US House votes in support of 'Israel' after Jayapal comments
4 Min Read
Congresswoman Pramila Jayapa had expressed her support for Palestine over the weekend and expressed that Palestinians are deserving of self-determination and autonomy, receiving bipartisan backlash.
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Democratic Representative Pramila Jayapal speaks during a news conference on May 24, 2023 in Washington. (AP)
The US House of Representatives approved a resolution expressing support for "Israel" on Tuesday, only days after a top Democratic member garnered criticism from both parties for calling the occupation "a racist state."
The resolution, presented by Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas) and carried by a vote of 412-9 with one member absent, declares concisely that "Congress rejects all forms of antisemitism and xenophobia" adding that “the United States will always be a staunch partner and supporter of Israel.” The resolution also explicitly denies that the Israeli occupation is racist or apartheid.
Pfluger voiced before the vote that it was "critical" the US send a message that it supports "Israel" and the Jewish community, adding that there was "no place for hateful words."
The hateful words he was referring to are those made by Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) on the weekend when she told a group of pro-Palestine protesters that she supports their cause and that she has “been fighting to make it clear that Israel is a racist state."
See this: “Israel”: If racism could talk
The representative also expressed that Palestinians are deserving of self-determination and autonomy, causing an uproar against her.
Naturally, she was pressured into apologizing to "those she hurt" and released a statement on Sunday where she retracted her statements saying she did not truly believe that "Israel as a nation is racist” but thinks the policies of the prime minister of the occupation, Benjamin Netanyahu, are.
On Sunday night, several representatives issued a statement refusing that "Israel" was a racist state. In a letter sent Monday evening, a group of 43 House Democrats stated that they were "deeply concerned" by Jayapal's remarks.
Rep. Gerald E. Connolly (D-Va.) expressed the belief that Republicans only introduced the notion as a method to "embarrass" Democrats and not as a “genuine expression of support for 'Israel' on the occasion of [Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit].”
Herzog met with Biden on Wednesday and is scheduled to make a speech before Congress.
Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.), Ilhan Omar (Minn.), Jamaal Bowman (N.Y.), and Cori Bush (Mo.), voted against the Tuesday resolution, expressing worry over human rights violations in the Israeli occupation.
Ilhan Omar says she plans on boycotting Israeli President Isaac Herzog's joint address to the US Congress.
In a Twitter thread, the congresswoman explained that her decision is due to the extremist actions of the current Israeli government led by Benjamin Netanyahu.
There is no way in hell I am attending the joint session address from a President whose country has banned me and denied @RashidaTlaib the ability to see her grandma. A thread👇🏽
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) July 13, 2023
On Tuesday, House GOP conference chairwoman Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) told reporters that "every member should condemn" the comments made by Jayapal, stating she defends the occupation, unlike some of the "vile antisemitic comments," made by some leaders.
Several Democrats, including the only Palestinian member of Congress Rep. Rashida Tlaib (Mich.) supported Jayapal. Tlaib exclaimed before the vote that many human rights organizations, including the UN, Amnesty International, and B'Tselem, an Al-Quds-based human rights group, have concurred that "Israel is an apartheid state."
“We’re here, again, reaffirming Congress’s support for apartheid, policing the words of women of color who dare to speak up about truth about oppression,” Tlaib expressed. “Let’s just get this record straight here: This is not something that’s made up.”
A year ago, US Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib introduced a resolution in the US House of Representatives, which was also co-sponsored by Congresswoman Betty McCollum, to recognize the Palestinian Nakba. The resolution called on the US government to acknowledge the forcible and mass expulsion of Palestinians in 1948 by "Israel", based on the US role in supporting the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).
Rep. Jamaal Bowman also Tweeted that Herzog has "not yet shown the actions of pro-democracy and a pro-peace agenda."
In May, Democratic US Congresswoman Betty McCollum renewed her attempt at a bill to stop aid from the US to "Israel" since it contributes to crimes against the Palestinians, especially military activities that facilitate “further unilateral annexation” of the occupied West Bank.
