Nine House Democrats voted in opposition to a GOP-authored decision that rejected all types of anti-Semitism and says Israel is “not a racist apartheid state” following feedback from Rep. Pramila Jayapal that criticized the Middle Eastern democracy.
The measure from Rep. August Pfluger, Texas Republican, breezed by means of the chamber, 412-9. Rep. Betty McCollum, Minnesota Democrat, voted ‘present.’ The measure handed underneath a suspension of the principles, a fast-track maneuver that requires approval from two-thirds of lawmakers for passage.
House Republicans pressured Democrats to go on report concerning the U.S.-Israeli relationship as they ready to welcome Israeli President Isaac Herzog for an tackle Wednesday.
Yet 9 Democrats voted in opposition to the measure as progressives protest Israel’s remedy of Palestinians and settlement-expansion efforts by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The 9 Democratic lawmakers that voted in opposition to the measure have been Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jamaal Bowman of New York, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Cori Bush of Missouri, Andre Carson of Indiana, Summer Lee of Pennsylvania, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts and Delia Ramirez of Illinois.
Ms. Jayapal, Washington Democrat, voted in favor of the decision.
GOP leaders will use these votes as a broad political cudgel in opposition to Democrats as they attempt to make inroads with Jewish voters and twist the knife over Ms. Jayapal’s determination to dub Israel a “racist state” throughout a convention in Chicago.
The Democrats that voted in opposition to the measure contended that they may not help the decision as a result of it mentioned Israel was not an apartheid state.
Mrs. Tlaib, who’s of Palestinian descent, mentioned earlier than the vote that the decision was Congress’ try to deny actuality and help apartheid.
“This body, this Congress supported a South African apartheid regime, and that was bipartisan as well,” the Michigan Democrat mentioned.
Ms. Ocasio-Cortez accused GOP lawmakers of being cynical by weaponizing a rise in hate crimes and anti-Semitic rhetoric whereas additionally inviting Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to testify earlier than the GOP-controlled House Judiciary Committee.
Democrats have urged GOP management to cancel Mr. Kennedy’s testimony on the weaponization of presidency, citing remarks the presidential candidate made about COVID-19 that they mentioned promoted dangerous tropes about Jews.
“You can’t tell me that they can invite RFK Jr. and then somehow, in the same week, act as though they are some kind of protector of our communities,” Ms. Ocasio-Cortez instructed reporters.
House management touted the decision, which doesn’t immediately identify Ms. Jayapal, early Tuesday.
“This legislation really deals with the overall desire for us to stand up against anti-Semitism,” mentioned House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Louisiana Republican. “You’ve seen many people on the left express those kinds of views. We’re having a very direct piece of legislation that stands up against antisemitism, so [Ms. Jayapal] is not the only one, but Democrats should have to answer for her statements.”
Ms. Jayapal walked again the feedback, however lots of her celebration colleagues heaped criticism on her, saying Israel is an important associate within the Middle East.
The White House welcomed her apology, whereas some Democrats tempered their condemnation of her with criticism of Mr. Netanyahu and by calling for a two-state answer to the Israeli-Palestinian battle.
President Biden welcomed Mr. Herzog to the White House on Tuesday and hailed the particular bond between the international locations.
At least 5 Democratic lawmakers have signaled that they won’t attend Mr. Herzog’s tackle on Wednesday.
Pew Research surveys that took inventory of the 2020 presidential cycle discovered that fifty% of Jews described their political beliefs as liberal — greater than 3 times the proportion who mentioned they have been politically conservative (16%).
“While Jews overall are a strongly Democratic and liberal cohort, there is one segment of the Jewish population that is notably more inclined toward conservatism and the GOP,” the 2021 Pew research mentioned. “Three-quarters of Orthodox Jews identify with or lean toward the Republican Party, more than three times the share who identify with or lean toward the Democrats (20%).”
Sam Markstein, the nationwide political director for the Republican Jewish Coalition, thanked Republican sponsors for authoring Tuesday’s decision and predicted political backlash for Democrats.
“Radicals inside the Democratic Party are ruining the bipartisan support that has always existed for Israel — and this is a major reason why Democrats continue to hemorrhage support from Jewish voters,” he mentioned.
“The anti-Israel caucus of the Democratic Party used to claim their actions and rhetoric were in opposition to Netanyahu — but this shows they really oppose Israel. Not long ago, it was an automatic applause line to say ‘I stand with Israel.’ While that is still the case for Republicans, it is increasingly not so for Democrats,” he mentioned.
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