Far-left Democratic candidate for US Senate seat in Maine doubles down on his anti-Israel stance in parting message after dropping out of race.By World Israel News StaffGraham Platner formally withdrew from Maine’s US Senate race with a final declaration of support for the Palestinian cause and reiteration of his claim that Israel is committing “genocide” in Gaza, ending a scandal-plagued campaign in the same confrontational style that helped turn the political newcomer into a national progressive figure.The Democratic nominee submitted his written withdrawal to the Maine secretary of state on Friday, ensuring that his name will not appear on the November 3 ballot against five-term Republican Senator Susan Collins.Platner concluded his letter with three short declarations: “F— ICE. Free Palestine. Up the Hearts.”Platner’s formal withdrawal came two days after he announced that he was suspending his campaign following a sexual assault allegation by a former romantic partner.Platner has denied engaging in nonconsensual behavior.Jenny Racicot, who previously had an intermittent relationship with Platner, alleged that he entered her home while intoxicated in 2021 and forced her to have sex after she told him to stop.The accusation followed months of damaging reporting about Platner’s relationships, online conduct and personal history.His campaign had previously weathered allegations of physical aggression by another former partner, which he also denied, as well as reports about explicit communications with women shortly after his marriage.“For the movement to continue, it can’t be me,” he said in the video announcing the suspension.His withdrawal clears the way for the Maine Democratic Party to select a replacement nominee before a July 27 deadline.Party delegates are expected to meet at a special convention after Platner’s campaign collapsed only one month after his decisive primary victory.Platner’s withdrawal letter thanked the 156,084 Mainers who voted for him in the June 9 Democratic primary and argued that the campaign demonstrated widespread support for Medicare for All, stronger labor unions and reducing the political influence of wealthy donors.He also used the letter to double down on his previous claims of war crimes in Gaza, calling for an end to “the genocide.”“All we were asking for was healthcare, was to end the genocide, to use our taxpayer dollars at home to uplift our communities, instead of waging war overseas,” he said.During his campaign, Platner repeatedly described Israel’s military campaign in Gaza as “genocide” and argued that US taxpayer money should not support Israeli military operations.Platner also made opposition to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee a major part of his campaign against Collins. He portrayed AIPAC and its affiliated political spending as examples of wealthy interests distorting American democracy.At one point, he described Collins as “bought and paid for by Benjamin Netanyahu,” referring to the Israeli prime minister.That language prompted accusations of antisemitism from Collins and several Jewish political organizations. Critics argued that Platner was depicting an American advocacy organization, made up and funded largely by US citizens, as an instrument of a foreign government.“AIPAC is made up of Americans who care deeply about our relationship with Israel,” Collins said. “Platner makes it sound like this is some sort of evil foreign influence, and that is absolutely wrong.”Left-wing Mideast lobby groups including J Street and the Jewish Democratic Council of America declined to endorse Platner, even after he became the presumptive Democratic nominee.Platner also faced controversy over comments he made online years before entering politics.In a 2014 Reddit discussion, he analyzed footage of a Hamas assault near Kibbutz Nahal Oz in which at least five Israeli soldiers were killed.Platner described the attack as a professionally successful small-unit operation and wrote that, “from a strictly professional standpoint,” it was a “damn fine looking and successful raid.”“I dig it,” he added.Platner had also carried a chest tattoo featuring the Totenkopf, a skull-and-crossbones symbol associated with the Nazi SS, for nearly two decades.He said that he and fellow Marines received the tattoo while drinking during a 2007 trip to Croatia and that he did not understand its Nazi significance at the time.“I am not a secret Nazi,” Platner said when photographs of the tattoo became public.A former acquaintance challenged his explanation, claiming Platner knew the symbol’s identity and had referred to it as his Totenkopf before entering politics.Another former partner similarly claimed that Platner and his military colleagues had selected the image deliberately.The post ‘Free Palestine’: Graham Platner ends Senate bid with anti-Israel message appeared first on World Israel News.