Democrat Pramila Jayapal apologized for calling Israel a "racist" state after the comments sparked a row within her party.

"Words do matter and so it is important that I clarify my statement. I do not believe the idea of Israel as a nation is racist," she said.

The controversy is the latest to reflect a divide within the Democratic party over Israel.

Some far-left Democrats, especially Ilhan Omar (D-Mn.), have been accused over the years of using anti-Semitic rhetoric to demonize Israel and its right to exist.

Democrat reverses course

At the Netroots Nation conference on Saturday, Jayapal (Wa.) responded to hecklers by assuring them that Democrats are "fighting to make it clear that Israel is a racist state."

"The Palestinian people deserve self-determination and autonomy, that the dream of a two-state solution is slipping away from us," she continued.

But leading Democrats quickly made it clear that Jayapal's comments were not welcome, and she reversed course.

In her follow-up statement, Jayapal said she does not believe Israel is a racist state, but she does believe the Netanyahu government is racist.

"I do, however, believe that Netanyahu’s extreme right-wing government has engaged in discriminatory and outright racist policies and that there are extreme racists driving that policy within the leadership of the current government," she said.

Apology accepted?

Of course, Jayapal also couldn't help playing the race card.

"As an immigrant woman of color who has fought my whole life against racism, hate, and discrimination of all kinds and viscerally feels when anyone’s very existence is called into question, I am deeply aware of the many challenges we face in our own country to live up to the ideals of our nation here."

That was all good enough for New York's Jerry Nadler (D), who said he accepted Jayapal's apology. Nadler is Jewish.

My response to @RepJayapal's statements on Israel: pic.twitter.com/yI7GVHmFmh

— Rep. Nadler (@RepJerryNadler) July 17, 2023

Meanwhile, Democrat Ro Khanna (D-Ca) said he won't join fellow progressives in boycotting a Wednesday speech from Israel's president Isaac Herzog, whom Khanna called "much more moderate" than right-wing prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who returned to power in 2022.

Still, Jayapal is planning to boycott the speech, saying, "I think this is not a good time for that to happen."