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Reps. Haley Stevens and Andy Levin
Metro Detroit Jews divided over Israel's policies could impact the outcome of the contested 11th Congressional District in Oakland County. Reps. Andy Levin and Haley Stevens are vying for the Democratic nomination.
Melissa Nann Burke of The Detroit News writes:
The contest is shaping up to be a prominent example of the divide in the Democratic Party over Israel, which has played out in primaries for the U.S. House in places like Texas, Illinois and New York.
Levin appears to be more willing to question Israeli policies and put more pressure on the country to change. Stevens seems to be less critical of the nation and more willing to accept its policies, a view considered more palatable to the unwavering supporters of Israel.
As many as 40,000 voting-age Jews live in the 11th District, the paper says, citing estimates by Rabbi Asher Lopatin, executive director of the regional Jewish Community Relations Council/American Jewish Committee.
Both candidates are in favor of a two-state solution in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and are against the boycott of Israeli products. Levin is Jewish, Stevens is not.
The 11th Congressional District includes the southern half of Oakland County, excluding Southfield, Rochester Hills and most of Novi. The district is about 54-percent Democratic. Most Jews in Metro Detroit live in Oakland County, with heavy concentrations in West Bloomfield, Franklin, Bloomfield Hills, Huntington Woods, Farmington Hills, Oak Park and Southfield.
In the Jewish community, more traditional pro-Israel voters have not only come out in favor of Stevens, but are helping her raise funds. One recent fundraiser generated $380,000.
“She has gone massively out of her way with a lot of us in the Jewish community to get to know us personally, to get to know the community,” David Kramer, an Bloomfield Township attorney who helped host that fruitful fundraiser, tells the News. “She’s been very outspoken in support of the U.S.-Israel relationship, I think more so than her opponent.”
Levin supporters, many who have a more liberal view of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, say Jews like Levin can still be critical of some Israeli policies while being very pro-Israel.
"We're proud of the broad coalition of supporters he's building in the Jewish community and elsewhere based on his moral leadership," spokeswoman Jenny Byer said.
A poll published last month by Deadline Detroit showed Levin and Stevens tied at 41 percent, with 18 percent undecided. The Stevens campaign says an internal poll shows her in the lead.
Ed Sarpolus, executive director of Target Insyght of Lansing, which conducted the poll published in Deadline Detroit, expects the Israeli issue to play a siginficant role in the race. He noted donations in the race are also coming from Jews outside of the district and state who are concerned about Israel.
"Many in the Jewish community are more concerned about their primary issue than anything else," he says.
Sarpolus said the Israeli-Palestinian conflict could also play a role in the 12th Congressional District race, where Palestinian-American Rep. Rashida Tlaib is a heavy favorite to win. Some Jewish voters are concerned about what they see as Tlaib's anti-Israel stance and her strong support of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement.
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