HARRISBURG (VINnews) – Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro defended the American Israel Public Affairs Committee against accusations that it uses its financial influence to silence critics, saying such attacks often cross into anti-Jewish rhetoric by singling out Jewish political donors.

In an interview with Politico’s Jonathan Martin, Shapiro argued that framing opposition to certain candidates as “AIPAC money” cynically aims to delegitimize pro-Israel voices in Democratic politics.

“I think it’s been used cynically by some to try and silence certain voices, to try and say that certain people participating in politics shouldn’t count or should be viewed in a toxic way,” Shapiro said.

He continued: “What you are seeing is not, ‘AIPAC money’ or however it was termed, but you’re getting ‘the Jews who give to that candidate who also support AIPAC.’

Shapiro, a Democrat and one of the party’s most prominent pro-Israel figures, made the remarks amid ongoing tensions within the Democratic Party over Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza. AIPAC and its affiliated super PACs have spent tens of millions of dollars in recent primaries to support candidates who back strong U.S.-Israel ties and oppose those seen as overly critical of Israel.

The governor warned that blurring the line between legitimate policy debate and targeting Jewish supporters risks fostering antisemitism.