Piers Morgan Israel Antisemitism Debate Sparks Controversy

In a contentious interview on Piers Morgan Uncensored broadcast yesterday, Piers grilled Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel on the potential link between Israel's military operations in Gaza and the rising threats to Jewish communities globally, including the recent terrorist attack at Bondi Beach.

Morgan, framing his question as reflecting widespread sentiment, stated: "The but is an important but, which is that many people feel that by killing over 70,000 people now including over 20,000 children reportedly, by blowing to pieces 75-80 percent of Gaza itself, by waging a three-month blockade of much of the food and aid in the early part... through these actions, many people feel that the lives of Jews around the world have been made less safe by the actions of the Israeli government."

He pressed Haskel, a former Bondi resident, on whether the Israeli government had considered this potential backlash, expressing his own growing concern for Jewish safety worldwide while noting his opposition to past wars like the UK-led Iraq invasion.

Haskel firmly pushed back, asserting that the Bondi massacre, perpetrated by two gunmen inspired by Islamic State, killing 15 at a Hanukkah gathering on December 14, was fueled by unchecked antisemitic incitement in pro-Palestinian protests, such as calls to "globalize the intifada."

She defended Israel's actions as a last resort in a war imposed by Hamas, emphasizing that no conflict avoids casualties and that Israel prioritizes diplomatic paths when possible. "If you want to tell me any war conducted by America or Britain or Pakistan... that they can conduct a war without any casualties, I tell you it's impossible," she said.

Haskel urged stronger condemnation of hate speech in Western societies, while Morgan reiterated his condemnation of the Bondi attack but maintained scrutiny on Israel's response in Gaza.

Pro-Israel commentators are furious, arguing that Piers blames the Israeli government for provoking antisemitism, echoing harmful tropes that hold Jews or Israel responsible for prejudice against them, which is nothing more than victim-blaming.