Palestinian-American Coalition Launches Campaign Backing 63 Pro-Palestinian U.S. Congressional Candidates

Washington: A Palestinian-American coalition has launched a campaign to support 63 candidates for the U.S Congress who advocate for Palestinian rights and pledge not to accept any funding from pro-Israel lobbying groups. The coalition, comprised of twelve Palestinian-American organizations, affirmed that the campaign aims to strengthen and support candidates who stand for justice and Palestinian rights across the United States and to bring more human rights-minded voices to Congress. According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the initiative, led by American community organizations, seeks to unify the political power of the Palestinian-American community and push for a future based on justice and equality by building effective and influential alliances in the electoral landscape. Ayman Balsha, one of the coalition's founders, stated, "As a Palestinian community, we are obligated to support and strengthen the chances of candidates who uphold the principles of justice and equality for all, espe cially the justice of the Palestinian cause." Coalition spokesperson Rania Qawasmeh highlighted that the coalition seeks to develop a unified strategy to identify and support candidates who share its core values, reject funding from pro-Israel lobbying groups, and oppose the ongoing war on the Gaza Strip. Qawasmeh emphasized the importance of unifying the efforts of organizations operating in the United States and working according to a shared vision that efficiently utilizes available resources. She noted that the goal is to push for more committed representation in the U.S Congress, free from the influence of political money. In turn, the coalition's political liaison officer, Hayel Mansour, indicated that the Palestinian community has the capacity to unite Arab, Muslim, minority, and progressive communities and play an influential role in the election results. He called on organizations and institutions to join the coalition and work together to form a campaign capable of making a tangible impact on the U.S midterm elections.