By Jim Morley | Saturday, 01 November 2025 06:12 PM EDT
As the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) convenes in Las Vegas this week, conservatives are increasingly troubled by a surge in antisemitic rhetoric among mainstream right-wing political figures. The Wall Street Journal highlighted in an opinion essay that Republicans, including Vice President JD Vance, must address the growing popularity of anti-Israel sentiments from influential commentators like Tucker Carlson and Nick Fuentes, as well as some members of Congress.
Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., told Newsmax on Saturday that criticism of Israel “is rooted in antisemitism.” He stated, “We have seen among some colleagues a tendency toward antisemitic and anti-Israel rhetoric. Anti-Zionism is antisemitism. Those who oppose a Jewish state but show no concern for dozens of Arab or Christian countries are inconsistent. It is bizarre to focus exclusively on one nation-state that is Jewish,” Lawler said during an appearance on “Saturday Agenda.”
Lawler, representing New York’s 17th Congressional District, emphasized the strong U.S.-Israel bond, calling it “rooted in shared values.” He added, “Our two countries are democracies built on freedom and uplifting their populations. Criticism of Israel is often antisemitic.”
He pledged unwavering support for Israel and the Jewish people, stating, “I will never waver in my defense of Israel or the Jewish community. No matter where antisemitism emerges—whether from far-left figures like AOC or Zohran Mamdani, or right-wing voices such as [Rep.] Marjorie Taylor Green—it must be confronted.”
