43 Democrats rebuke Jayapal characterization of Israel as a ‘racist state’

More than 40 House Democrats had signed on Tuesday to a stern rebuke of top progressive Rep. Pramila Jayapal’s weekend description of Israel as a “racist state,” while the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a resolution of support for the Jewish state — with Jayapal among those voting “yea.”

Jayapal (D-Wash.), who chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus, made the comment Saturday at the Netroots Nation progressive event in Chicago. She later tried to walk back her accusation, saying she does not believe the “idea of Israel as a nation is racist,” but rather that the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has enacted prejudiced policies.

Some 43 party lawmakers signed a letter circulated by Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) denouncing her remarks.

“We are deeply concerned about Representative Pramila Jayapal’s unacceptable comments regarding our historic, democratic ally Israel, and we appreciate her retraction,” the letter said.

“Israel is the legitimate homeland of the Jewish people and efforts to delegitimize and demonize it are not only dangerous and antisemitic, but they also undermine America’s national security.”

Gottheimer and Jayapal hail from different wings of the Democratic Party, with the former serving as the Co-Chairman of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, and the latter known as one of the most left-wing members of the House.

Notably, the Gottheimer letter called out Jayapal by name, unlike the repudiation offered by the top three House Democrats, led by Brooklyn Rep. Hakeem Jeffries.

“Israel remains the only vibrant, progressive, and inclusive democracy in the region. Arab parties serve in the Knesset, women serve at the highest levels of the military, and the country remains an oasis for LGBTQ+ people in a region hostile toward the community. Pluralism flourishes in Israel,” the Gottheimer letter added.

Late Tuesday, ahead of an address to a joint meeting of Congress by Israeli President Isaac Herzog, the House voted 412-9 in favor of a resolution “expressing the sense of Congress supporting the State of Israel.”

The nine “no” votes all came from Democrats: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Cori Bush of Missouri, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Jamaal Bowman of New York, Delia Ramirez of Illinois, Summer Lee of Pennsylvania, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts and Andre Carson of Indiana. Another Democrat, Betty McCollum of Minnesota, voted “present.”

“This was a political ploy by Republicans to target Democrats and try to divide us,” Jayapal told reporters after the vote. “I am not going to be bullied by their political games and I’m not going to let them try to continue this debate. So I voted yes on the resolution.”

Explaining her “no” vote, Pressley tweeted: “That my colleagues would be more concerned with silencing a woman of color for speaking truth to power than ending human rights abuses abroad is a damning commentary on the state of our Congress.”

Jaypal got herself into trouble while attempting to assuage “Free Palestine” protesters who disrupted her Netroots Nation appearance.

“As somebody who’s been in the streets and participated in a lot of demonstrations, I want you to know that we have been fighting to make it clear that Israel is a racist state,” she said in response. 

“I want you to know that while you may have arguments with whether or not some of us on stage are fighting hard enough, I do want you to know there is an organized opposition on the other side and it isn’t the people who are on this stage.”

Facing backlash, Jayapal released a lengthy statement to clarify her remarks.

“The rush to condemn her offhand remarks is […] about raising the political price of speaking about Israel forthrightly. […] It’s easier for Israel’s most stalwart boosters to harp on a critic’s slight misstatement”https://t.co/ZkNc9hE4NU

— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) July 18, 2023

“I do not believe the idea of Israel as a nation is racist,” she said, in part. “I do, however, believe that Netanyahu’s extreme right-wing government has engaged in discriminatory and outright racist policies.”

Later, she began retweeting allies who rallied to her defense.

“The rush to condemn her offhand remarks is […] about raising the political price of speaking about Israel forthrightly. […] It’s easier for Israel’s most stalwart boosters to harp on a critic’s slight misstatement,” she quoted from a New York Times opinion piece defending her.

Herzog’s visit to Washington, which included a White House meeting with President Biden, is meant to mark the 75th anniversary of Israel’s founding.

Omar, Bowman, Tlaib, Bush and AOC are among the Democratic “nay” votes who have pledged to boycott Herzog’s remarks.

Jayapal has indicated she likely won’t make the speech either, but cited a scheduling conflict rather than objection to the Israeli head of state’s presence.