Rep. Pramila Jayapal, the head of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, on Saturday condemned Israel as a racist state, warning activists that there is an organized opposition against progressive critics of Israel’s policy towards the Palestinians.

The sharp criticism from the lawmaker from Washington state marks among the highest-level condemnations of Israel, as several members of her caucus plan to boycott Israel President Isaac Herzog’s address to a joint session of Congress later this week.

Speaking on a panel at Netroots Nation, an annual progressive activist conference in Chicago, Jayapal was addressing pro-Palestinian attendees interrupting the session.

  • Zstom6IP@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    a significant amount of jews moved to mandatory palestine before israel was even established, due to the loose immigration laws. the other portion of the israeli population arrived as refugees in the 50s after several states in the middle east expelled their jewish populations post independance. the people kicked out of their homes are not being kicked out for forigners to move in usually, but rather for native israelis to move into, though there are some small american groups in the west bank settler movement. (i am not pro israel or pro palestine, just trying to educate people)

    • Dan@casavaga.com
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      1 year ago

      Look up Theodor Herzl. He is the father of Zionism and is buried in Israel’s national cemetery.

      • Zstom6IP@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Im sure many moved for ideological reasons, but that number is dwarfed by the amount that immigrated due to the loose laws.

      • SwampYankee@mander.xyz
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        1 year ago

        because I can “claim” the land as mine as my ancestors resided there a thousand years ago

        Actually, the Jewish National Fund purchased land from subjects of the Ottoman Empire. Often when the Jews showed up to claim their purchase, they found that there were Palestinian Arabs living there. That’s a result of misappropriations under the Ottoman Land Act of 1858.

        That doesn’t make the situation any less horrible, but it’s a far cry from the way you describe it.

      • Zstom6IP@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Those practices mostly started in 48 during the nakba, and resumed after the six day war, predominently done in the west bank now, and in 48 in the panhandle near jerusalem.