Pramila Jayapal supports GOP rebuke, diverging from fellow Democrats.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal Breaks with “Squad” Members, Sparks Controversy
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) made headlines on Tuesday when she voted in favor of a resolution denouncing criticism of Israel, breaking with her fellow “Squad” members. However, it was her comments referring to Israel as a “racist” state that ignited the debate.
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.
Resolution Passes Overwhelmingly
The resolution passed overwhelmingly in a 412-9 vote, with all Republicans voting in favor, along with 192 Democrats.
Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) also joined the dissent, one of the five who had previously announced their intention to boycott Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s address to Congress later this week.
Controversy Erupts Over Jayapal’s Comments
The controversy began over the weekend when Jayapal, during a panel discussion with the progressive Netroots Nation, referred to Israel as a “racist state.” This statement sparked a wave of backlash, leading Jayapal to issue a retraction where she clarified that she does not believe Israel is racist but was attempting to defuse a tense situation.
Rep. Ilhan Omar came to Jayapal’s defense, denouncing what she called the “policing” of Jayapal’s language and suggesting 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.
Israel Debate Divides Democrats
The issue of Israel has been a divisive topic among Democrats, with a small but vocal minority within the progressive group in the House facing criticism from their pro-Israel colleagues.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) has expressed his support for Israel and announced his intention to meet with President Herzog. He anticipates a strong turnout and participation among House Democrats for Herzog’s address to Congress.
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