Hard-left Democrat Pramila Jayapal apologizes for calling Israel a ‘racist state’ – as fury grows over planned Squad boycott of the Israeli president’s speech to Congress this week

A far-left Democrat is under fire despite her apology for labeling Israel a “racist state” for its treatment of the Palestinians.

Pramila Jayapal, the 57-year-old congresswoman representing Washington state, lashed out at the world’s only Jewish state at a pro-Palestinian event in Chicago last weekend.

“I want you to know that we fought to make it clear that Israel is a racist state,” she said ahead of a scheduled address by Israeli President Isaac Herzog to Congress on Tuesday to mark the country’s 75th anniversary.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog will hold talks with President Joe Biden later on Tuesday after addressing Congress to mark the 75th anniversary of his country’s independence.

“The Palestinian people deserve self-determination and autonomy, that the dream of a two-state solution eludes us, that it doesn’t even feel possible,” Jaypal added.

But her comments caused an uproar among many top Democrats, who immediately distanced themselves from the comments.

But fellow leftists, such as New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar have already said they will skip Herzog’s speech due to human rights concerns.

Congressman Adam Schiff of California called Israel “the only true democracy in the Middle East” and “an important ally of the US.”

Israel has every right to exist as a Jewish homeland. Instead of belittling an entire state and its people, we must work towards a two-state solution and lasting peace,” the US Senate added with hope.

The Democratic leadership of the House also pointed to the close ties between the US and Israel.

“Our commitment to a safe and secure Israel as an invaluable partner, ally and beacon of democracy in the Middle East is ironclad,” said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Representatives Katherine Clark, Pete Aguilar and Ted. Lieu.

“We look forward to welcoming Israeli President Isaac Herzog to the United States House of Representatives this week.”

Jayapal, president of the so-called Congressional Progressive Caucus, had tried to deflect her remarks late Sunday night.

“I don’t believe the idea of ​​Israel as a nation is racist,” she said. “It was by no means my intention to deny the deep pain and hurt of Israelis and their Jewish diaspora community still reeling under the trauma of pogroms and persecution, the Holocaust and the ongoing anti-Semitism and hate violence that are rampant today.”

“However, I believe that (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu’s far-right government has pursued discriminatory and outright racist policies and that there are extreme racists driving those policies within the leadership of the current government,” added Jayapal.

Herzog, the Israeli president, will visit the White House on Tuesday for talks with Joe Biden.

A former leader of the Israeli opposition and head of the country’s Labor party, he became head of state in 2021, following in the footsteps of his father Chaim, who held the same position between 1983 and 1993.

Announcing his official trip to Washington DC, the White House said: “As Israel celebrates its 75th anniversary, the visit will highlight our enduring cooperation and friendship. President (Joe) Biden will reaffirm the ironclad commitment of the United States to the security of Israel.”

“President Biden will emphasize the importance of our shared democratic values ​​and discuss ways to advance equal measures of freedom, prosperity and security for Palestinians and Israelis,” the statement continued.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not been invited to Washington by the Biden administration since taking office in December last year.

There has been a slew of policy differences between the two administrations, with Netanyahu angering the Obama administration in 2015 when he addressed Congress to lobby against the Iran nuclear deal.