Nancy Pelosi, former House Speaker, expressed her disagreement with the views of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Michigan U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed regarding Israel. Pelosi stated that their positions were ‘wrong’ and did not reflect those of congressional Democrats.
Donny Deutsch, host of the ‘On Brand’ podcast, highlighted the issue, questioning how he could maintain support for the Democratic Party amidst statements he deemed antisemitic. He stated, ‘When you say Israel doesn’t have the right to be a Jewish state, that’s antisemitic.’
Pro-Israel leader warns Democrats who do not condemn antisemitism could face repercussions,
the podcast further emphasized.
When Pelosi asked for specific examples, Deutsch identified Mamdani and El-Sayed. Pelosi responded, ‘It’s more than concerning. It’s wrong. It doesn’t reflect the Democrats in Congress.’
Before becoming New York City mayor, Mamdani avoided affirming Israel as a Jewish state. In an interview with ABC News, he supported Israel as a state with equal rights but did not endorse its identity as a Jewish state, stating, ‘Any state that privileges one religion over another is one that I can’t tell you I support.’
El-Sayed, in a discussion with supporters, expressed difficulty in addressing Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state, suggesting it conflicted with liberal values in the U.S.
Pelosi initially denied the presence of antisemitism within the Democratic Party. She noted, ‘Sometimes they say things that they shouldn’t and can be interpreted that way.’
Despite concerns about the comments from Mamdani and El-Sayed, Pelosi dismissed their overall impact on the party. She stated, ‘People represent their districts, but it doesn’t impact the Democratic Party consensus.’
Fox News Digital reached out for comments from representatives of Pelosi, Mamdani, and El-Sayed but didn’t receive immediate responses.
Rabbi Yaakov Menken, from the Coalition for Jewish Values, recognized Pelosi as a strong ally but expressed alarm at her apparent lack of recognition of antisemitism among colleagues. Menken remarked, ‘If she is indeed one of our best friends, should we not be scared by that?’
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