Attorney Marc Zell, chairman of the Republican Party’s Israel branch, suggested that despite a post-convention bump for Hillary Clinton, Democrats are beginning to panic over their nominee’s performance and the chances Donald Trump could win this November.

Speaking with Arutz Sheva, Zell defended Trump from criticism over his recent dustup with Khizr and Ghazala Khan, the Pakistani-born parents of Humayun Khan, a US Army Captain who was killed in the line of duty in Iraq in 2004.

After Khizr Khan ripped Trump while speaking at last week’s Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, the GOP nominee responded in kind, suggesting Ghazala Khan, Khizr’s wife did not offer her own address because perhaps “she wasn’t allowed to have anything to say” – a reference to the couple’s religion as Muslims.

While Trump’s comment sparked a firestorm of controversy, including condemnations from 2008 Republican presidential nominee John McCain, Zell dismissed the issue as overblown.

“This father [Khizr Khan] has ties to the Saudi royal family. As a lawyer he works with immigration cases, and he has an interest to bring terrorists into the US. With all due respect for what his heroic son did, he dragged his son into a political argument because of his own narrow personal interests.”

Turning to the upcoming election, Zell suggested that despite polling showing Clinton leading by an average of four to five points, Democrats are growing seriously concerned by the possibility that Clinton could lose this November.

“Barack Obama in 2008 was not prepared for the presidency. He also had no experience, and we’re seeing the results after eight years. There are political attacks [against Trump] that mask the panic among Democrats following Trump’s nomination; they’re worried he will win and they’re doing everything they can to try to bring him down.”

Zell added that this year’s election would be the dirtiest ever.

“The media, other than Fox News and the Wall Street Journal, are totally enlisted [in the campaign] against Trump. It reflects just how panicked the Democrats are, and they will do everything to stop Trump. The American public is furious with the political establishment. Donald Trump is the only one [running] against the establishment, which is why the Democrats are worried. They know that Hillary represents the establishment.”