New Congressional Tensions Flare Over Israel

Infighting among Democrats accompanies President Isaac Herzog’s visit to Washington.

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Rep. Pramila Jayapal attends a news conference on June 15, 2023. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s address to Congress Wednesday morning is underscoring ongoing internal divisions over the Democratic party’s position on Israel. 

The latest tussle began after Rep. Pramila Jayapal, chair of the Progressive Caucus, called Israel a “racist state” over the weekend at a conference interrupted by pro-Palestinian protesters. “We have been fighting to make it clear that Israel is a racist state, that the Palestinian people deserve self-determination and autonomy,” she said.

Members of her own party called the comments “unacceptable” in a letter signed by 43 House Democrats. “Israel is the legitimate homeland of the Jewish people,” the letter reads. “We will never allow anti-Zionist voices that embolden antisemitism to hijack the Democratic Party and country.”

Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and the top two members of his team quickly released a statement Sunday night declaring that “Israel is not a racist state,” though without naming Jayapal specifically. “As House Democratic leaders, we strongly support Israel’s right to exist as a homeland for the Jewish people,” it added.

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  1. Avatar photo
    Citizen60

    Those who are boycotting Herzog’s address only demonstrate they have no respect for their role as part of the larger, national body they also represent. And that they are too immature to sit quietly and politely while listening to someone they disagree with.

    Republicans have already demonstrated both. Be nice if the Democrats could do better

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  2. Avatar photo
    Philbnichols

    The pic of Harvest is blurry, and the pic of Pramila Jayapal is clear. That should be the other way around. Love ya, Harvest!

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  3. Avatar photo
    Brian

    Does it occur to Democrats and the left in general that this incident could have been a lot less inflammatory if not for their casual habit of using the racism accusation to push back on nearly everything with which they disagree? "Racism!" has become a knee jerk reaction on many issues, and as we can see here, it often prevents any sane discussion of the topic at hand. Jayapal likely had a defensible point as you say, but the environment Democrats have created ensures it can't be seen that way, and that a reaction and then counterreaction are necessary. For an outsider looking in, it can't be any more obvious.

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  4. Tla

    The problem with criticism of Israel is differing what is valid and often justified criticism of the current leadership (and its practices) vs criticism of Israel as nation and its right to exist. On one side, staunch supporters of Israel; will complain that at all critique is veiled antisemtism and anti-zionism, and to that they have point become many anti-israelis and anti-zionist will claim they are only critiquing the government (but the corollary to their view (similar to Trump) is that its inconceivable that there's a difference between Israel, it's Government or the Jewish people). So as usual people with more nuanced views are often left stranded on a island of rationality.

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    Pat @ Tavi Hall

    It's funny but my take away is different. I can't help but notice that Democrat leadership is quick to step in to rebuke this. They did so before Republicans.

    And I can't help but wish for Republicans to have leadership that can step up and criticize this sort of language on their own team as quickly as this was done.

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    1. Frank Lee

      That is scraping the bottom of the barrel for Dem talking points “Democrat leadership rebuked it first”. Well yes, because the damage was being done to their own party.

      And Republicans are very quick to criticize anti-Zionist, anti-Semitic language from their members. But there is not a need.

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      1. Avatar photo
        Citizen60

        Did I miss Republican leadership’s denouncing MTG’s Jewish lasers changing voting machines?

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        Pat @ Tavi Hall

        Not Democratic talking point. Just wishful Republican thinking.

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  6. Brilliantly Oblivious

    Perhaps Jayapal and RFK, Jr can have a love fest in DC next week. They have SO much in common.

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  7. Avatar photo
    Ms. SSM

    These comments are interesting to me. Is no one concerned that the current ruling coalition consists of far right explicitly pro murder some Arabs types. We are allies with Israel because it’s in our interests to be. Nothing wrong with that. But it doesn’t require pretending everything they do or everyone they elect is just fine with us. Some of these guys are awful and that should be pointed out.

    Israel is aligning itself with the right more and more. That’s not in its own interests long term. A world where support for Israel is a Republican position is a world where Israel is less safe. I blame Bibi. He’s sold out his country to stay in power.

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    1. Avatar photo
      Richard Maxton

      I think there is a huge difference between the argument you're making and the statement Jayapal made. She flat out called Israel a racist state and then walked it back when she was called out. Which has been a pattern I've seen more than once from the far left "Progressive" side of the Democrat party.

      They don't do themselves any favors, either, when boycotting a speech by Israel's President - not exactly a Bibi fan himself if I understand the situation correctly.

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      1. Avatar photo
        Ms. SSM

        I don’t understand the boycott at all. If it was Bibi that would make sense. But this just has no logical explanation (well non nefarious logical explanation).

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    2. Andrew Holmes

      I agree that disagreement with Israeli policies is completely valid. I also believe that opinions disregarding the continued murderous activity that is explicitly aimed at destruction of Israel are either ignorant or a cover for antisemitism.

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    3. BDM

      Israel is a democracy and the Israeli people are electing more and more right leaning governments. Agree with them or not, that's going to be reflected in their government's foreign policy.

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      1. Avatar photo
        Ms. SSM

        They are of course free to do as they please. But long term it’s probably not in their best interests. The typical voter can safely ignore this. But I think their leaders would be wise to cultivate favor on both sides of the aisle.

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    4. Goatprairie

      Is Israel a racist state? Do you support the "right of return" for so- called Arab refugees which would effectively wreck Israel?

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      1. Avatar photo
        Ms. SSM

        I don’t think a state with the exception of maybe Nazi Germany or Apartheid South Africa can be a “racist state”. What does that even mean?

        I do think some of the suggested cabinet members of Bibi’s current coalition are racist. Quite explicitly racist. But they are not the state. They are just individuals who shouldn’t be in power.

        As for the right of return I see no reason why it has to happen. Is this important? It’s very unlikely. I don’t think Israel will be wrecked but i do think it’s time as a Jewish democracy is running out return or no return. It doesn’t matter to Israel’s demographic issues. That’s already mostly certain. It’s on a glide path to being Arabs and Haredim. If the Palestinians were wise they would just start demanding the vote in Israel. I’ve always thought that was by far the smarter play. Trying to carve a nation from the little land the settlers have left is foolish. Give the hardliners in Israel what they want. And Israel will either continue to be a democracy or continue to be Jewish. In its current path it can’t do both.

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        1. Goatprairie

          I think Israel's survival as a democratic country aligned with western democracies depends on it staying mostly Jewish. Muslims simply don't seem to be able to separate their religion from ruining a democracy.

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            Ms. SSM

            Well. That went to bigotry quickly. How disappointing.

            The worlds three largest Muslim countries are democracies. The largest Muslim majority country is a democracy. Indonesian and Indian citizens would take offense to your words. Especially Indonesian which has more Muslims than most of the Middle Eastern countries combined. All the Middle East contains only 20% of the worlds Muslims yet somehow their dysfunction means Muslims can not do Democratic government? Even when the largest nation does it just fine.

            Also. If Israel becomes a nation where large swaths of its citizens cant vote it’s not a democracy anymore. A country countrilling a underclass that can’t vote is not a democracy. That’s Israel’s future without a 2 state solution.

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  8. Avatar photo
    JohnM.

    Some good reporting here, Harvest. Thank you.

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  9. Kittyecws

    The House of Representatives has always been a mess. Now it is a worse mess than it ever has been, and why do we always acknowledge the looniest of the bunch? We should just ignore them.

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    1. Avatar photo
      Peter_Shalen

      If my understanding of the facts is correct, the Congressional Progressive Caucus consists of 103 representatives in the House, and one senator, making it a major force within Congress, and Jayapal is the chairperson of this group. She may be one of the looniest, but as chair of this caucus, she is important. This means that her looniness is not something marginal that can be ignored.

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      1. BDM

        You are correct. But I would submit that one of the reasons the Progressive Caucus has grown to such a size is because of the media attention (which politicians are drawn to like flies to s ***) given to the caucus's members. The other main reason for its growth is that the Democratic Party has moved substantially to the left.

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      2. Kittyecws

        You have a point, but I also ignore the loons on the far right. House members are among the looniest in both parties. Senators are usually more judicious and far less loony.

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  10. Craig Berry

    It's interesting that these members of the Squad are boycotting this guy. He's the one meeting with Abbas and going to Jordan and the UAE to promote better relations, criticizing Netanyahu as well as being a big climate change guy. The fact that they can't be bothered to be in the same room with this guy tells me it's Israel the state that bothers them more than Israel's policies.

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    1. Avatar photo
      Pat @ Tavi Hall

      Another correction, Pramila Jayapal is not a member of "the squad." As far as I can tell they don't have positions like Pramila Jayapal does.

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    2. Avatar photo
      Peter_Shalen

      Small correction: as far as I can tell, Jayapal is not among those who have announced that they would boycott Herzog's speech. But as far as those who will be boycotting are concerned, your comment is right on target.

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      1. Avatar photo
        Citizen60

        Jayapal has not committed to attending the speech.

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        1. Avatar photo
          Peter_Shalen

          "Jayapal did not attend the address due to a scheduling conflict, two sources told CNN."

          https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/19/politics/israeli-president-address-congress/index.html

          So I guess she doesn't have the courage of her hateful convictions. Maybe that's good. :/

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      2. Craig Berry

        Thank you for that correction. So people don't think you're nuts, you're right- I put Jayapal in with the group boycotting the speech but the story doesn't put her in with the group announcing it so I edited my post to reflect @Peter_Shalen's correction.

        Thanks again, man! As they say, I'm often wrong but never in doubt. :)

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      PJ

      Interesting, thank you for your perspective.

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