Hasan Piker blames Jewish voters' shift from Democrats on Israel; critics call it antisemitic

Right · 2On Wednesday 14 October, streamer Hasan Piker wrote on X that it was "wild that this many jewish voters are leaving the democratic party over israel," adding that it was "literally over the continuation of israel's belligerence" and that Republican alternatives were not offering a more appealing policy agenda. 1 2 Right · 1He was responding to a CNN clip in which chief data analyst Harry Enten said, citing Siena polling, that the Democratic advantage among New York Jewish voters in U.S. House polling had fallen from 40 points in 2018 and 49 points in 2022 to an average of 13 points this year, a 36-point shift. 1 Right · 1Enten said Democrats were still ahead but that Republican numbers among Jewish voters were historically strong, and that developments of recent years had had a large effect on how Jewish voters say they will vote for governor and Congress; Fox News also reported that Jewish support for Gov. Kathy Hochul had dropped since 2022. 1

Right · 2Republican Jewish Coalition communications director Sam Markstein told Fox News Digital that Piker's statement "plays directly into the oldest antisemitic trope of dual loyalty" and trivializes a spike in anti-Jewish hatred; he said Jews are leaving because Democratic leadership appeases "radicalized elements" of its base. 1 2 Right · 1Markstein also called Piker an "antisemitic bigot" who said "America deserved 9/11" and who campaigned with Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed; the articles do not include a response from Piker on these characterisations. 1 Right · 1Former Columbia professor Shai Davidai replied on X, "It's not 'over Israel.' It's over people like you," and New York Post columnist Karol Markowicz argued Jewish voters had other reasons, citing assaults on Jews in New York and criticism of Mayor Zohran Mamdani. 1

Right · 1Fox News said Piker, a longtime critic of Israel, had in August drawn criticism from lawmakers of both parties for saying that if American Jews keep presenting themselves as singularly invested in Israel, "someone will come around and take action" against American Jews; Democratic Sens. Elissa Slotkin and Jacky Rosen, Sen. Cory Booker and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries were among Democrats who condemned him, and El-Sayed distanced himself. 1 Right · 1Breitbart, citing Fox News, added context from its own earlier reporting: Sen. John Fetterman said in May the party must confront "its own rising antisemitism problem," Rep. Dan Goldman said in June antisemitism was "becoming normalized," and Sen. Rick Scott said in September that figures such as Piker and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez were running the party. 2