WASHINGTON – Minnesota Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips sharply criticized a progressive leader in the U.S. House for calling Israel "a racist state" ahead of the Israeli president's speech to Congress.
"To condemn an entire people, to call an entire country racist, is beyond the pale," said Phillips, who is Jewish. "It's anything but progressive."
The pushback from Phillips comes as U.S. House Democrats are contending with fierce tensions over Israel following the controversial words from Rep. Pramila Jayapal, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. She issued an apology the day after her Saturday comment.
