7/19/2026
Hi Sam,
1. But you still support Israel’s right to exist? And make a distinction
between so-called offensive weapons and weapons for defense, Correct?
2. Have you publicly committed to taking zero AIPAC funds in the future?
Yes, No, explain?
3. Do you support a one-state solution? Yes, No, explain?
4. And you still support sending billions of dollars a year to extremely
wealthy Israel, money badly needed for programs here at home, correct?
Explain?
5. Last for today: Israel has a very large supply of nuclear weapons,
agreed? Iran has zero nuclear weapons. Do you agree Iran, as a sovereign
nation, is as entitled as Israel, or any other nation, to produce its own
nuclear weapons? Yes, No, explain.
Sam, I Look forward to your answers to the above questions and your
continued dialogue on these life and death issues.
Avram “ Eliminate The State of Israel Now” Finkelstein -aka -Aram James
On Sun, Jul 19, 2026 at 7:43 AM Sam Liccardo
wrote:
> Aram, after this email, Im going to stop responding to this litany of
> "1000 questions" after this email, because I have plenty of other work to
> do on this Sunday. In response to a few of your recent questions:
>
> 1. No, thats a false statement. Ive never been endorsed by AIPAC, and my
> public statement (making clear my opposition to offensive
> military
> aid to Israel
> and my endorsement of "Block
> the Bombs" makes it highly unlikely that I ever will be. I encourage you
> to visit AIPACs website for yourself: unlike hundreds of other members
> of Congress who can receive contributions from AIPAC members through their
> portal, I cannot.
> 2. Yes, I visited the West Bank in December of 2019, at the same time that
> I visited other parts of Israel. I met with the late Saeb Erekat and other
> Palestinian Authority officials in Ramallah, and met with an Arab
> journalist in East Jerusalem as well. I travelled with my wife (not part
> of any other group) in a rental car into other parts of the West Bank,
> including Bethlehem and Nazareth, and I recall a couple of other stops on
> the way to Capernaum. That was my only trip to Israel, and during the
> first half of the trip, I travelled with a group of Democratic elected
> officials funded by the American Israel Education Foundation, which I
> understand to be affiliated with AIPAC. I have not returned to Israel
> since, and I declined to attend any AIPAC-sponsored trips during my tenure
> in Congress.
>
> On Sat, Jul 18, 2026 at 4:02 PM Aram James wrote:
>
>> Sam,
>>
>> Is the below statement accurate?
>>
>> *1. AIPAC endorsed Liccardo*
>>
>> AIPAC publicly endorsed Sam Liccardo in the CA-16 House race. That
>> endorsement encouraged AIPAC’s network of donors to contribute to his
>> campaign, but an endorsement itself is not a financial contribution.
>>
>>
>> On Sat, Jul 18, 2026 at 3:48 PM Aram James wrote:
>>
>>> Sam,
>>>
>>> Is the below statement correct?
>>>
>>> Based on publicly available information, there is *no evidence that **Sam
>>> Liccardo** has traveled to Gaza*.
>>>
>>> For the *West Bank*, I also could not find evidence that he has
>>> personally visited. Searches of his public statements, biography,
>>> congressional materials, and news coverage do not document a trip there.
>>>
>>> There is, however, evidence that he *visited Israel*:
>>>
>>> - In a public post marking the first anniversary of the October 7,
>>> 2023 attacks, Liccardo wrote that he had visited *Kibbutz K’far Aza*
>>> in *December 2019*, recalling the people he met there.
>>>
>>> It’s worth noting that some members of Congress have publicly documented
>>> trips to both Israel and the Palestinian territories, but I did not find
>>> Sam Liccardo listed among those delegations.
>>>
>>> So, the available evidence indicates:
>>>
>>> - *Gaza:* No public evidence that he has traveled there.
>>> - *West Bank:* No public evidence that he has traveled there.
>>> - *Israel:* Yes—he has publicly stated that he visited Israel in
>>> December 2019.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Sat, Jul 18, 2026 at 3:26 PM Aram James wrote:
>>>
>>>> 7/18/2028
>>>>
>>>> Hi Sam,
>>>>
>>>> Further research suggests you also went on another trip to Israel on
>>>> AIPAC’s dime (2019) when you were mayor or on the San Jose City
>>>> Council?
>>>>
>>>> True?
>>>>
>>>> False?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks,
>>>>
>>>> Avram
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> According to the publicly available travel request, city records, and
>>>> congressional travel disclosures, Sam Liccardo’s documented AIEF-sponsored
>>>> trip to Israel in *December 2019* was described as an educational
>>>> seminar focused on Israeli society, security, innovation, and the
>>>> U.S.–Israel relationship.
>>>>
>>>> The stated purpose of the trip included:
>>>>
>>>> - Learning about Israel’s political system and society.
>>>> - Discussing regional security issues and U.S.–Israel relations.
>>>> - Visiting sites related to innovation and technology.
>>>> - Meeting with political, security, and community leaders.
>>>> - Exploring historical and religious locations.
>>>>
>>>> Typical activities on these AIEF educational seminars include:
>>>>
>>>> - Briefings from Israeli government and military officials.
>>>> - Discussions with foreign policy experts.
>>>> - Visits to Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and other cities.
>>>> - Tours of historical, archaeological, and religious sites.
>>>> - Visits to areas near Israel’s borders to receive security
>>>> briefings.
>>>> - Meetings with Israeli academics, entrepreneurs, and nonprofit
>>>> leaders.
>>>>
>>>> The San Jose City Council memorandum authorizing Liccardo’s travel
>>>> specifically identified the trip as an *Educational Seminar in Israel
>>>> for Pacific Northwest Progressive Leaders*, with travel to *Jerusalem,
>>>> Tel Aviv, and Tiberias*, and stated that all travel expenses would be
>>>> paid by the *American Israel Education Foundation (AIEF)*.
>>>>
>>>> The value of the trip reported in ethics disclosures was approximately
>>>> *$12,345*, covering airfare, lodging, meals, and other travel-related
>>>> expenses, paid by AIEF under applicable ethics rules.
>>>>
>>>> If you’re interested, I can also summarize the *day-by-day itinerary*
>>>> for the 2019 seminar, including the cities visited and the types of
>>>> meetings and site visits participants attended.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Sat, Jul 18, 2026 at 3:16 PM Aram James wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Sam,
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Is the below information accurate?
>>>>>
>>>>> The publicly available House travel disclosure for Sam Liccardo’s
>>>>> congressional trip to Israel, the reported value of the trip was
>>>>> approximately *$12,345.02*.
>>>>>
>>>>> The sponsor-reported breakdown was:
>>>>>
>>>>> - Transportation: *$5,598.40*
>>>>> - Lodging: *$1,696.00*
>>>>> - Meals: *$1,260.06*
>>>>> - Other expenses (such as ground transportation, guides,
>>>>> admissions, etc.): *$3,790.56*
>>>>>
>>>>> *Total reported value:* *$12,345.02*.
>>>>>
>>>>> According to the disclosure, these expenses were paid by the *American
>>>>> Israel Education Foundation (AIEF)*, a nonprofit affiliated with
>>>>> AIPAC that sponsors educational travel for members of Congress under House
>>>>> ethics rules.
>>>>>
>>>>> If you’re interested, I can also summarize *who Liccardo met on the
>>>>> trip, what sites he visited, and the stated purpose of the travel*
>>>>> from the official itinerary and ethics filings.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On Sat, Jul 18, 2026 at 2:47 PM Aram James wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Sam,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Is the below information correct?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I searched for additional records covering Sam Liccardo’s career
>>>>>> before and after entering Congress.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Based on the publicly available evidence I could find:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> - *There is one publicly documented official trip to Israel.*
>>>>>> - *The trip was paid for by the American Israel Education
>>>>>> Foundation (AIEF)*, a nonprofit organization affiliated with
>>>>>> AIPAC that sponsors educational trips for members of Congress.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Sat, Jul 18, 2026 at 11:21 AM Aram James wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Youre welcome, Sam!! I will get back to you with a more substantive
>>>>>>> response in the near future. In the meantime, I have a few questions for
>>>>>>> you below. I look forward to your responses.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Peace,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Avram Finkelstein aka Aram James
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> **One of your proud Jewish constituents who wants the vile
>>>>>>> war-crimes state of Israel eliminated.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> P.S.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> 1 How many times have you traveled to Israel?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> 2. If so, under what circumstances?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> 3. Were your trips to Israel, if you in fact went, paid for by
>>>>>>> AIPAC money?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> 4. If not, who paid for your trips?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> 5. When you were mayor of San Jose or on city council, who paid for
>>>>>>> your trips to Israel?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> 6. Have you traveled to Palestine? Gaza? West Bank? Other locations
>>>>>>> in Palestine?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> 7. If not, why have you not taken a fact-finding trip to Gaza and
>>>>>>> the West Bank?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> 8. Have you publicly called for a one-state solution?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> 9. Have you publicly condemned Israel 🇮🇱 as a war-crimes genocidal
>>>>>>> state? If Not, Why Not?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> 19. Have you publicly called for the elimination of the rogue
>>>>>>> apartheid state, war-crimes state of Israel? If Not, Why Not, Sam?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> ****Sam, Im proud of you for your willingness to open up a
>>>>>>> constructive conversation with me on this critical issue. Look forward to
>>>>>>> more of the same.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Avram “Eliminate The State of Israel Now” Finkelstein
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Sat, Jul 18, 2026 at 8:00 AM Sam Liccardo
>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Thanks Aram.
>>>>>>>> First, you’re incorrect: I’ve never received money directly from
>>>>>>>> AIPAC, and they’re certainly not giving to me now. They will not
>>>>>>>> accept contributions for me on their website, unlike hundreds of other
>>>>>>>> members of Congress. Among the reasons why they won’t ever contribute to
>>>>>>>> me is my cosponsorship of the “Block the Bombs” bill, and public statements
>>>>>>>> like this:
>>>>>>>> https://liccardo.house.gov/massie-amendment
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I’m sure I’ve received contributions from local community residents
>>>>>>>> who are members of AIPAC, though not nearly as much as my opponent in 2024,
>>>>>>>> and I’m also confident I received more contributions from members of the
>>>>>>>> Muslim or Arab-American communities who object to the conduct of the
>>>>>>>> Israeli leadership. I had to raise $6 million in that race, so the amounts
>>>>>>>> you’re citing are less than 2% of my raise in that cycle.
>>>>>>>> In your future missives, I encourage you to present facts more
>>>>>>>> accurately and with relevant context.
>>>>>>>> Sam
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Sam Liccardo
>>>>>>>> Member of Congress
>>>>>>>> 16th District of California
>>>>>>>> (this email is being sent from my private account, and is not
>>>>>>>> official correspondence)
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On Sat, Jul 18, 2026 at 12:30 AM Aram James
>>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> For Sam Liccardo’s successful 2024 House campaign:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> - *Direct AIPAC PAC contributions:* *$10,000* (the maximum PAC
>>>>>>>>> contribution for the primary and general election combined). This would
>>>>>>>>> appear in FEC filings as a contribution from the AIPAC PAC.
>>>>>>>>> - *Including AIPAC-affiliated individual donors:* Public
>>>>>>>>> campaign finance trackers report a total of *about
>>>>>>>>> $80,000–$90,000* in support associated with AIPAC’s network
>>>>>>>>> during the 2023–2024 cycle. This larger figure includes donations from
>>>>>>>>> individuals identified as part of AIPAC’s donor network, not just the PAC
>>>>>>>>> itself.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> So if someone says “Liccardo took *$10,000 from AIPAC*,” they’re
>>>>>>>>> referring only to the PAC’s direct contribution. If they cite a figure
>>>>>>>>> around *$80,000–$90,000*, they’re using a broader methodology
>>>>>>>>> that includes affiliated individual donors as well.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> If you’d like, I can also break down:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> - the exact FEC entries for the $10,000,
>>>>>>>>> - who the major AIPAC-affiliated individual donors were, or
>>>>>>>>> - how Liccardo compares with other California members of
>>>>>>>>> Congress on AIPAC-linked fundraising.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>