Pelosi Criticizes Democrats' Views on Israel

Former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Michigan Democratic US Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed for their comments on Israel, describing their views as 'wrong' and 'concerning', Fox News reported on Thursday.

Pelosi's comments were made in response to a question from Donny Deutsch, host of the 'On Brand' podcast, who asked how he, as a Jewish man, could support the Democratic Party given the stance of some politicians he considered antisemitic.

Mamdani and El-Sayed have faced scrutiny for their comments on Israel's status as a Jewish state.

Mamdani has said he supports Israel as a state with equal rights but declined to endorse it as a Jewish state, while El-Sayed has repeatedly declined to affirm whether Israel has the right to exist as a Jewish state.

Pelosi emphasized that the views of Mamdani and El-Sayed do not reflect those of congressional Democrats.

Despite her concerns, Pelosi dismissed the impact of their comments on the party as a whole, saying that representatives reflect their districts and that Hakeem Jeffries, House Minority Leader, has been clear on this issue.

Rabbi Yaakov Menken, executive vice president of the Coalition for Jewish Values, expressed concern that Pelosi did not seem to recognize antisemitism among her colleagues, despite being considered a friend of the Jewish community.

The Democratic Party has faced internal debates on its stance on Israel, with some progressive members expressing critical views on the country's policies.

The issue has sparked concerns among some Jewish groups and supporters of Israel, who fear that the party's stance may be shifting away from its traditional support for Israel.

Pelosi's comments highlight the ongoing debate within the Democratic Party on its stance on Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.