The White House welcomed a congresswoman's apology for calling Israel a "racist state."
House Progressive Caucus Chairwoman Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) made the remarks over the weekend at a conference in Chicago, then took to Twitter to apologize.
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National Security Council coordinator John Kirby said during Monday's White House press briefing that "we saw that she apologized and we're glad she did."
"An apology was the right thing to do for those comments," he said. "Our commitment to Israel is ironclad. We're going to make that clear and consistent every chance we get."
Jayapal's original comments came when pro-Palestinian protesters invaded a conference at which she was speaking.
"We have been fighting to make it clear that Israel is a racist state," she said.
Democrat Rep. Pramila Jayapal attempts to appease so-called "Free Palestine" protesters after they hijacked a leftist conference: "We have been fighting to make it clear that Israel is a racist state!" pic.twitter.com/9p2aX6uh4F
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But within hours Jayapal had apologized, saying in a statement that "Words do matter and so it is important that I clarify my statement. I do not believe the idea of Israel as a nation is racist."
The congresswoman has since shifted her tone — instead accusing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government of “extreme right-wing” policies.
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President Joe Biden will meet with Israeli President Isaac Herzog at the White House on Tuesday to mark the country's 75th anniversary.
According to Biden's schedule, the visit will highlight the partnership between the two nations and reaffirm the ironclad commitment of the United States to Israel's security.