This Santa Cruz Congressman Received More Than $250,000 From a Powerful Pro-Israel Lobby

During the 2024 election season, Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D–Santa Cruz) received upward of $250,000 in campaign contributions from pro-Israel groups — far outpacing the amount given to any other congressional representative in the Central or Northern California region.

During that two-year period, during which the devastating war in Gaza erupted and pro-Israel groups ramped up their political spending, Panetta — who represents a coastal swath of Santa Cruz and Monterey counties — was given $10,000 directly from the PAC affiliated with the powerful American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), and more than $243,000 from donors closely linked to the group, according to Open Secrets, a nonpartisan political finance tracker. OpenSecrets does not disclose the names of the individual donors, which it defines as “members, employees or owners of the organization, and those individuals’ immediate family members.”

Panetta was the third-highest recipient of AIPAC-affiliated contributions among congressional incumbents in California, eclipsed only by Rep. Pete Aguilar (D–Redlands), who took in more than half a million dollars, and Rep. Ken Calvert (R–Corona), who received $471,000.

Such a substantial sum from donors affiliated with a group whose mission is to “strengthen and expand the U.S.-Israel relationship” has drawn scrutiny from many of Panetta’s constituents in Santa Cruz and some of the other left-leaning areas he represents, where pro-Palestinian protests against Israel — particularly at UC Santa Cruz — have been commonplace since the conflict began more than 16 months ago.

Some pro-Palestinian activists in the district say they’re concerned about the contributions, pointing to the congressman’s vote last April in support of sending billions in aid to the Israeli military. They note that such support comes even as his father, Leon Panetta, the former defense secretary and U.S. representative, has publicly criticized some of Israel’s tactics.

Rick Longinotti, a Santa Cruz resident involved with Panetta Vigil, a nascent group of Panetta’s constituents who oppose his support for Israel, said the congressman’s position on Israel “more closely resembles Republican votes in the House of Representatives,” which he said is out of step with a largely “pro-peace” district.

Longinotti notes that Panetta was among a group of just 45 Democratic colleagues who joined every House Republican in supporting a bill to sanction the International Criminal Court (ICC) in response to arrest warrants it issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes in Gaza.

The legislation, which was strongly backed by AIPAC, passed the House but was ultimately blocked by Senate Democrats.

In an emailed statement, the congressman’s campaign staff did not specifically address the contributions but emphasized that Panetta has traveled to Israel on several occasions since the conflict began, “focusing on the release of hostages from Gaza, including six Americans, supporting the defense of our major non-NATO ally, ensuring humanitarian aid to Palestinians, and bringing a lasting peace in the region.”

The statement goes on to stress that Panetta “firmly believes that it is his responsibility to learn more about the people and issues of the region,” and the U.S. “must continue to support and stay engaged with our partners so that our shared values are upheld as we continue to work towards a peaceful resolution.”

It also notes that “countless constituents in his district and numerous people throughout California and the United States have been grateful, appreciative, and supportive” of his efforts.

AIPAC’s role in American politics has come into greater focus since the attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, in which Hamas-led militants killed more than 1,200 people and took roughly 240 hostages, according to Israeli authorities. In response, Israeli forces have since waged a relentless assault on Gaza, displacing almost its entire population and destroying some two-thirds of its infrastructure. As of mid-January, when a temporary ceasefire went into effect, at least 46,000 residents of the enclave had been killed in the conflict, according to Gaza officials, a tally that many observers say is a substantial underestimate.

The siege galvanized fierce protests throughout the Bay Area and the country against the war and the United States’ substantial aid and support for Israel. Even with the fragile ceasefire still being observed, many pro-Palestinian activists are continuing to demand that American elected officials be held accountable for supporting Israel, which they say helped to directly facilitate the mass destruction in Gaza.

Among them is Christine Hong, a professor of ethnic studies at UC Santa Cruz, who said she and many other constituents are “appalled” by the contributions Panetta received from AIPAC-affiliated donors.

“[Panetta] listens to one constituency and it is a pro-Israel constituency. It is a hawkish constituency,” Hong said. “He has obligingly implemented AIPAC’s foreign policy.”

Hong was part of a class-action lawsuit against Panetta and seven other Northern California Democratic leaders, including Reps. Mike Thompson, Jared Huffman, Nancy Pelosi, Kevin Mullin, Anna Eshoo, as well as Sen. Alex Padilla and then-Sen. Laphonza Butler. The suit accused them of “illegally [using] tax dollars to fund the genocide in Gaza,” citing the Leahy law, a set of statutes that prohibit the U.S. from using funds to provide aid to foreign security forces when there is credible evidence of “gross violations of human rights.”

In November, a United Nations special committee found Israel’s actions “consistent with the characteristics of genocide.”

On Feb. 10, U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria dismissed the case, writing that it “presents a nonjusticiable political question.” A similar lawsuit against former President Biden was also dismissed by an Oakland judge last year.

Sonoma City resident Seth Donnelly, who was part of the most recent lawsuit, said the group — who call themselves Taxpayers Against Genocide — is working with the National Lawyers Guild to bring the case to the United Nations Human Rights Council in April.

“It becomes publicized to the rest of the world,” Donnelly said. “It’s one other level of achieving documentation of our officials’ involvement in genocide.”

Rolla Alaydi, a Pacific Grove resident who lives in Panetta’s district, said it’s concerning that her representative has taken so much money from AIPAC-affiliated groups. Since the war began, Alaydi, who is Palestinian American, has been desperately trying to get her younger brothers and their families out of Gaza, some of whom need urgent medical assistance.

Alaydi said she had exchanged several emails with a staff member in Panetta’s office to try to expedite her request for humanitarian parole for her family, first contacting his office in late November 2023, according to emails she shared with KQED.

Earlier this month, Panetta’s office told Alaydi that her case was still pending.

“I need some help from my representative, from someone in the Congress or someone in a high-rank office to speak on my behalf,” Alaydi said.

Alaydi’s lawyer, Maria Kari, added that elected officials have “great leeway and a large role to play” when it comes to pushing through applications like humanitarian parole and hopes the significant contributions from AIPAC-related groups have not in any way influenced his willingness to help her client.

“We sincerely hope that Rep. Panetta will not be unduly influenced by the AIPAC contributions he receives and that he will act fairly towards his Palestinian American constituents,” Kari said.

Panetta’s office declined to speak on the record but told KQED that it has provided Alaydi with assistance and continues to work to resolve her case.

Panetta’s office also added that Alaydi is among nearly 50 other constituents seeking help with visas and humanitarian requests, a process that can take more than a year to resolve.

But for Alaydi, time is of the essence — particularly in light of President Donald Trump’s recent highly controversial proposals for the future of Gaza.

“I pay taxes. I’m a good citizen. I’m a very active member in the community,” Alaydi said. “I’m just asking — look to us as a human, and extend a hand of humanitarian assistance and bring them here for safety. Give them a chance to live.”