Hoyer Statement on Israel

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) issued the following statement reaffirming his steadfast support for the U.S.-Israel relationship:

“As a longtime advocate for a stronger U.S.-Israel relationship and an enduring two-state solution, I appreciate Rep. Pramila Jayapal's clarification and apology for the offensive and inaccurate comments she made about Israel amid the unrest at the Netroots Nation conference last weekend. Israel is not a racist state. 

“I deplore the organized antisemitic abuse that the audience leveled at my friend and colleague Rep. Jan Schakowsky during the conference. Sadly, it represents bigotry directed at the Jewish people through millennia. The conference hosts should make it clear that it is never acceptable to single out anyone for their religion or heritage. Surely, that is a progressive value. 

“Whether in America or Israel, people can disagree with a nation's government and government officials without disparaging the state and its people as a whole. No matter who is in charge, Americans and Israelis are bound by our shared values of democracy, liberty, and equality. That's why Democrats and Republicans continue to show bipartisan support for Israel’s security and for a two-state solution that would bring a peaceful conclusion to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. I do not always agree with every leader in America or Israel. I am fully committed, however, to ensuring that Israel remains a Jewish state and a beacon of democracy, equality, and prosperity in the region and the world.”