Democratic Congresswoman Barbara Lee of California has expressed her concerns regarding the recent comments made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who seemingly ruled out the establishment of a Palestinian state. While the White House has reiterated its belief in a two-state solution, Congresswoman Lee emphasized the importance of commitment from the Israeli government to achieve this outcome.
Congresswoman Lee stated that the United States opposes anything that undermines the two-state solution, which remains the official policy of the country. She further called for an immediate ceasefire in order to prevent the escalation of violence and regional conflict. The Congresswoman emphasized the need to release the hostages and voiced her concern over the catastrophic impact of the ongoing war, which has resulted in the deaths of thousands of Palestinians. Lee believes that this conflict does not contribute to Israel's long-term security and could spiral out of control if not addressed effectively.
The Congresswoman's call for a ceasefire without any conditions differs from the stance taken by some of her fellow Democrats during the California Senate race. However, she stressed that systemic racism is a critical issue that needs to be addressed in the United States. Responding to recent comments by former Ambassador Nikki Haley, who suggested that the U.S. has never been a racist country, Lee disagreed, stating that racism, including institutional racism, is ingrained in America's history.
Reminding listeners of the genocide of Native Americans and the brutal enslavement of African-Americans, Lee argued that systemic racism continues to persist in the form of disparities in areas such as healthcare, employment, wealth, and housing. She labeled systemic racism as more than just 'little kinks' and highlighted the personal experiences of racism that people of color encounter on a daily basis.
The Congresswoman related her own personal encounter with racism when a white man prevented her from entering an elevator reserved for members of Congress. This incident exemplified the reality of personal racism that individuals of color face regularly. According to Lee, systemic racism is not only prevalent in societal attitudes but is deeply interwoven into U.S. policies.
Congresswoman Lee criticized efforts to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion practices, asserting that they deny equal opportunities and hinder progress towards creating a level playing field. She expressed her disagreement with Ambassador Haley's perspective on racism and argued that she appeared to lack an understanding of the profound impact and pervasiveness of racism in American society.
