WASHINGTON — Freshman Democrat Jamaal Bowman removed a tweet that criticized Israel’s vaccine policy.
The removal, first noted Thursday by Jewish Insider, urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to ensure that Palestinians receive coronavirus vaccinations and added that “this cruelty is another reminder of why the occupation must end.”
Israel, which is operating one of the most impressive coronavirus vaccine distributions in the world, has said it is not under obligation under international law or prior agreements to supply Palestinians with a vaccine. Moreover, Israeli officials have noted, Palestinian Authority leaders have said they prefer to receive the vaccine from elsewhere.
A number of progressive Democrats have criticized Israel for not distributing the vaccine to Palestinians under P.A. control.
Israel committed on Friday to give the Palestinian Authority thousands of COVID-19 vaccines. Reports vary about the exact amount, with some claiming 5,000 doses will be passed on, while others claim as many as 20,000 doses.
The delivery is meant to be shipped out next week.
Bowman, who upset longtime pro-Israel stalwart Rep. Eliot Engel in his New York City race last year, has joined “The Squad,” a group of progressive lawmakers that includes Reps. Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib. Omar and Tlaib support the boycott Israel movement, but Bowman does not. Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this article.