The initial belief that the Israel-Palestine conflict would play a major role in the upcoming 1st Congressional District race seems to be playing out.
Last week, a national Jewish organization — for the first time in its seven years of existence — has endorsed opponents of incumbent Democrats.
The of America Ƶ County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell against incumbent U.S. Rep. Cori Bush of Ƶ.
The organization also endorsed George Latimer, who is challenging U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-New York.
Bush and Bowman are members of the progressive U.S. House coalition known as “The Squad,” which has generally opposed Israel on most issues.
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In a statement issued Thursday, the council (aka “Jewish Dems”) said: “We understand that Wesley Bell and George Latimer are supporting the priorities that Jewish Americans are prioritizing when they go to the polls.”
“We know that they are fighting for abortion rights and for defending our democracy, and for safer communities and combating gun violence, and health care for all, and in support of Israel and combating antisemitism,” it concluded.
The Jewish Dems has been unfailingly liberal since it began in 2017, when it formed in opposition to President Donald Trump’s failure to criticize neo-Nazi demonstrators in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Bell said last week that he was “honored” by the group’s endorsement.
“In Congress, I’ll continue to ensure that Israel and the United States remain strong allies as we work toward peace in the region,” he said.
The split in the Democratic party along the Israel-Palestine line has been lurking over the local congressional race since shortly after Oct. 7, when the Hamas terrorist group launched a surprise attack that killed about 1,200 Israel civilians.
In the days following the attack, Bush was criticized for her consistently pro-Palestinian stance over her four years in office. The rift enticed Bell to switch out of a bid for the U.S. Senate and jump over to the congressional race against Bush.
When he announced his switch on Oct. 31, Bell said, “We can’t give aid and comfort to terrorists, and Hamas is a terrorist organization.”
While saying the U.S. should support a two-state solution in the Middle East, Bell added that “we have to stand with our allies.”
Soon after switching to oppose Bush, Bell picked up endorsement from two prominent members of Ƶ’ Jewish community: Jill Schupp, a former state legislator and Creve Coeur official, and Rabbi Susan Talve, a founder of the Central Reform Congregation in Ƶ.
The 1st Congressional District, which includes all of Ƶ and much of north Ƶ County, is solidly Democratic and about 50% African American.
The district also includes several county municipalities with a substantial Jewish population, including University City, Creve Coeur, Olivette and part of Clayton.