Sen. Ted Cruz (R–Texas) today called for John Kerry to resign as secretary of state over his use of the word “apartheid” in reference to Israel. Cruz characterized Kerry’s recent comments as the latest demonstration of the secretary’s willingness to put “the wishes of the international community above the national security interests of the United States.”
“The fact that Secretary Kerry sees nothing wrong with making a statement comparing Israel’s policy to the abhorrent apartheid policies of South Africa, and doing so on the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day, demonstrates a shocking lack of sensitivity to the incendiary and damaging nature of his rhetoric,” Cruz said on the Senate floor.
“Sadly, it is my belief that Secretary Kerry has proven himself unsuitable for the position he holds,” Cruz continued. “And therefore, before any further harm is done to our national security interest and to our critical alliance with the nation of Israel, that John Kerry should offer President Obama his resignation and the president should accept it.”
Kerry made the comments in a closed-door meeting with senior officials from multiple countries on Friday, The Daily Beast reported this morning.
“A two-state solution will be clearly underscored as the only real alternative,” Kerry said, according to the report. “Because a unitary state winds up either being an apartheid state with second-class citizens — or it ends up being a state that destroys the capacity of Israel to be a Jewish state.”
Cruz said the word “apartheid is inextricably associated” with South Africa and “the notion that Israel would go down that path and so face the same condemnation that faced South Africa is unconscionable.”
He also reasserted his pro-Israel stance and criticized Kerry for undermining the position of the United States on Israel.
“America will be with Israel regardless of the status of the diplomatic process,” Cruz said.
This story was produced by The Foundry’s news team. Nothing here should be construed as necessarily reflecting the views of The Heritage Foundation.
