In recent days, the so-called progressive wing of the Democratic Party in the House of Representatives is falling all over itself to demonize and ostracize Israel. But in so doing they are saying a great deal more about themselves than they are about Israel.
On Wednesday, Israeli President Isaac Herzog will speak before Congress. Five members of the Squad have announced they will boycott Herzog's speech - Ilhan Omar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Jamaal Bowman and Cori Bush and now Rashida Tlaib.
In one way, I am fine with them not attending Herzog's speech as they will not be present to sully the proceedings or pull a Boebert or a Marjorie Taylor-Greene like stunt and heckle the Israeli President. Mind you, in Herzog they are boycotting a fellow socialist who was once the leader of Israel's Labor Party. But as Omar says, "No way in hell." It was Tlaib who last year stated one cannot be a progressive and be pro-Israel.
Of course, what Tlaib really means to say is one cannot be a progressive and Jewish. During a Netroots Nation conference on Saturday in Chicago, pro-Palestinian protesters shouted down longtime Illinois Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky despite her support for their cause. Schakowsky can support the Palestinians to her hearts' content, but they only see her as a Jew worthy of derision and disdain.
It was during this incident that Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal said, "We have been fighting to make it clear that Israel is a racist state!" This drew a rebuke from the House Democratic leadership of Hakeem Jeffries, Katherine Clark, Pete Aguilar and Ted Lieu who said, "Israel is not a racist state." Jayapal subsequently said, "I do not believe the idea of Israel as a nation is racist," and then claimed she was referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Nice try, but I heard Pramila Jayapal loud and clear. It's probably best for all parties concerned that she join the Squad and stay away from President Herzog's speech before Congress.
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