Geraldo Rivera said Thursday night that Sen. Ted Cruz’s attack on “New York values” is actually a form of anti-Semitism.

In an appearance on Fox News Channel’s “O’Reilly Factor,” Mr. Rivera, also a Fox News correspondent, said that Mr. Cruz’s explanation that he meant to attack a certain sort of liberalism didn’t hold water because “”He could have very easily said that.”

Mr. Rivera called the “New York values” comment an example of “stinking anti-Semitic implications” pandering to Iowa voters, the nominal audience for the debate during which Mr. Cruz made the remarks about real-estate tycoon Donald Trump.

“He also voted against Hurricane Sandy relief. He also voted against compensation for 9/11 victims. This is a man whose interests are absolutely antithetical to New York,” said Mr. Rivera, who was born in Brooklyn.

An incredulous Mr. O’Reilly said he doesn’t see attacking New Yorkers as anti-Semitic and cited Mr. Cruz’s explanation, which the candidate reiterated Thursday, about liberal politicians such as Mayor Bill de Blasio and Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Mr. Cruz is trailing badly in New York, placing third in polling behind not only the New Yorker Mr. Trump, but also Ohio Gov. John Kasich.

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