Rep. Ogles to Newsmax: Censure Jayapal for Israel Comment

Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., said Monday on Newsmax that it's important to move forward with a censure of Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., despite Jayapal giving a "half-hearted apology" for calling Israel a racist state.

Ogles, along with Rep. Randy Weber, R-Texas, and Rep. Jeff Duncan. R-S.C., filed a central resolution calling to censure Jayapal.

"It's important that we take a stand both on behalf of Israel and the Jewish people, but also to say that as a member of Congress, your words have a powerful meaning," Ogles said on Newsmax's "Wake Up America."

"Every terrorist state in the world is going to take that clip from her, and they're going to use that to justify their activities of terrorism against Americans, against the Jewish people, and against Europeans," Ogles said. "She needs to be held accountable."

Jayapal, who chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus, called Israel a racist state earlier this month while addressing pro-Palestinian protesters who interrupted a panel discussion at the Netroots Nation conference in Chicago.

Jayapal tweeted an apology a day later, saying she didn't mean the "idea" of Israel as a nation is racist but was referring to the government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"What concerns me is we're seeing anti-Semitism rise across the world," Ogles told Newsmax. "Attacks on the Jewish people [are on the] rise across the world, and her comments just stoked that fire, stoked that anger."

Ogles added that he doesn't know if Jayapal feels remorse, but said that if she was "truly remorseful" she would have "come out more fervently on behalf of the Jewish people."

But since Jayapal didn't do that, Ogles said it's important to move forward with the motion to censure.

The House has voted on a resolution rejecting claims that Israel is a racist state and condemning anti-Semitism. Ogles called it an "opportunity to move swiftly to send a message to our ally."

Israel, he added, is "our one true ally" in the Middle East, and the resolution was an opportunity to "push back against this narrative that Jayapal has started."

Ogles said meetings will be held this week to bring a censure motion against Jayapal, and that "we'll be methodical as we move forward."

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