Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) broke with her fellow "Squad" members on Tuesday when she voted in favor of a resolution denouncing criticism of Israel.
Despite her vote, Jayapal's comments where she decried Israel as a "racist" state was what set the vote in motion. Squad members Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Cori Bush (D-MO), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), and Ilhan Omar (D-MN) all voted against the measure, along with five other Democrats.
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The resolution passed overwhelmingly in a 412-9 vote. All Republicans voted in favor, along with 192 Democrats.
Along with the four Squad members who voted against the resolution, Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) joined the dissent, one of the five who had made their intention known to boycott Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s address to Congress later this week.
The controversy began over the weekend when, during a panel discussion with the progressive Netroots Nation, Jayapal emphasized their shared goal of “fighting to make it clear that Israel is a racist state.” The comment led to a wave of backlash, prompting her to issue a retraction where she argued that she doesn't believe Israel is racist but was simply trying to defuse a tense situation.
Omar denounced what she called the "policing" of Jayapal, claiming it was due to her being nonwhite.
"We spend too much time policing the language of Black and brown women who speak out against oppression and not enough time ending the oppression of Black and brown people," Omar tweeted in response to Jayapal's retraction.
"I am also deeply concerned about the shaming—often of women of color—when they speak out about human rights violations happening in Palestine and Israel, especially when similar concern is not expressed for the lives being lost and families being torn apart," she added.
I am also deeply concerned about the shaming—often of women of color—when they speak out about human rights violations happening in Palestine and Israel, especially when similar concern is not expressed for the lives being lost and families being torn apart.
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) July 18, 2023
The issue of Israel has at times divided Democrats, with a small, vocal minority among the progressive group in the House being denounced by their pro-Israel colleagues.
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House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) has made known his support for Israel and made his intention to meet with Herzog known last week.
“I look forward to welcoming [Herzog] with open arms when he comes to speak before Congress,” Jeffries told reporters on Friday. “Individual members make individual decisions, but I can tell you that I expect there will be an incredibly robust turnout and participation amongst House Democrats on Wednesday.”