U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) was shockingly dismissive of Hamas terrorists raping women, trying to draw a moral equivalence with Israel in remarks so beyond the pale that they drew bipartisan outrage.
Once again letting her hatred of the Jewish state get in the way of her judgment, the Seattle socialist was invited to discuss the end of the ceasefire in Gaza on Sunday’s edition of CNN’s “State of the Union” where she stunned host Dana Bash with her remarks after she was asked about the silence of progressive activists over Hamas rapists.
“I want to ask you about sexual violence, and it’s kind of remarkable that this issue hasn’t gotten enough attention, globally. Widespread use of rape, brutal rape, sexual violence against Israeli women by Hamas,” the host began.
(Video: CNN)
“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. Why is that?” Bash asked.
The left-wing lawmaker tried to duck the question by saying that she “always” talks about war’s impact on women and that two decades ago she did a petition about the Iraq war.
“Have you talked about it since October 7th?” Bash asked, drawing a response of “absolutely” from Jayapal who said that she had condemned the actions of Hamas before pivoting to bash Israel.
“But I think we have to remember Israel is a democracy. That is why they’re a strong ally of ours,” Jayapal said. “And if they do not comply with international humanitarian law, they are bringing themselves to a place that makes it much more difficult strategically for them to be able to build allies, to keep public opinion with them, and frankly, morally, we cannot say that one war crime deserves another. That is not what international humanitarian law says.”
“With respect, I was just asking about the women, and you turned it back to Israel. I’m asking you about Hamas,” Bash responded, calling out her trickery.
“I already answered your question, Dana,” Jayapal shot back. “We have to be balanced about bringing in the outrages against Palestinians. Fifteen thousand Palestinians have been killed in Israeli air strikes, three-quarters of whom are women and children.”
“And it’s horrible,” Bash replied. “But you don’t see Israeli soldiers raping Palestinian women.”
“I don’t want this to be the hierarchies of oppressions,” Jayapal replied.
The Progressive Caucus leader’s remarks sparked bipartisan outrage on X where users slammed her for downplaying Hamas rapists.
“I should not have to say this in 2023 but here we are: RAPE IS RAPE,” said Christine Pelosi whose mother bears a lion’s share of the responsibility for allowing antisemitism to gain a foothold in the House. “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.
I should not have to say this in 2023 but here we are: RAPE IS RAPE.
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. #WeSaidEnough
— Christine Pelosi (@sfpelosi) December 3, 2023
Fox News’ “The Five” co-host Jessica Tarlov, a normally reliable defender of Democrats, didn’t hold back.
“This is beyond f*cked up,” she wrote. “Every single one of these Democratic primaries of the ‘progressives’ is going to be justified.”
This is beyond f*cked up
Every single one of these Democratic primaries of the ‘progressives’ is going to be justified https://t.co/uLu2EDcpuC— Jessica Tarlov (@JessicaTarlov) December 3, 2023
Speaking of primary challenges, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) which is reportedly set to spend big on primary challenges to the Jew-hating “Squad” members also tore into Jayapal.
“Israeli women were raped and mutilated, but @PramilaJayapal won’t unequivocally condemn it because Israeli women were the victims,” AIPAC wrote on X.
Israeli women were raped and mutilated, but @PramilaJayapal won’t unequivocally condemn it because Israeli women were the victims.#MeToo, but “we have to be balanced”#BelieveWomen, “however”#NoExcuse, “but”
This shouldn’t be hard, @RepJayapal: Hamas is wrong. Rape is wrong. pic.twitter.com/ajNN5rhNMa
— AIPAC | Text ISRAEL to 24722 | #StandWithIsrael (@AIPAC) December 3, 2023
More reactions followed:
“#metoo for all women except if you’re a Jew who was raped by islamic terrorists.” @RepJayapal pic.twitter.com/vtwDcjSVOL
— Chaya Raichik (@ChayaRaichik10) December 3, 2023
Dear @PramilaJayapal: When your answer is “but and “however” to a question about rape as a weapon of war by Hamas against Jewish women and teens, you know that you’ve been drinking the @CAIRNational kool-aid too long.
Rep. Jayapal: Here is what your interview sounds like to… pic.twitter.com/3CR41uyb0M
— Asra Nomani (@AsraNomani) December 3, 2023
When you tie yourself into knots to defend rapists, you’ve lost your moral authority, @RepJayapal. #RapeIsNotResistance https://t.co/cN7bd2irxw
— Dave Aronberg (@aronberg) December 3, 2023
I see that Praymila Jayapal is confused about when to condemn rape, so allow me to clear this up for her: Rape is evil, always. You’re welcome.
— Joanne Mason (@JoanneMason11) December 3, 2023
A soul rotten to the core!!.
Here’s a member of Congress telling us that since Israel isn’t well liked, the Israeli women who were raped by Hamas don’t deserve the support of progressives.
And for good measure Rep. Pramila Jayapal adds rape: “happens in war…however, we have to… pic.twitter.com/sPky8mr9UB
— ✝️Pray Without Ceasing✝️ (@Elohim_Gadol) December 3, 2023
I am so sick of these squad women, if she or one of their children had been raped, would she still have this crap coming out of her mouth? What a hateful woman.
— Leslie Cooper (@LeslieC60) December 3, 2023
Time to expel this Hamas apologist.
Democrat Rep. Pramila Jayapal on calling out Hamas for using rape as a weapon of war against Israelis:
“I think we have to be balanced about bringing in the outrages against Palestinians”
FIRE this anti-Semitic
— Michael (@NewsTalkPD) December 3, 2023
While not as overtly militant as her colleagues Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Jayapal is among Democrat House members who may as well be acting as de facto agents for Hamas.
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