Biden meets President Herzog in the White House – as press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre refuses to fully condemn Democrat who called Israel a ‘racist state’ and Squad members boycotting his speech

President Joe Biden met with Israeli President Isaac Herzog at the White House on Tuesday as the White House struggled to say whether comments from progressive Democratic lawmakers were anti-Semitic.

Biden met with Herzog in the Oval Office and threw a punch when he mentioned that the country marked “75 years” and called the US-Israel friendship “simply unbreakable.”

After Herzog’s visit to the White House, he will address a joint session of Congress on Wednesday, which some Democrats say intends to boycott, calling Israel an “apartheid state.”

Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal apologized after calling Israel a “racist state,” explaining that her comment was directed at Israel’s conservative Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, not the Jewish state.

During Tuesday’s press conference, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre would not explicitly say those Democrats were anti-Semitic.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre struggled to condemn controversial comments made by Democratic lawmakers about Israel during Tuesday’s briefing

“The apology was the right thing to do,” Jean-Pierre said when asked why NSC spokesman John Kirby on Monday applauded the apology but went no further in condemning the progressive Washington’s comments.

“And we’ve been very clear, when it comes to anti-Semitism, this administration and the entire Biden-Harris administration have been clear, that when Israel is singled out for anti-Jewish hatred, that’s anti-Semitism, and that’s unacceptable,” she continued . .

Fox News’ Jacqui Heinrich pressed Jean-Pierre if that meant the White House condemned Jayapal’s comment.

“I mean, I just said, if so — if anti-Jewish hatred is ever expressed, it’s anti-Semitism and we find it unacceptable. At the same time, we think it’s important that the congressman did indeed apologize for her comment and we’re glad to see that,” she said.

Heinrich pointed out, “I haven’t heard whether it was a yes or no to that question,” before going on to ask whether the White House supported a GOP-backed House resolution designed to dismiss Jayapal’s comment about Israel as a ” racist state.

“First of all, we condemn anti-Semitism. Whenever there is any anti-Jewish hatred. We condemn it. We have been very clear in answering your question. Since it pertains to everything that happens in the House, I refer you to the House,’ Jean-Pierre said.

Heinrich pressed Jean-Pierre why it was difficult for Democrats to criticize other Democrats.

The president of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Representative Pramila Jayapal, came under fire this week for calling Israel a “racist state.” She has since apologized

“We just said we’re glad she apologised,” Jean-Pierre replied. “And we’ve been very clear, any time Israel is singled out with anti-Jewish hatred, which is indeed anti-Semitism, it’s unacceptable, it’s unacceptable.”

Later in the briefing, a reporter asked Jean-Pierre if Representative Cori Bush calling Israel an “apartheid state” met the White House’s definition of anti-Semitism.

“Look, what I can say is that the president has a longstanding relationship with Israel. He is committed to their safety, committed to continuing that relationship, which is why he is meeting with the president of Israel,” she said.

“I can’t talk to other congressmen in the House, that’s for them to share why they choose to boycott or do whatever they do today,” she continued.

“But what we can talk about is our commitment, our long-term commitment to Israel, our long-term support for Israel. And that is something the president will be able to continue to do.”