Rep. David Kustoff, R-Tenn., told Newsmax a House resolution introduced Tuesday to support Israel and condemn antisemitism sends a message to United States allies and foes worldwide.
The resolution, sponsored by August Pfluger, R-Texas, and co-sponsored by Kustoff, 23 other Republicans and one Democrat, Jared Moskowitz of Ohio, proclaims support for Israel and declares Israel is not a racist or apartheid state. It also rejects all forms of antisemitism and xenophobia.
Kustoff, who is Jewish, told "American Agenda," the implications of comments by Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., that Israel is a racist state "should bother everybody."
Jayapal received backlash after referring to Israel on Saturday as a racist state while speaking to a group of Palestinian protestors at the Netroots Nation convention in Chicago.
"She was either pandering to the audience and maybe sincerely didn't believe it, or she really did believe it," Kustoff said. "Regardless, she said it. She said it, if you will, on the record. To a live audience. It was recorded, and it was broadcast around the world.
"That type of talk — that doesn't need to come from any elected official in Washington, D.C."
Jayapal walked back some of her comments in a Monday interview with The Seattle Times, saying she supports a strong, mutually beneficial relationship with Israel.
However, she also said that politicians of color had been unfairly singled out for criticizing the treatment of Palestinians and would not attend a joint session of Congress on Wednesday for Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
"Don't think for a moment that our adversaries and our enemies and especially Israel's enemies and Israel's adversaries don't take that and run with it and propagandize on it, if you will," Kustoff said.
Kustoff credited some Democrats who opposed Jayapal's comments.
Among them is House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., who said in a recent statement that "Israel is not a racist state," although he did not mention Jayapal by name.
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