HUDSON VALLEY, NY — Peter Chatzky, democratic candidate for New York’s 17th Congressional District, reconfirmed today that he will not accept campaign contributions from AIPAC or any affiliated political action committees, making him the only Democrat in the race to publicly take this stand.
“As a proud Jewish American with family living in Israel, I believe deeply in the right of the state of Israel to exist in peace, but I cannot support or remain silent about the actions of the Netanyahu government,” Chatzky said. “My family and I share a love for Israel, but also a moral responsibility to speak out when its government commits human rights violations and disregards international law. Justice, democracy, and accountability must apply everywhere, including with our closest allies. If Netanyahu believes the media is inaccurately portraying his efforts to provide humanitarian aid, he should be providing irrefutable evidence to reverse the growing public concern. I cannot, in good conscience, accept support from any organization, including AIPAC, that is working to promote the Netanyahu agenda without an equal concern for maintaining the highest standards for humanitarian care, even during times of war.”
He added that in addition to his concerns regarding the Israeli government’s ongoing actions in Gaza and the West Bank, which human rights groups have documented as war crimes, his decision was rooted in his broader commitment to reducing the influence of big money in politics as well as his refusal to work with organizations that spend millions backing politicians who undermine democracy. AIPAC has poured money into races across the country to support Republicans who voted to overturn the 2020 election and continue to erode democratic norms.
“My campaign will answer only to the people of the Hudson Valley, not DC insiders,” Chatzky said. “We deserve leaders who speak with moral clarity — not those whose positions are shaped by billionaire donors and political committees.”
Chatzky’s decision underscores his call for campaign finance reform and a foreign policy guided by American ideals of human rights, democracy, and accountability, not by special interests.