Staff Reports
House Republicans are making a bold move to put Democrats on the record with a vote affirming support for Israel. And it couldn’t come at a more opportune time, just one day before Israeli President Isaac Herzog is set to address Congress. You can practically hear the Republicans saying, “Put up or shut up, Democrats!”
Report: House Republicans Poised to Put Democrats on the Record with Israel Vote via @BreitbartNews https://t.co/BVYzOpDV7h
— Chris ?? (@Chris_1791) July 18, 2023
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and his team of leaders have been strategizing this vote, discussing it in a private meeting before presenting it to the rest of the GOP whips. This vote is a direct response to the members of the House Democrat caucus who have been bashing Israel, calling it “racist” and even boycotting Herzog’s upcoming address.
Is this where the Democratic Party is headed when it comes to Israel?
— Lidar Gravé-Lazi (@LidarGL) July 16, 2023
House Democratic leadership in statement: "Israel is not a racist state…Government officials come and go. The special relationship between the United States and Israel will endure. We are determined to make sure support for Israel in the Congress remains strongly bipartisan.” pic.twitter.com/2glpWSEOHZ
— Jacob N. Kornbluh (@jacobkornbluh) July 17, 2023
Progressive Caucus Chair Rep. Pramila Jayapal, in particular, has been quite vocal with her extreme anti-Israel stance. She has accused Israel of being a “racist state” and made outrageous claims about the dream of a two-state solution slipping away. This is not the first time Jayapal has shown her disdain for Israel. In the past, she has accused Israel of “war crimes” and even tried to justify rocket attacks by Palestinian terror group Hamas.
House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy wasted no time in calling out the Democrats for not dealing with Jayapal’s antisemitic remarks. He questioned whether the Democrats would remove her as the Progressive Caucus Chair, considering she is a leader in their conference. McCarthy made it clear that the Democrats can’t ignore her comments and need to take action.
In response to the growing backlash, House Democrat leaders felt the need to issue a statement clarifying that “Israel is not a racist state.” While this statement is a step in the right direction, it’s clear that the Democrats still have work to do in addressing the issue of antisemitism within their party.
Overall, this vote is a way for House Republicans to showcase their unwavering support for Israel while also putting Democrats on the spot. It will force them to either show their support for Israel or reveal their true colors. And let’s be honest, with the rising antisemitism among some Democrats, their true colors may not be all that pretty. It’s time for the Democrats to take a stand and prove that they stand with Israel, a longtime ally of the United States.
