The House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to pass a resolution supporting Israel after Congressional Progressive Caucus leader Pramila Jayapal (D., Wash.) drew backlash for calling the democratic nation and U.S. ally “a racist state.”
In a vote of 412 to 9, the lower chamber resolved that “the State of Israel is not a racist or apartheid state; Congress rejects all forms of antisemitism and xenophobia; and the United States will always be a staunch partner and supporter of Israel.”
The members of Congress who voted against the resolution were Democratic representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Summer Lee of Pennsylvania, Jamaal Bowman of New York, Cori Bush of Missouri, Andre Carson of Indiana, Delia Ramirez of Illinois, and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts.
Jayapal herself, who had to apologize for her remarks, voted for the pro-Israel resolution. However, she is not set to step down from her role chairing the largest caucus on the Democratic side. Nor did Democratic leadership, including Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D., N.Y.), call her out by name when it put out a statement supporting Israel.
“They need to do something about it,” House Speaker Andy McCarthy (R., Calif.) said of Democratic leadership during a Monday press conference. “Because they’ve defended these individuals time and again. The only time action has ever been taken is when we had to take the action. This is a role for the leader, Hakeem, to prove that no, they’re not antisemitic.”
When Democrats controlled the House and Ilhan Omar (D., Minn.) made antisemitic comments, the lower chamber decided not to rebuke antisemitism in particular, but bigotry in general.
This year, with Republicans newly in control, the House voted to remove Omar from the House Foreign Affairs committee for her history of antisemitic remarks.
“[Omar] equated the U.S. military and Israel security forces with Hamas and the Taliban. She said support for Israel is all about the Benjamins,” said McCarthy, adding that the Minnesota representative has also smeared American Jews by saying they have a dual loyalty.
The vote came one day before Israeli president Michael Herzog addresses a joint meeting of Congress. Some progressives, including Ocasio-Cortez, Omar, and Bowman, have said they’ll skip the speech.
Herzog met with President Joe Biden Tuesday as the administration attempts to show support for the Middle East democracy. However, critics have charged that the Biden administration has undermined Israel since it took office. In one example, the administration cut scientific and technological cooperation with Israeli entities in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights in what critics called a “boycott.”
“Since day one of their administration they have launched campaigns against our Israeli allies that are granular, whole of government, and done in secret,” said Senator Ted Cruz (R., Texas) in response.