The House voted 412-9 Tuesday to pass a resolution condemning antisemitism and expressing support for Israel, responding to comments by Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), who called Israel a “racist state” this weekend.
U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) voted yes for the non-binding resolution. (Photo by Alex ... [+]
Jayapal, who walked back her comment that sparked the resolution, was one of the several yes votes Tuesday—with nine Democrats including, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), voting no.
All Republicans voted yes with one member of the House, Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), voting present.
The resolution stated “the State of Israel is not a racist or apartheid state,” adding “Congress rejects all forms of antisemitism and xenophobia” and that the U.S. will “always” be a partner and supporter of Israel.
In a further show of support for Israel, President Joe Biden also met with Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog on Tuesday—when Biden said the U.S.’s commitment to Israel was “ironclad.”
“I think there’s a real problem with pairing these two issues — accusations of antisemitism with real concerns around the human rights crisis in the region,” Ocasio-Cortez told reporters, according to NBC News. “Combining both a vote on antisemitism and discussion of apartheid and different rules and two-tier legal systems is very cynical.”
Jayapal’s comment was made Saturday during a panel at a Netroots Nation event, a progressive political convention where she said, “we have been fighting to make it clear that Israel is a racist state, that the Palestinian people deserve self-determination and autonomy, that the dream of a two-state solution is slipping away from us.” Jayapal received backlash from both parties, which prompted a statement from the Washington state Democrat in which she said she “attempted to defuse a tense situation during a panel where fellow members of Congress were being protested” and that she does not “believe the idea of Israel as a nation is racist.” However, she noted that the administration of Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has engaged in racist policies. That sentiment has gained support from some Democrats who have criticized the Israeli government as an apartheid state that actively attacks Palestinians.
49%. That’s the percentage of Democrats who said they sympathized more with Palestinians as opposed to Israelis in a February Gallup survey.
U.S. House Backs Israel in 412-9 Vote After Democrat Called State ‘Racist’ (Wall Street Journal)
House overwhelmingly passes resolution backing Israel after Rep. Jayapal calls it a 'racist state' (NBC)