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Transcript - February 9 Hearing Excerpt, Boller with Frankel, Berman and Patrick
This transcript captures a tense, high‑stakes exchange during a White House Religious Liberty Commission hearing in which Commissioner Carrie Prejean Boller directly challenges the increasingly common practice of labeling anti‑Zionist speech as antisemitic. The excerpt centers on her questioning of witness Yitzchok Frankel, followed by exchanges with Rabbi Ari Berman, Dan Patrick, and Dr. Ben Carson.
The narrative unfolds as Boller presses Frankel on a core constitutional and moral dilemma: whether Americans can condemn antisemitism while also criticizing Israeli military actions in Gaza or rejecting political Zionism. She frames the issue through the lens of First Amendment protections and the experiences of students protesting civilian deaths in Gaza. Frankel responds by insisting that anti‑Zionism is inherently antisemitic, invoking the “three D’s” framework (delegitimization, demonization, double standards).
Boller then introduces a statement from Rabbi Shapiro — a Jewish anti‑Zionist voice she had attempted to bring as a witness, but was denied — arguing that Zionist ideology itself creates antisemitic conditions by implying American Jews owe political loyalty to Israel. She asks whether such a critique is antisemitic. Frankel again asserts that anti‑Zionism equals antisemitism.
The exchange escalates when Boller asks the witnesses to clarify whether Catholics, who historically do not embrace Zionist theology, are therefore “anti‑Semites.” Rabbi Berman reiterates that denying Israel’s right to exist constitutes antisemitism, while Dan Patrick repeatedly interrupts, attempting to shut down the line of questioning. Boller counters that the commission cannot meaningfully address religious liberty without defining the boundaries of protected speech around Israel.
The transcript ends with Dr. Ben Carson praising the passion of the discussion.