Rep. Pramila Jayapal, seen right here on the U.S. Capitol on May 31, sparked controversy over the weekend when she referred to Israel as a “racist state.”

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Rep. Pramila Jayapal, seen right here on the U.S. Capitol on May 31, sparked controversy over the weekend when she referred to Israel as a “racist state.”

Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Rep. Pramila Jayapal, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, walked again feedback over the weekend which sparked backlash amongst members of her personal celebration, through which she referred to Israel as “a racist state.”

Her controversial feedback got here as she addressed pro-Palestinian protesters who interrupted a Netroots Nation panel dialogue in Chicago on Saturday.

“Can I say something as somebody who’s been in the streets and participated in a lot of demonstrations?” Jayapal told the crowd. “I want you to know that we have been fighting to make it clear that Israel is a racist state, that the Palestinian people deserve self-determination and autonomy, that the dream of a two-state solution is slipping away from us — that it doesn’t even feel possible.”

The Washington Democrat sought to make clear her feedback on Sunday, writing in a press release that she apologizes to “those who I have hurt with my words.”

“At a conference, I attempted to defuse a tense situation during a panel where fellow members of Congress were being protested. Words do matter and so it is important that I clarify my statement. I do not believe the idea of Israel as a nation is racist,” the statement read.

“I do, however, believe that Netanyahu’s extreme right-wing government has engaged in discriminatory and outright racist policies and that there are extreme racists driving that policy within the leadership of the current government,” Jayapal added.

House Democratic management responded Sunday.

“Israel is not a racist state,” mentioned House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Reps. Katherine Clark, Pete Aguilar and Ted Lieu in a joint statement that didn’t point out Jayapal by identify.

Jayapal’s remarks got here days earlier than Israeli President Isaac Herzog is scheduled to handle a joint assembly of Congress.

Several House progressive lawmakers, together with New York Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jamaal Bowman, in addition to Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar and Missouri Rep. Cori Bush, have mentioned they won’t attend, citing issues about human rights.

Herzog is scheduled to fulfill with President Biden on Tuesday.