Search

US House passes resolution 412-9 affirming Israel ‘not a racist or apartheid state’

WhatsApp Email https://worldisraelnews.com/us-house-overwhelmingly-passes-pro-israel-resolution-affirming-support-not-a-racist-or-apartheid-state/
Email Print

The resolution, which passed 412-9, came days after Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) said that Israel is a racist state.

By World Israel News Staff

A measure reiterating U.S. support for Israel and denouncing antisemitism was passed in the House of Representatives on Tuesday with a 412-9 vote, in a display of bipartisan cooperation for the Jewish state.

The resolution stated that Israel “is not a racist or apartheid state,” condemns antisemitism, and pledges that the U.S. “will always be a staunch partner and supporter of Israel.”

The measure came days after Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) said that Israel is a “racist state.” She was widely condemned by other Democrats, and later issued a quasi-apology.

Notably, Jayapal herself voted in favor of the symbolic resolution, which was introduced by Republicans but passed overwhelmingly in a bipartisan show of support.

“We look at Israel as the most important partner in the Middle East. It’s critical for the US Congress to send a unified message that we stand with Israel and that we unequivocally support our Jewish communities,” said Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX), one of the measure’s sponsors.

Pfluger added that the timing of the bill was symbolic, as Congress was preparing to welcome Israeli President Isaac Herzog for a speech – which several far-left Democrats announced they were planning to skip.

Read  Clark University adopting BDS measures pushed by student government

“I hope we have 435 ‘yes’ votes and no ‘no’ votes,” Pfluger said in a video he posted on his Twitter account before the vote took place. “Unfortunately, it appears that some Democrats will not side with Israel.”

Democratic Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY, Rashida Tlaib (MI), Jamaal Bowman (NY), Ilhan Omar (MN) and Ayanna Pressley (MA), all members of the left-wing “Squad” of lawmakers, were among those who voted “no.” Only one lawmaker, Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MI), voted “present.”

In a speech explaining her no vote, Tlaib doubled down on her assertion that “Israel is an apartheid state,” a comment she has made repeatedly throughout her political career.

>