By Fatma Zehra Solmaz
ISTANBUL (AA) - US Rep. Seth Moulton, who is running for the Senate in the state of Massachusetts in the 2026 midterm elections, announced Thursday that he is returning donations from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).
“I am returning AIPAC donations and refusing to accept any donations or support from them. The FEC (Federal Election Commission) filing I made yesterday reflects that we are returning donations,” Moulton said in a post on the US social media platform, X. “I'm cautiously optimistic that the recent breakthrough in Gaza will move us closer to ending the horrific violence in the region. A political resolution that allows Israelis and Palestinians to live side by side in peace is exactly the kind of framework I've been calling for from the beginning.”
Moulton, who announced his Senate bid Wednesday, emphasized his stance on Israel, saying, “I support Israel's right to exist, but I've also never been afraid to disagree openly with AIPAC when I believe they're wrong. In recent years, AIPAC has aligned itself too closely with Prime Minister Netanyahu's government. I'm a friend of Israel, but not of its current government, and AIPAC's mission today is to back that government. I don't support that direction. That's why I've decided to return the donations I've received and will not be accepting their support.”
He explained that while he considers himself a friend of Israel, he does not support its current government and disagrees with AIPAC’s focus on backing that administration.