Israel’s ambassador to the U.S. on Tuesday pushed back against claims by two Democratic senators that the Jewish state is involved in the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and West Bank.
Yechiel Leiter said the claims by Sens. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland and Jeff Merkley of Oregon were “false and dangerous.” Van Hollen and Merkley reportedly said Friday they reached the conclusion following a seven-day trip through the region last month. They believe Israel’s military operation in the Gaza Strip following Iran-backed Hamas’ terrorist attack on Oct. 7, 2023, is an effort to remove an ethnic or religious group from a territory through force or intimidation.
“The charge of ‘ethnic cleansing’ against Israel is false and dangerous,” Leiter said in a statement to The Hill. “It is not a legal definition but a political label, used to inflame tensions, spread hate, and fuel antisemitism.
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