Marc Zell takes on Tucker Carlson over Israel and antisemitism

Marc Zell, leader of Republicans Overseas Israel, came out swinging against rightwing host and podcaster Tucker Carlson's increasingly anti-Israel and pro-isolationist rhetoric, arguing that it endangers the lives of hundreds of thousands of American expats living in Israel.

Carlson had recently claimed that there is no evidence that Iran is anywhere near developing a nuclear bomb, attacking pro-Israel commentator Mark Levin for claiming otherwise.

While Iran has indeed vociferously denied any plans to develop nuclear weapons, multiple European countries have noted that Iran has developed nuclear capabilities, including levels of nuclear enrichment, which have no civilian use and which can only be use for nuclear weapons.

Zell responded to Carlson by saying that "Tucker Carlson repeats dangerous Iranian propaganda and ignores basic facts about the Iranian nuclear threat. When asked why Iran has enriched uranium stocks of over 60% and why Iran has sent agents to assassinate President Trump - Carlson remains silent. Iran currently holds enough enriched uranium to produce several nuclear bombs, and this regime funds Islamist terrorism against its moderate Muslim neighbors, against American targets, and against Israel and Jews worldwide. Anyone who denies this reality is either spreading Iranian propaganda or simply doesn't understand Middle East realities."

He then noted the danger that isolationism presents to the United States: "there is an extremist isolationist wing in the Republican Party that prefers to ignore the Iranian threat to avoid being drawn into international confrontations. This is dangerous isolationism that harms both American and Israeli interests. When Iran achieves full nuclear capability, American weakness will be revealed as a historic mistake. President Trump understands that the United States cannot ignore the Iranian threat. After Iran attempted to assassinate him twice, he knows exactly who he's dealing with. People like Carlson who advise him to ignore this threat are giving dangerous advice."

Zell also took care to note the size of the American expat community in Israel: "Israel faces an existential threat from Iran. This is not the time for political isolationism or antisemitism. Carlson would do well to consider that according to U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and the State Department, over 700,000 American citizens reside in Israel - Jews, Muslims, and Christians - most of whom are eligible to vote and did vote for President Trump in 2024. The physical fate of these American citizens is directly threatened by Iran's nuclear weapons program. For them, like other citizens and residents of Israel, the Iranian threat is not theoretical or a political ploy - it is literally a matter of life and death. President Trump, who enjoys full support from the Jewish and Israeli communities, knows how to distinguish between good advice and Iranian propaganda. We are confident he will choose correctly."