Gov. Newsom regrets calling Israel an ‘apartheid’ state

California’s governor reverses course after accusing Israel of apartheid, says he reveres the Jewish state but opposes the Netanyahu government.

By World Israel News Staff

California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday walked back his accusation that Israel is effectively an apartheid state, while doubling down on his sharp criticism of the Israeli government.

On March 2, Newsom told podcaster Jon Favreau that the United States should reconsider its ties with the State of Israel, backing claims by New York Times commentator Thomas Friedman that the Jewish state engages in apartheid.

“He’s got folks, the hard line, that want to annex the West Bank,” Newsom said of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “Friedman and others are talking about it appropriately, [as] sort of an apartheid state.”

In an interview with Politico, however, Newsom struck a more conciliatory tone, saying that he regretted his rhetoric.

“I do [regret it] in this context,” Newsom said of his use of the word “apartheid.”

“I said it, and I referenced why I used it — a Tom Friedman article — in that same sentence where Tom used it in the context of the direction that Bibi is going [in].”

When asked whether he identifies as a Zionist, Newsom said that he reveres the State of Israel while “deeply” opposing the Israeli government and Israeli policies vis-à-vis Judea and Samaria.

“Do I consider myself Zionist? I revere the state of Israel. I’m proud to support the state of Israel. I deeply, deeply oppose Bibi Netanyahu’s leadership, his opposition to the two-state solution and deeply oppose how he is indulging the far-right as it relates to what’s going on in the West Bank,” Newsom said.

Newsom went on to condemn efforts by the Israeli right to push for “the full annexation of the West Bank,” adding that if Israel does apply sovereignty over Judea and Samaria, it would turn the country into an apartheid state.

“Then … that’s a word you may hear others use.”