Jewish Dems bemoan rising antisemitic hostility within party

Michigan State Rep. Noah Arbit said he is bearing witness to “the unmasking of American antisemitism under the guise of criticism of Israel.”

By World Israel News Staff

Jewish Democratic officials say they increasingly feel unwelcome within their own party, citing increasingly hardline positions on Israel that have made many Jewish elected officials and activists feel unwelcome in progressive political spaces.

New York City Comptroller Mark Levine told CNN that conversations on unrelated policy issues frequently shift toward Israel.

“No matter what the topic — it can be affordable housing — it’s just a matter of time before someone links it to Israel,” Levine said.

Levine argued that expectations placed on Jewish progressives have become increasingly narrow, requiring them to adopt increasingly anti-Israel positions to remain accepted within some left-leaning political circles.

“What is the list of litmus test issues? As far as I know, at this point, it is exclusively a list of questions on Israel. We’re progressives. We’re absolutely willing to criticize the actions of the current government of Israel. And we are. But we’re feeling excluded from many spaces right now, and it’s hard to conclude it’s not because we’re Jewish.”

Michigan state Rep. Noah Arbit echoed similar concerns, saying he has become increasingly uncertain whether the Democratic Party still feels like his political home, despite identifying as both progressive and openly gay.

“After I leave office, I’m not sure I’ll ever call myself a Democrat again,” Arbit said. “I don’t know how Jews can feel like you can align yourself with any political movement when the grassroots are so hostile to who you are and your community.”

Arbit also challenged a common argument advanced by some progressive activists — that anti-Zionism should be viewed as entirely separate from antisemitism.

“I don’t see this as a right or left issue,” he said. “I see this as the unmasking of American antisemitism under the guise of criticism of Israel.”