Scott Wiener
Wiener's campaign platform opposes offensive arms sales to an Israeli government not committed to peace and U.S. funding for the destruction of Palestinian communities; it supports defensive systems like Iron Dome. On January 11, 2026 he said Israel's campaign in Gaza "qualifies as genocide."
Wiener's 2026 campaign foreign policy platform states he "will not support U.S. funding for the destruction of Palestinian communities in Gaza or the West Bank" and will not support "offensive arms sales to an Israeli government not committed to peace." It says the U.S. should keep providing Israel defensive systems such as Iron Dome and David's Sling. The platform also opposes the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement. Separately, as a funding decision, he has taken the Reject AIPAC pledge and is "neither seeking nor accepting support from AIPAC, due to significant policy differences." The platform page is undated; it was verified on August 10, 2026.
At a January 7, 2026 CA-11 candidate debate, Wiener declined to answer yes or no when asked whether Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. On January 11, 2026 he posted: "I've stopped short of calling it genocide, but I can't anymore," saying the Israeli government "has tried to destroy Gaza and to push Palestinians out and that qualifies as genocide." On a January 20, 2026 Haaretz Podcast episode he said he had earlier avoided the term because it has been weaponized against Jewish people. In early 2026 he stepped down as co-chair of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus after criticism over the genocide statement.
In February 2024 he joined Jewish Caucus colleagues in opposing a proposed Gaza ceasefire resolution in the state legislature (Jewish Insider reference date is the source's; see research page). On June 27, 2026 he was pursued by protesters shouting anti-Zionist slogans at a San Francisco Trans March and called the harassment antisemitic; this is safety context, not a weapons or funding position. A June 29, 2026 CBS interview in which he reportedly said the U.S. should not fund the Israeli military appears only via a source that would not open; see research page.
Research
U.S. military aid and weapons to Israel
- Undated, 2026 campaign platform [Current position, dated by campaign context; page undated, read 2026-08-03, read again 2026-08-10]: "will not support U.S. funding for the destruction of Palestinian communities in Gaza or the West Bank"; no "offensive arms sales to an Israeli government not committed to peace"; supports defensive systems "such as Iron Dome and David's Sling, which protect ten million Jewish, Muslim, and Christian civilians." Verified verbatim at scottwiener.com/foreign-policy. Duplicates the summary already on the record, so it is not repeated.
- 2021-05-16 [Earlier record]: Statement on escalating violence acknowledged Israel's reliance on missile defense to protect civilians and expressed concern for Palestinian civilians facing Israeli strikes.
- 2026-06-29 [Current position; EXCLUDED from card, source did not open]: In a CBS News interview Wiener reportedly said "I don't think that we should be funding the Israeli military. We shouldn't be funding the destruction of Palestinian communities." Only source is a Facebook post of the CBS segment (would not open); no usable link.
Characterization of the conflict
- 2021-05-16 [Earlier record]: Supported a two-state solution with a "Jewish and democratic Israel living side-by-side, in peace, with a Palestinian state" and condemned Hamas attacks. Statement.
- 2023-10-11 [Months after October 7, 2023]: Statement condemning the October 7 attacks as the worst massacre of Jewish people since the Holocaust; in following weeks he advocated a ceasefire and an end to escalation in Gaza.
- 2026-01-07 [Current position]: At a CA-11 primary debate he declined to answer yes or no on whether Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, drawing jeers. KQED.
- 2026-01-11 [Current position]: Video and post: "I've stopped short of calling it genocide, but I can't anymore"; the Israeli government "has tried to destroy Gaza and to push Palestinians out and that qualifies as genocide." Verified against KQED; also a YouTube short.
- 2026-01-20 [Current position]: On the Haaretz Podcast (audio, text unverified) he said he had avoided the term genocide because it has historically been weaponized against Jewish people, and that Netanyahu's actions in Gaza met the definition.
- 2026-06-29 [Current position; source did not open]: In a broadcast interview he described Netanyahu's government as "extremists" and "messianic" who are "massacring Palestinians"; the only source is a Facebook post that would not open.
- Undated, 2026 campaign materials [Current position, dated by campaign context]: characterized West Bank settlement expansion as illegal, designed to prevent a Palestinian state, and a step toward ethnic cleansing. Cited to the platform.
Rhetoric and lobbying
- February 2024 [Current position; month-only date taken from the text itself]: As co-chair of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus, joined colleagues opposing a proposed Gaza ceasefire resolution in the Legislature. Source cited by the first search: Jewish Insider.
- Early 2026 [Current position; inline approximate date]: Stepped down as Jewish Caucus co-chair after criticism over his genocide statement. Jewish Insider, KQED.
- Undated, 2026 campaign platform: Signed the Reject AIPAC pledge; "neither seeking nor accepting support from AIPAC, due to significant policy differences." A funding decision, separate from his arms position. Platform.
- Undated, 2026 campaign platform: Reaffirmed opposition to the global BDS movement. Platform.
Safety and antisemitism (context, not a weapons or funding position)
- 2021-05-16 [Earlier record]: Described experiences growing up with antisemitism and threats received as an official. Statement.
- October 2025 [Current position; inline month-only date]: Newsom signed a school antisemitism prevention bill Wiener championed as Jewish Caucus co-leader. Jewish Insider.
- 2026-06-27 [Current position]: Pursued by protesters shouting anti-Zionist slogans at the San Francisco Trans March; left the event. J Weekly, Jewish Insider.
- 2026-06-29/30 [Current position]: In CNN and CBS interviews he called the harassment "absolutely" antisemitic. Jewish Insider; the CBS Facebook source would not open.
- Undated, 2026 campaign platform: Denounced antisemitism from the far right and far left. Platform.
Note: two localcandidates.org sources would not open; all claims relying on them are also covered by the platform page.
Also in this race: Connie Chan (Democrat) · All California candidates.
See the full record →But What Can You Do? tracks where 2026 candidates stand on U.S. weapons and funding for the government of Israel. Every claim on this page goes through at least two verification steps. Open the interactive card for votes, funding and contact details.