Do Zionists Care More About Israel Than America?

The “Israel First” Accusation

Ana Kasparian recently said she liked Zohran Mamdani because he does not bend to people who “care more about Zionism than what’s best for the people of NYC.”

The suggestion is familiar from The Young Turks: if an American draws a firm line over Israel, that person must care more about Israel than the people they represent.

It is an easy accusation to make. It is much harder to defend.

What Fetterman Actually Said

Senator John Fetterman has said that if the Democratic Party formally turns against Israel and refuses it any aid, he would have to reconsider remaining a Democrat. That is a political red line. It does not, by itself, tell us that he would put Israel’s interests ahead of America’s.

Consider why someone might hold that position. Hamas official Ghazi Hamad said the October 7 attack would be followed by many more similar attacks until Israel had been extinguished. An American who takes those threats seriously may regard Israel’s security as a grave moral issue. One can disagree with that person’s preferred US policy. One cannot simply declare their concern evidence of divided loyalty.

That accusation has a history TYT should know. For centuries, Jews have been portrayed as citizens whose real allegiance lies elsewhere. Today, the charge often takes the form of claiming that American Jews care more about Israel than America. Calling a politician or voter “Israel first” because they support Israel draws on that same antisemitic trope. It questions their loyalty instead of answering their argument.

That does not make criticism of Israel, its government or US military aid antisemitic. Fetterman’s critics are free to argue that aid is ineffective, that it carries unacceptable costs, or that particular Israeli actions do not deserve American support. Those are arguments about policy. An accusation of disloyalty is something else.

The Standard TYT Does Not Apply to Itself

There is another problem with the accusation. Cenk Uygur, Kasparian and many other progressives have made the Israel–Palestine conflict a decisive issue in their own politics. They judge candidates and parties by their positions on a conflict abroad. They plainly believe that what happens there matters to their political choices at home.

That is their right. Americans can care deeply about people beyond America’s borders, including Palestinians and Israelis. They can make those concerns a voting priority without forfeiting their concern for their neighbours.

The same principle must apply to people who support Israel. If opposing aid to Israel can be a matter of conscience, supporting that aid can be one too. The disagreement deserves a serious debate about consequences, obligations and US interests.

Calling American Zionists “Israel first” because they reach the opposite conclusion ends that debate before it begins. TYT should answer their argument, not question their loyalty.