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A progressive Jewish political action committee raised nearly $30,000 for U.S. Rep. Donna Edwards this week, within days of an online report that supporters of Israel in the 4th Congressional District were looking for a Democrat to challenge her in the 2010 primary.

Some were angered, the report said, when Edwards voted "present" for a congressional resolution supporting Israel's right to defend itself from attacks from Gaza.

Edwards said Thursday that people she has met in her district feel strongly that the region needs a "moderate direction when it comes to the politics and policies of Israel and Palestine."

The Web site Politico, however, reported that some see her failure to vote for the resolution, which passed 390-5, as a cause for concern and a reason to find a challenger when the freshman congresswoman seeks re-election in 2010.

But there's no effort inside the Jewish community to find a candidate, Ron Halber, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington said Thursday.

"It is patently false to say there is any Jewish organized effort to find someone to run against Donna Edwards," he said.

Even so, J Street PAC organized its membership Tuesday morning to support Edwards, getting about 500 contributions.

"She's proudly refused to toe a hawkish line on Israel, while reaffirming her belief that Israel will only be secure when the U.S. engages strongly to bring about a two-state solution with the Palestinians," the solicitation read.

J Street, which calls itself "a pro-Israel, pro-peace lobby," was formed in Washington about a year ago, and Edwards was one of its first endorsements.

The organization has no problem with the "present" vote because of her statement afterward, said Jeremy Ben-Ami, executive director of the PAC.

Edwards released a statement that said she voted "present" because Congress should do more to establish peace and deliver humanitarian aid.

"As Americans, we have a strong interest in ensuring peace, stability and security for Israel and the entire Middle East, and that is why I urge American diplomacy to be active and fully engaged in the region with our international partners to find a lasting solution," she said.

Ben-Ami said the statement was more important than the vote.

"As long as the thought process behind the vote made sense and was taken with a pro Israel point of view, we don't have a problem with the present vote," he said.

Next week will mark one year since she won a special election for the seat, but Edwards has yet to meet with Halber, although a meeting is in the works.

"Yes, we got off to shaky start, we're trying to move to steady it," Halber said. "If we keep dwelling on the past, we won't move forward."

Edwards said that she has had six to eight meetings in her office with Jewish organizations.

Said Halber, "Not every person walking into an office can claim a leadership mantle."