary and has pumped tens of millions more into races across the country to block candidates critical of Israel. The defeat, while anticipated, lands as a fresh blow to progressives who have grown increasingly furious at Aipac’s intervention in Democratic contests. Aipac has spent more than $221m in