The Rev. Franklin Graham Wednesday ripped a Georgia Democrat for his comparing Jewish settlers in Israel to "termites" in a speech Monday and likened Israel's defense minister to Donald Trump.
Graham, who heads the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and the Samaritan's Purse global charity, called Rep. Hank Johnson's comments "reprehensible."
"He went on a rant against Israel, referring to Jews as 'termites' that destroy homes," Graham said on
Facebook. "Can you believe that?"
Johnson, 61, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, spoke to the U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, an anti-Israel organization in Washington.
He told the group that
Jewish settlers took homes away from Palestinians.
"There has been a steady (stream), almost like termites can get into a residence and eat before you know that you've been eaten up and you fall in on yourself, there has been settlement activity that has marched forward with impunity and at an ever-increasing rate to the point where it has become alarming," he said.
Regarding Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Johnson said that the Israeli government was now "the most right-wing government ever to exist in the state of Israel in its history."
A spokesman for the congressman said later Monday that Johnson did not mean to insult Jews or Israelis with his comments, adding that he was talking about the West Bank settlement process.
Johnson was first elected to Congress in 2006. He also sits on the House Judiciary Committee.
"I hope his district in Georgia replaces him with a representative who respects God and His chosen people," Graham said in the post. "As a nation, we need leaders who support our strongest ally in the Middle East.
"God says in His Word that He will bless those who bless Israel and curse those who curse Israel."
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