Sen. Fetterman Addresses Anti-Semitism Within the Left
Senator John Fetterman from Pennsylvania expressed concern on Monday about “corruption within the American left,” suggesting it allows anti-Semitic extremism to thrive.
This statement followed a tragic incident in Sydney, where at least 15 individuals lost their lives when a gunman opened fire during Hanukkah celebrations at Bondi Beach. Hundreds had gathered for the annual Hanukkah-by-the-Sea event, according to Australian reports. Speaking on “The Record with Greta Van Susteren,” Fetterman criticized his own party for what he perceives as a failure to confront terrorism against Jews, noting that Democrats seem to be tolerating extremist rhetoric.
“I’m very disappointed that within my party, we’re playing around with terms like ‘from the rivers to the sea’ and ‘globalize the intifada,'” Fetterman told Van Susteren. “We know exactly what those phrases imply, and I won’t stand for it. This, to me, is a sign of what’s wrong with the American left and my own party. We need to call it what it is and support Israel, the only nation in the region that truly upholds those values.”
When Van Susteren inquired about the media’s role in addressing anti-Jewish terrorism, Fetterman was blunt: he believes they’ve failed in that regard.
“I read a lot of mainstream media, including the New York Times, and there’s always a strong anti-Israel bias in that coverage. We need to acknowledge that,” he stated.
Zoran Mamdani, New York City’s newly elected mayor who identifies as a democratic socialist, has avoided directly denouncing the phrase “globalizing the intifada.” He mentioned, “That’s not the language I use. The language I choose to lead our city reflects my commitment to universal human rights.” He added that his politics are rooted in the belief that freedom, justice, and security should apply to everyone, which includes both Israelis and Palestinians.
Mamdani has faced criticism for both his policy positions and remarks regarding Israel. During a recent interview, when asked by host Tim Miller if he found the phrases “globalizing the intifada” and “from river to sea” offensive, he did not support restricting the use of that language. This response led to significant backlash from Jewish advocacy groups.
