The Israeli president vigorously defended his country’s democracy before the US Congress on Wednesday despite controversy over judicial reform, warning Israel critics not to fall into anti-Semitism.
“I am not impervious to criticism among friends, including that expressed by respected members of this Assembly,” said President Isaac Herzog, in a speech before both houses of Congress meeting in plenary session.
“But criticism of Israel must not go so far as to deny the State of Israel’s right to exist. Questioning the right of the Jewish people to self-determination is not legitimate diplomacy, it is anti-Semitism,” he added, earning applause.
But the Democrats denounced the democratic “drift” in Israel, as well as the policy of expanding Jewish settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.
Some boycotted the Israeli president’s speech, and nine voted Tuesday against a resolution passed by the Republican-majority House of Representatives condemning anti-Semitism and guaranteeing unconditional US support for Israel.
The resolution was put to a vote by House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, in response to left-wing Democratic Party lawmaker Pramila Jayapal, who recently called Israel a “racist state.”
Under pressure, Pramila Jayapal backed down and apologized, but Republicans are demanding that she be removed from leading a progressive parliamentary caucus in the House of Representatives.
Source: TSF
