Comedian Bill Maher spent the first night of Rosh Hashanah taking aim at Macklemore and other anti-Israel celebrities, arguing that calling the war in Gaza a genocide is fueling a global rise in antisemitism.During Friday night’s episode of HBO’s "Real Time," Maher first criticized members of the Democratic Party who have spoken out against Israel during the Israel-Hamas war."Because nowhere has this moral confusion become more obvious than in a place called Gaza," Maher said."A little strip of land that was not part of the original Israel.
But they won in a war launched against them, but then gave back, gave back as a peace gesture — did they tell you that part on TikTok, kids?"BILL MAHER BLASTS DEMOCRATIC PARTY, SAYS IT IS FINE WITH RELIGION 'AS LONG AS THAT FAITH ISN’T JEWISH'Comedian and television host Bill Maher arrives for the 27th Mark Twain Prize for American Humor gala at the John F.Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on June 28, 2026, in Washington, D.C.
(Alex Wroblewski/AFP via Getty Images)Maher then turned his attention to Macklemore — whose real name is Benjamin Hammond Haggerty — after the musician repeatedly made calls to "Free Palestine" while performing his anti-Israel song "Hind's Hall" as an opening act for Ed Sheeran at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey earlier this month."I think Macklemore spoke for all clueless celebrities when he said, ‘I know enough to know this is a genocide,’" Maher continued."Actually, you don't know s---.
It's not.It's not a genocide.
It's a counter-attack in a war."MS RACHEL CONFRONTED ON ACCUSING ISRAEL OF 'GENOCIDE' IN PARK INTERACTION WITH PODCASTERMacklemore performs at St Anne's Park on June 4, 2025 in Dublin, Ireland.(Kieran Frost/Redferns via Getty Images)The "Thrift Shop" rapper made headlines in early September for his comments about the Israel-Hamas war while on stage at the concert, where he wore a keffiyeh as he delivered his message to the crowd."A big part of the reas...