Election Heat
Jewish California Senator Wiener Now Calls Israel's Gaza Actions Genocide
Jewish Democrat Scott Wiener caves to progressive pressure, labels Gaza war "genocide" after being heckled at candidate forum. Former allies cry betrayal as California state senator shifts rhetoric in competitive primary for Pelosi's seat.
In a stunning reversal that's stirring waves in Jewish and progressive circles, California State Senator Scott Wiener has labeled Israel's military operations in Gaza as "genocide," marking a pivotal shift after years of measured criticism. The announcement, made via a video on X (formerly Twitter), comes amid intense scrutiny in his bid to succeed Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi in Congress.
Wiener, a prominent Jewish Democrat known for his advocacy on housing and LGBTQ+ rights, explained his initial hesitation stemmed from the word's deep trauma for Jews, coined in the wake of the Holocaust. "For the past two years, I've harshly opposed Israel's escalations in Gaza... but I haven't used the word genocide," he said in the clip. However, after witnessing the "absolute devastation and catastrophic death toll," he concluded that the Israeli government's actions, including efforts to "destroy Gaza and push Palestinians out," meet the definition.
The change of heart follows backlash at a January 7 congressional candidates forum, where Wiener was heckled and booed for declining to affirm the term, while rivals Saikat Chakrabarti and Connie Chan readily agreed.
Pro-Palestinian protesters have repeatedly targeted him, chanting accusations of complicity in genocide at events, including a family-friendly Halloween gathering.
Reactions poured in swiftly. Pro-Israel voices like former Knesset member Einat Wilf and commentator John Podhoretz decried it as a "betrayal," with Podhoretz slamming Wiener for succumbing to pressure.
On the left, some dismissed the move as opportunistic pandering in a fiercely competitive Democratic primary in San Francisco's progressive stronghold, where all leading candidates now endorse the label. The race, heating up ahead of the June primary, underscores deepening rifts within the party over Israel-Palestine.
Wiener has long condemned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's "extremist right-wing government" and opposed U.S. funding for actions "destroying Palestinian communities", but his use of "genocide," a term he once avoided, signals a broader evolution in Democratic rhetoric.
As the campaign intensifies, this stance could alienate moderate Jewish voters while appealing to the district's activist base.