January 19, 2021 (Washington, DC) — In response to Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib’s (D-MI) recent comments calling Israel a “racist state,” Jeff Mendelsohn, Executive Director of Pro-Israel America issued the following statement:
“Once again, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) is making statements that are not only offensive and dangerous, but flat-out untrue. It is another shameless attempt to delegitimize the right of Jews to a national homeland.
Israel is offering the vaccine to all of its citizens, including Arab-Israelis. It has also been vaccinating Palestinian residents in east Jerusalem, whose healthcare is under Israel’s purview per the Oslo Accords. The Palestinian Authority turned down Israel’s help in obtaining COVID-19 vaccines – and refused to even talk to Israel when Israel was ordering vaccine doses, choosing instead to purchase them on their own with the help of the international community. A Israeli Defense Ministry official confirmed: ‘Israel is willing to assist the Palestinians, but first it needs to create dialogue with them…We are still waiting for the Palestinian Authority to engage us on this matter.’
Whether or not Rep. Tlaib chooses to believe them, those are the facts – and she must stop spreading this dangerous misinformation with her lies.”