Palestinian Journalist Rula Jebreal Faces Backlash for Calling House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries an 'AIPAC Monkey'
Palestinian journalist Rula Jebreal has drawn widespread condemnation for referring to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries as an 'AIPAC monkey' during an appearance on Wajahat Ali’s 'The Left Hook' podcast. Jebreal made the comment while criticizing Jeffries' support for Israel and accusing him of being influenced by the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). She stated, 'He is a bought and paid by AIPAC monkey,' adding, 'With all due respect — and I don’t mean it in a racist way.' She further described Jeffries as 'basically an errand boy.' Following immediate backlash, including from the podcast host who noted the racial connotations of the term 'monkey,' Jebreal attempted to clarify her remarks by referencing the 'three monkeys' who see, hear, and speak no evil. She later issued an apology on X, stating that while she was 'disgusted and horrified' by Jeffries taking money from AIPAC, the term she used was 'inappropriate and offensive' and she apologized 'unconditionally.'