Israeli President Isaac Herzog addressed a joint session of Congress on Wednesday as several members of a so-called squad of progressive lawmakers avoided his comments.
Protests over Herzog’s comments continued the virulent anti-Semitism displayed by some Democratic members of Congress — and came as Democratic Rep. Pramila Jaipal, D-Wash., called Israel an ‘apartheid state.’
Palestinian Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., a member of the ‘squad,’ tweeted Sunday that she would avoid Herzog’s comments.
Also notably absent from the House chamber Wednesday were Reps. Jayapal, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog addressed a joint session of Congress on Wednesday during a trip to the United States where he met with several politicians from both sides of the aisle — and President Joe Biden.
Conspicuously absent from the House chamber on Wednesday were members of the progressive ‘squad’, including representatives AOC, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Talib and Pramila Jaipal.
Taleb posted a photo on the steps of the Capitol on Sunday and announced he would boycott Herzog’s comments to Congress.
Herzog called the relationship with the United States “mutually beneficial” and shared his concern that the “new generation” of Americans leading Congress is “less privy to the hardships of Israel’s formative years” and “less connected to the roots that bind our people.” .’
‘If America is strong, Israel is stronger. And when Israel is stronger, the United States is safer,’ Herzog said.
Taleb wrote on Twitter on Sunday: ‘In solidarity with the Palestinian people and all those harmed by Israel’s apartheid government, I will boycott President Herzog’s joint address to Congress. I urge all members of Congress who stand up for human rights for all to join me.’
“I will boycott President Herzog’s joint address to Congress in solidarity with the Palestinian people and all those affected by the apartheid government of Israel,” he wrote. “I urge all members of Congress who stand up for human rights to join me.”
The tweet included an image of Taleb standing on the steps of the Capitol with a sign reading: ‘Boycott apartheid.’
Democrats are clearly divided on support for the Jewish state. Representative Jerry Nadler waved a small Israeli flag for Herzog from his seat while other members of his party were also absent from the remarks.
Also on display in the chamber is the Republican Party’s continuing chamber, with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga. And Lorraine Boebert, R-Col., is on almost complete opposite ends of their party in the chamber.
Herzog met with several lawmakers and leaders in Washington, D.C., during a visit to the U.S. this week to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel.
Before his remarks, Herzog met with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and met with President Joe Biden on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, progressive Jaipal was forced to walk back comments calling Israel an ‘apartheid’ state over the weekend after a strong backlash even from members of his own party.
Herzog insisted Iran was one of the biggest threats to national security in the Middle East and the world order, saying: ‘There is no doubt – Iran does not seek to acquire nuclear power for peaceful purposes’.
In a statement Monday, 43 congressional Democrats condemned his comments.
Herzog insisted Iran was one of the biggest threats to national security in the Middle East and the world order, saying: ‘There is no doubt – Iran does not seek to acquire nuclear power for peaceful purposes’.
They wrote, ‘We are deeply troubled by Rep. Pramila Jaipal’s unacceptable comments about our historic, democratic ally, Israel, and we applaud her withdrawal.’ ‘Israel is the legitimate homeland of the Jewish people and efforts to delegitimize and demonize it are not only dangerous and anti-Semitic, they also undermine America’s national security.’
Herzog struck a chord with both sides of the chamber on Wednesday when he asserted: ‘Mr. Speaker, perhaps the biggest challenge facing Israel and the United States at this time is Iran’s nuclear program.
“There is no doubt – Iran does not seek to acquire nuclear energy for peaceful purposes,” he added to a standing ovation from lawmakers.
On Sunday, Jayapal issued a lengthy statement that still defended the sentiment behind his comments, calling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a racist.
The chairwoman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus wrote, ‘Words matter and therefore it is important that I make my statement clear.’ ‘I don’t believe the concept of Israel as a nation is racist.’
“But I believe that Netanyahu’s extreme right-wing government is engaged in discriminatory and outright racist policies, and that extreme racists within the leadership of the current government are driving that policy,” he added.
He apologized to ‘those I hurt with my words’ and said he was trying to ‘defuse a tense situation’ with his comments at the progressive Netroots Nation conference over the weekend.
Jayapal made his comments last week as he tried to placate a group of Palestinian flag bearers at the convention who said Democrats in Congress were not doing enough to help the Palestinians gain autonomy from Israel.
Rep. Jaipal was forced out over comments he called Israel an ‘apartheid state’ at the Progressive Netroots Nation Conference.
‘Hey guys, can I say something as someone who has been on the streets and attended a lot of protests? I want you to know that we are fighting to make it clear that Israel is an apartheid state, that the Palestinian people deserve self-determination and autonomy, that the dream of a two-state solution is slipping away from us, that it does. I don’t even think it’s possible,’ she said.
‘While you may have arguments about whether some of us on stage are fighting hard enough, I want you to know that there is an organized opposition on the other side and not the people on this stage,’ Jaipal added.
Rep. Ellis Stefanik, the No. 3 House Republican, tweeted: ‘Israel is not an apartheid state.’
The New York lawmaker added, ‘House Republicans condemn Rep. Jaypal’s blatantly anti-Semitic and anti-Israel comments and House Democrats’ inaction to address deep-rooted anti-Semitism in the Democratic caucus.’
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