Karine Jean-Pierre
Karine Jean-PierrePool/ABACA via Reuters Connect

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Tuesday refused to denounce comments by Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), who over the weekend called Israel a “racist state”, before walking back the comments and stating that she had directed them at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.

A reporter pointed out to Jean-Pierre that John Kirby, Coordinator for Strategic Communications for the US National Security Council, said at Monday’s briefing that the administration was glad that Jayapal apologized for the remarks, adding, “We think an apology was the right thing to do for those comments.”

The reporter than noted that “what we didn’t hear was any condemnation of her comment from the White House. Does the White House condemn that comment?”

“I mean, look, the apology was the right thing to do. And we’ve been very clear: When it comes to antisemitism, this administration and the entire Biden — Biden-Harris administration have been clear that when Israel is — is singled out because of anti-Jewish hate, that’s antisemitism, and that is unacceptable,” Jean-Pierre replied.

She then referred to the Biden administration’s plan to counter antisemitism and said, “It is something that is one of — it’s a first-of-a-kind strategy that we’ve not seen before. And — and it is comprehensive and is — and is ambitious. So you already have seen the commitment from this President on how to deal with an issue that we feel is incredibly unacceptable.”

“So we have been — we’ve been clear on our record. We’ve been clear on speaking against antisemitism throughout — throughout this administration when we see it,” added Jean-Pierre.

The reporter then pressed Jean-Pierre and asked her whether the White House condemns Jayapal’s comment, to which she replied, “I mean, I just said, if it is — if — anytime anti-Jewish hatred is — is said, that is antisemitism, and we — and we find it to be unacceptable. But at the same time, we think it’s important that the congresswoman did indeed apologize for her comments, and we’re glad to see it.”

She was then asked about the resolution which passed in the House of Representatives and which condemns antisemitism while declaring that “the State of Israel is not a racist or apartheid state”.

To the question “Does the White House want to see strong support for that resolution?”, Jean-Pierre replied, “First of all, we condemn antisemitism. Anytime there is any anti-Jewish hate, we condemn it. We’ve been very clear. That is answering your question. As it relates to anything that’s going on in the House, I’d refer you to the House.”

“But, again,” she continued, “I cannot be more clearer: You have the President right now meeting with the President of Israel, a very important meeting that they’re having. They’re doing a bilat right now. And one of the things that the President is going to make very clear is the special bond and our commitment to Israel. And it is unwavering, it is unshakable, and the President finds — finds that relationship, again, very deep. And it — it — it started when he first walked into government.”