Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused a pro-Israel Democratic congresswoman of “excusing antisemitism” after she said his actions put Jewish Americans in an uncomfortable position.

Story Snapshot

• Netanyahu fired back at Rep. Haley Stevens on CNN, saying she “can’t stand up for the truth” after she criticized him publicly.
• Netanyahu accused Stevens and her supporters of backing Hamas — a group he said “murdered people, beheaded our men, raped our women, and burned babies alive.”
• Stevens has a documented pro-Israel record, including endorsement by the Democratic Majority for Israel political action committee and a recent statement backing joint US-Israel action against Iran.
• The clash highlights a growing divide inside the Democratic Party over Israel — and a broader national surge in antisemitism targeting Jewish lawmakers.

Netanyahu Pushes Back Hard on CNN

During a CNN interview, anchor Dana Bash asked Netanyahu about comments made by Michigan Representative Haley Stevens. Stevens had said Netanyahu “made us less safe” and “frankly put Jews in an uncomfortable position.” Netanyahu did not hold back. He accused Stevens of excusing antisemitism and said she “can’t stand up for the truth.” He also pointed to Israel’s democratic record, noting that Muslim citizens make up 20% of participants in institutions like Israel’s Supreme Court and parliament.

Netanyahu went further, accusing Stevens and those who share her criticism of siding with Hamas. He described Hamas fighters as terrorists who “murdered people, beheaded our men, raped our women, and burned babies alive.” That is a direct reference to the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. Netanyahu framed any softening of criticism toward Hamas as a moral failure — and placed Stevens in that category based on her public statements.

Stevens Has a Strong Pro-Israel Record

The accusation surprised many observers because Stevens has one of the more pro-Israel voting records among House Democrats. The Democratic Majority for Israel political action committee endorses her, calling her a “proud pro-Israel Democrat” who believes America is stronger when it stands with democratic allies. After the United States and Israel conducted joint strikes on Iran, Stevens appeared in a video for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee reaffirming her commitment to Israel.

Stevens also traveled to Israel in August 2023 with other members of Congress to get a firsthand look at Netanyahu’s policies. Her criticism of Netanyahu appears to target his leadership style and decisions — not Israel itself. There is no documented evidence that she has defended antisemitic acts or expressed support for Hamas in any form.

A Party Divided — and a Nation Facing Rising Hate

This clash reflects a real and growing split inside the Democratic Party. Left-wing activists have booed Stevens at party events in Michigan because of her pro-Israel stance. At the same time, she faces accusations from Netanyahu that she is soft on antisemitism. She is caught in the middle — too pro-Israel for the party’s left wing, and not supportive enough for Netanyahu.

Incredible moment where Netanyahu lays into Haley Stevens and says she’s “excusing antisemitism” before Dana Bash morphs into a Stevens comms staffer and seems to have to inform Netanyahu that he should want her to win her election pic.twitter.com/LqAUPq0emN

— Hamid Bendaas 🇩🇿🇵🇸 (@HBendaas) July 7, 2026

The broader backdrop makes this fight even more serious. Antisemitism in American politics has surged to alarming levels. Jewish lawmakers now deal with hate speech in campaign ads, on social media, and in direct messages to their offices every single day. A psychological study found that some liberals tend to judge antisemitic statements less harshly when those statements are framed as criticism of Israel — a dynamic that Netanyahu’s comments appear to directly address. Whether or not his accusations against Stevens were fair, the underlying problem — rising hatred toward Jewish people in American public life — is very real and demands honest answers from leaders in both parties.

Sources:

dmfipac.org, bloomberg.com, instagram.com, heritageaction.com, stevens.house.gov