There is no place for racism or senseless hate in Congress.
House Republicans have taken steps to censure Pramila Jayapal, the Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, due to her previous remarks where she referred to Israel as a “racist state.” This move marks the latest expression of disapproval towards Rep. Jayapal, a Democrat from Washington.
According to Fox however, she has since revised her statement and even voted in favor of a GOP-led resolution affirming that Israel is not a racist or apartheid state. The resolution was presented by Reps. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn.; Randy Weber, R-Texas; and Jeff Duncan, R-S.C. It remains uncertain whether House leaders plan to bring it to a vote on the floor, as there has been no immediate response from Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s office.
The situation reflects the increasing tension within the Democratic Party over issues related to Israel. Rep. Jayapal made her initial comments during a Netroots Nation panel in Chicago, stating her concerns about Israel, the Palestinian people’s rights, and the dwindling possibility of a two-state solution. She later clarified her statement, expressing criticism specifically towards the right-wing government led by Netanyahu and its discriminatory policies.
Her initial remarks received rare rebukes from House Democratic leaders and were criticized by 43 of her colleagues who found the comments unacceptable. In response, a resolution in support of Israel was introduced in the House, but nine progressive Democrats voted against it. Rep. Jayapal defended her vote, stating that she refuses to be bullied by political games and chose to support the resolution.
As of now, Rep. Jayapal’s office has not commented on the GOP’s censure resolution. If the resolution is carried out, it would be the second instance of House Republicans formally punishing a member, following the censure of Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., for promoting unproven claims about the 2016 Trump campaign’s collusion with Russia.