CNN host Abby Phillip on Saturday pressed a conservative guest to distinguish antisemitism from criticism of Israel during a heated panel discussion on “Saturday Morning Table For Five.” The exchange highlighted growing tensions over the Israel-Gaza war and shifting political stances within both parties.
Phillip Points to Shifting Views on Israel
Phillip opened the discussion by noting that both the left and right are adopting more critical stances toward the Israeli government and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. She referenced three New York City Democratic congressional candidates who won their primaries Tuesday with backing from Mayor Zohran Mamdani, all of whom are critical of Israel. She also pointed to comments by Vice President JD Vance, widely seen as taking a tougher stance on Israel.
“The Israel issue is a big one, and it’s one where both the left and the right are converging on a much more critical stance of the Israeli government and Netanyahu,” Phillip said. She argued that Vance “sees the tea leaves” and is aware that the “MAGA base turning” against Israel, as evidenced by a dramatic shift in polls. Democratic voters have also soured on Israel due to its yearslong war on Gaza following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack in 2023.
Rothman Condemns ‘Antisemitic Instincts’
Guest Noah Rothman, a writer for the conservative National Review, responded by slamming Vance and the right’s “antisemitic instincts.” Phillip interjected, “I just want to be clear because I think these are different things, right? There’s antisemitism and then there’s criticism of Israel.” Rothman conceded her point but then criticized the Democratic Socialists of America for helping elect Carmella Charrington as a district leader of the Brooklyn Democratic Party. Charrington faced backlash for recirculating a video amplifying antisemitic conspiracy theories by late Ford Motor Company founder Henry Ford, later calling it a “mistake.”
Rothman called Charrington’s post “disgusting stuff” that the Democratic Party “needs to confront.” Phillip countered that this wasn’t what she was discussing and that “a growing part of the political picture” includes criticism of Israel. “You refuse to disentangle criticism of Israel from antisemitism,” she said.
Heated Exchange Escalates
Rothman replied, “No, no, no, because we’re not describing ‘criticism,’ we’re not describing criticism of Israel when we’re saying that the ‘Zionist entity controls the banks.’” A frustrated Phillip reiterated, “That’s not what I’m talking about! I’m talking about people who are critical of their actions in the Middle East.” The discussion devolved into a shouting match between panelists.
The debate underscores the challenge of separating legitimate criticism of Israeli policy from antisemitic rhetoric, a line that remains contentious in U.S. politics as the war in Gaza continues.
