 The Anti-Defamation League cited the words as an example of 'demonization, dehumanization of settlers'.Dov Wilker of the ethnic advocacy group American Jewish Committee was reported as saying Johnson had compared Jewish Israelis to 'vermin' and that he was using a centuries-old anti-Semitic trope used against Jews.Rabbi David Wolpe called it an anti-Semitic smear and questioned Johnson's apology, writing, "I am sorry I said something stupid and anti-Semitic"—that would have been a fitting apology.