Bill Maher rips Democrats' socialist wing over Israel: 'We need to talk about that'

WASHINGTON, DC: Bill Maher did not hold back when discussing the Democratic Party's problems lately. He expressed concern about the growing influence of the progressive and socialist side, especially when it comes to Israel and Gaza. He said the debate is not going away and is becoming harder for Democrats to handle.

During his conversation, Maher pointed to Sen. Jon Ossoff, praising the Georgia senator's speaking style and his willingness to go after Donald Trump. Still, Maher noted that Ossoff's Jewish identity puts him in the middle of the party's increasingly heated debate about Israel.

Bill Maher says Israel debate is dividing Democrats

Maher began by praising Ossoff, describing the Georgia senator as having an “Obama-esque” speaking style and saying he had recently delivered the kind of criticism of Trump that many on the left had been looking for.

“He’s kind of Obama-esque when he speaks,” Maher said. “And he really lit into Trump in a way that people seem to be certainly on the left thirsting for.”

Maher said Ossoff's Jewish identity matters in the larger debate playing out among Democrats.

“And the problem is he’s Jewish,” Maher said. “I mean, I know we don’t want to talk about that, but we need to talk about that because that is the situation in the Democratic Party.”

He pushed back against calling Israel's actions in Gaza genocide, pointing out that the word has a specific definition. He warned that using charged language like that shapes public opinion before people actually dig into the details of what is happening.

“They think Gaza is a genocide. It is not,” Maher said. “There’s an actual meaning to the word genocide.”

Bill Maher points to Scott Wiener confrontation

Maher also brought up a recent confrontation involving San Francisco Democrat Scott Wiener, who is seeking to succeed former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Congress.

According to Maher, Wiener faced a confrontation involving Democratic Socialists of America members after he did not use the term “genocide” when discussing Israel and Gaza.

“He’s gay. They’re not really gay unless you, what the f*** does that have to do with genocide?” Maher said.

Maher saw the confrontation as part of a bigger fight inside the Democratic Party, a clash between the old-guard establishment and the rising, louder progressive wing.

He took aim at “Queers for Palestine” protests, highlighting the sharp contrast between Israel's recognition of LGBTQ rights and the situation in the rest of the Middle East.

His remarks fit in with his ongoing criticism of progressive Democrats, especially when it comes to how the party deals with Israel, Gaza, and the influence of socialist activists.