Pramila Jayapal, a member of the far-left so-called “Squad,” found herself in hot water after suggesting that there needs to be a “balanced” criticism of Israeli “war crimes” when asked specifically about rapes carried out by Hamas.
The Washington Democrat made the controversial remarks in an interview with CNN’s Dana Bash.
Bash specifically called out progressives for remaining largely silent on the horrific sexual crimes that had been carried out by the terrorist group against Israeli women.
“I’ve seen a lot of progressive women, generally speaking, they’re quick to defend women’s rights and to speak out against using rape as a weapon of war, but downright silent on what we saw on October 7. And what might be happening inside Gaza right now to these hostages,” said Bash. “Why is that?”
“I’ve condemned the actions absolutely — the rape, of course,” Jayapal briefly countered before shifting the focus back to Israel’s response to the terrorist attacks.
“Morally, I think we cannot say that one war crime deserves another. That is not what international humanitarian law says,” she deviated.
Bash, to her credit, called out the deflection.
“With respect, I was just asking you about the women and you turned it back to Israel. I’m asking you about Hamas,” she fired back in the tense exchange.
After insisting she already condemned the rapes, Jayapal again tried to shift the focus back to Israel.
“However, I think we have to be balanced about bringing in the outrages against Palestinians,” she said.
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Jayapal Gets Blasted … By Democrats
Jayapal’s comments seemingly equivocating Israel’s actions with the barbaric rapes carried out by Hamas drew criticism and condemnation from several Democrats.
Florida Representative and co-chair of the House Democratic Steering Committee, Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, hammered the Squad member on X.
“Hamas terrorists raped Israeli women and girls. The only ‘balanced’ approach is to condemn sexual violence loudly, forcefully and without exceptions,” Wasserman-Schultz wrote. “Outrageous for anyone to ‘both sides’ sexual violence.”
Jayapal certainly wouldn’t allow her Republican colleagues to “both sides” rape. Would she?
Wasserman-Schultz wasn’t the only one to take exception to Jayapal’s comments.
Christine Pelosi, the daughter of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, absolutely tore into the Democrat Representative.
“Do not minimize, excuse, ‘balance’ or ‘both sides’ sexual assault – that is victim blaming we have spent decades trying to undo in the laws, the courts and the hearts and minds of the people,” demanded Pelosi.
She added another basic fact: “Rape is rape.”
Democratic attorney Dave Aronberg also took exception to her insisting on a “balanced” response.
“When you tie yourself into knots to defend rapists, you’ve lost your moral authority,” he fired back.
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Jayapal’s Stance Against Israel
Just this past October, Representative Jayapal voted “present” on a House Resolution supporting Israel in the wake of the Hamas terror attacks.
Earlier this year, she was forced to apologize for calling Israel “racist.”
“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 does not even feel possible,” she commented at the Netroots Nation conference.
After being heavily criticized at the time on both sides of the political aisle, Jayapal was forced to “clarify” what she meant.
“Words do matter and so it is important that I clarify my statement,” she said. “I do not believe the idea of Israel as a nation is racist.”
However …
“I do, however, believe that [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] 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,” she added.
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