SNL host falsely claims Israel only vaccinating Jewish citizens

Saturday Night Live host Michael Che falsely claimed on air that Israel is only vaccinating its Jewish citizens.

"Israel is reporting that they vaccinated half their population, and I'm gonna guess it's the Jewish half," Che said.

Che's "guess," however, is false. In fact, more than two thirds of Israel's Arab citizens over the age of 60 have already been vaccinated against coronavirus.

While some commentators have attacked the Israeli government for failing to vaccinate Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, others have noted that the Palestinian Authority has rejected offers from the Israeli government to vaccinate their citizens as healthcare falls under the PA's authority. Nevertheless, the Israeli government has begun transferring doses of the vaccine to the PA.

Che's comments were roundly condemned by Jewish organizations, with the American Jewish Committee releasing a statement claiming the remarks are comparable to blood libel, writing that it constitutes "a modern twist on a classic antisemitic trope that has inspired the mass murder of countless Jews throughout the centuries."

Che has not yet commented on the controversy.