Vocal US congressional critic of Israel loses Democratic primary

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - US Congresswoman Cori Bush, a vocal critic of Israel, on Tuesday lost her Democratic Party primary in the Midwestern city of Missouri.

Wesley Bell, public prosecutor in the city of St. Louis, won the Democratic primary for Congress for Missouri's 1st Congressional District.

"I am deeply honored and humbled by the trust the people of this district have placed in me," Bell said in a statement.

His victory came weeks after Congressman Jamaal Bowman, another outspoken progressive and vocal Israel critic, lost his New York Democratic primary to George Latimer.

Bell was backed by the country’s largest pro-Israel lobby, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC.

"Another great night for pro-Israel Democrats and progressive candidates for Congress! 100% of AIPAC-backed Democrats have won their primary elections so far this cycle," AIPAC said on X, referring to Bell and Latimer.

"Being pro-Israel is good policy and good politics!" it added.

Both Bush and Bowman have been vocal critics of Israel's continuing military offensive in the Gaza Strip.

Nearly 40,000 Palestinians have been killed in the 10 months since Israel launched an onslaught against Gaza that began on Oct. 7 following an attack by the Palestinian resistance group Hamas.

The Democratic Party has faced strains over its traditional support for Israel in the face of Tel Aviv’s months-long war in Gaza, which has killed or injured well over 100,000 people and left millions, including many women and children, facing starvation.

Younger Democrats and many voters of color fiercely oppose the war and have tried to push the party into a more pro-Palestinian position, with mixed results.