Pro-Israel leader warns Democrats failing to condemn ‘vicious Jew haters’ in Congress
Maine News Now
June 18, 2026
ZOA President Criticizes Democratic Leaders Over Anti‑Israel Rhetoric
In a Monday interview with Fox News Digital, Morton Klein, the president of the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA), said that anti‑Israel voices have moved from the fringes of American politics into elected office and that the Democratic Party has failed to condemn several of its members for what Klein describes as antisemitic language.
Klein singled out U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, former Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El‑Sayed, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and former Detroit mayor Rashida Tlaib. He called Omar “one of the most vicious Jew haters in America” and said the party had not “continuously and vigorously condemned her” or the other “antisemitic political leaders.”
He added that the “anti‑Israel voices” “don’t really give a damn about the Palestinians either. They just hate Jews in the Jewish state,” and that they “have taken power in the hands of antisemites and terrorists.”
Accusations of Inaction by Democrats
Klein also criticized the Democratic Party’s leadership. He said that no “significant condemnation” has been issued for members of Congress whom he labels antisemitic. He pointed to U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Michigan’s Jewish U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin, and New York Attorney General Dana Nessel—all of whom, according to Klein, have endorsed El‑Sayed, whom he calls “disgraceful.”
During a debate for the Michigan Senate seat, El‑Sayed reportedly said that “Israel is as evil as Hamas,” a claim that Klein says the party failed to challenge. He also said El‑Sayed refused to identify Iran, “the world’s leading state sponsor of terror,” as a greater threat than Israel.
Klein noted that El‑Sayed had described Judaism as “a light unto the world” during his campaign, adding, “My commitment to Jewish safety is equivalent to the commitment to the safety of my own daughters.” The ZOA president said the candidate’s statements about Israel and Hamas should be seen in the context of the October 7 attacks by Hamas militants, which killed 1,200 Israelis in a coordinated assault on military bases and civilian homes.
Mamdani, “Globalize the Intifada” Comment
Klein also criticized Mamdani for refusing to condemn the phrase “globalize the intifada,” a slogan used by extremist groups that calls for violence against Jews worldwide. Klein called Mamdani “a monster” and a “jihadist Jew‑hater supporter of terrorism.” Mamdani, in turn, has said he “protects our Jewish neighbors” and will fight against antisemitism.
Israel’s Upcoming Election and Policy Recommendations
The interview ended with Klein’s remarks about Israel’s upcoming elections, scheduled for October 27. He warned that if the new government were to rely on a coalition that includes left‑of‑center parties, the Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, might be forced to make concessions. “His hands would be somewhat tied if he’s forced to bring people from left of the center to have a coalition,” Klein said. He urged the Israeli government to adopt a “tough‑as‑nails” approach and to respond with “overwhelming force” to any future terrorism.
Reactions and Context
Klein’s comments come amid ongoing debate in the United States about the political alignment of anti‑Israel advocacy groups and the influence of such voices on policy. The ZOA, a 501(c)(3) organization that has been accused by some of stoking antisemitic sentiment, has clarified that it is “unpermitted by law to talk candidacies as opposed to their positions.” Klein’s interview was part of a broader media campaign in which the organization has called for stronger condemnation of antisemitic rhetoric within the Democratic Party.
The Democratic National Committee has not issued any statement in response to the ZOA president’s remarks. Meanwhile, the Michigan Senate race has remained a focal point of discussion about the influence of foreign policy views on local elections. The candidates’ positions on Israel, Palestine, and Iran continue to be scrutinized by voters and political observers alike.
