Top House Democrats Rebuke Progressive Leader’s Comments on Israel
Top House Democrats are pushing back against comments made by Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal, who referred to Israel as a “racist state” during a panel discussion at the Netroots Nation conference in Chicago. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, and Vice Chair Ted Lieu issued a statement stating that ”Israel is not a racist state,” without mentioning Jayapal by name. The statement comes as Israeli President Isaac Herzog is set to address a joint meeting of Congress later this week, which some progressives have said they will skip due to concerns about human rights.
A draft statement signed by several other House Democrats expresses “deep concern” over Jayapal’s comments, calling them ”unacceptable.” The statement also emphasizes that they will not allow anti-Zionist voices to hijack the Democratic Party and the country, as they believe it emboldens antisemitism. House progressives have been vocal about their opposition to Israeli settlements in the West Bank and the US sponsorship of Israel’s Iron Dome defense system.
In response to the backlash, Jayapal sought to clarify her remarks in a Sunday afternoon statement, stating that she does not believe Israel as a nation is racist. She also apologized “to those who I have hurt with my words” and criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “extreme right-wing government” for engaging in discriminatory and racist policies. However, her initial remark struck a nerve with some members of her own party, including Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who called it “hurtful and harmful.”
The draft statement from some Democrats also highlighted the issue of antisemitism and its impact on American national security. They emphasized that Israel is the legitimate homeland of the Jewish people and that efforts to delegitimize and demonize it are dangerous and antisemitic. House Democratic leadership echoed this sentiment, calling Israel an invaluable partner and expressing their commitment to a safe and secure Israel.
While some House Democrats have expressed their support for Herzog’s visit, several progressive members, including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Jamaal Bowman, and Cori Bush, have announced that they will not attend his speech on Capitol Hill. Herzog will also visit the White House on Tuesday, where President Joe Biden will reaffirm the United States’ commitment to Israel’s security and discuss ways to advance freedom, prosperity, and security for both Palestinians and Israelis.
The story is still developing, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
CNN’s Haley Talbot and Melanie Zanona contributed to this report.Top House Democrats Push Back Against Progressive Leader’s Comments on Israel
House Democratic leaders are criticizing comments made by Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal, who referred to Israel as a “racist state” during a panel discussion at the Netroots Nation conference in Chicago. In a statement, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, and Vice Chair Ted Lieu stated that “Israel is not a racist state,” without mentioning Jayapal by name.
A draft statement signed by several other House Democrats expresses “deep concern” over Jayapal’s comments, calling them ”unacceptable.” The statement also emphasizes that anti-Zionist voices that embolden antisemitism will not be allowed to hijack the Democratic Party and the country.
The pushback from House Democrats comes ahead of Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s address to a joint meeting of Congress later this week. Some progressive lawmakers have announced that they will skip the address due to concerns about human rights. House progressives have been vocal about their opposition to Israeli settlements in the West Bank and the US sponsorship of Israel’s Iron Dome defense system.
Jayapal, a Washington State Democrat, sought to clarify her remarks in a Sunday statement, stating that she does not believe Israel as a nation is racist. She also apologized “to those who I have hurt with my words” and criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “extreme right-wing government” for engaging in discriminatory and racist policies.
However, Jayapal’s initial comment sparked criticism from members of her own party. Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz called Jayapal’s statement “hurtful and harmful” and expressed gratitude for her retraction.
In her statement, Jayapal reiterated her commitment to a two-state solution that allows both Israelis and Palestinians to live freely and with self-determination. She explained her earlier comment by acknowledging the deep pain and hopelessness experienced by Palestinians, while also recognizing the pain and hurt of Israelis and their Jewish diaspora community.
The draft statement from some Democrats highlighted the dangers of antisemitism and its impact on American national security. The lawmakers emphasized that Israel is the legitimate homeland of the Jewish people and efforts to delegitimize and demonize it are not only dangerous and antisemitic but also undermine America’s national security.
House Democratic leadership also reaffirmed their commitment to a safe and secure Israel as an invaluable partner, ally, and beacon of democracy in the Middle East. They expressed their anticipation for Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit to the United States House of Representatives this week.
Several progressive lawmakers, including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Jamaal Bowman, and Cori Bush, have announced that they will not attend Herzog’s speech. However, Democratic leadership, including then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, extended the invitation to Herzog last year.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog will also visit the White House on Tuesday, where President Joe Biden will reaffirm the United States’ commitment to Israel’s security. The visit aims to highlight the enduring partnership and friendship between the two countries and discuss ways to advance freedom, prosperity, and security for Palestinians and Israelis.
The Biden administration has not invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Washington since taking office, reflecting policy differences between the two governments.
This story and headline have been updated with additional developments.
CNN’s Haley Talbot, Melanie Zanona, and Morgan Rimmer contributed to this report.
How do discriminatory policies affect the lives of Palestinians living under them?
Ed by Palestinians living under discriminatory policies.
The draft statement from House Democrats also highlights the issue of antisemitism and its impact on American national security. It stresses that Israel is the legitimate homeland of the Jewish people and that efforts to delegitimize and demonize it are dangerous and antisemitic. House Democratic leadership echoes this sentiment, describing Israel as an invaluable partner and expressing their commitment to a safe and secure Israel.
While some House Democrats have expressed support for President Herzog’s visit, progressive members including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Jamaal Bowman, and Cori Bush have announced that they will not attend his speech on Capitol Hill. President Herzog will also visit the White House, where President Biden is expected to reaffirm the United States’ commitment to Israel’s security and explore avenues to promote freedom, prosperity, and security for both Palestinians and Israelis.
The situation continues to develop, and further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
It is essential to foster open dialogue about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but labeling Israel as a racist state oversimplifies a complex issue. Constructive criticism should focus on promoting peace, understanding, and finding a mutually beneficial solution for both sides.