California Governor Gavin Newsom is backtracking on his earlier remarks that labeled Israel an “apartheid state.”
During a discussion with Politico, when asked if he regretted those comments, Newsom replied, “I do.”
Nonetheless, he still endorsed the term “apartheid,” asserting he was referring to “the direction of apartheid” in relation to what Israel could become under Prime Minister Netanyahu’s leadership, rather than its current status.
“If this far-right vision that Netanyahu is promoting leads to a complete annexation of the West Bank, that may be how others describe it,” he added.
Newsom also attempted to clarify any misconceptions regarding his support for Israel. When questioned about being a Zionist, he stated, “I respect the state of Israel. I am proud to support the state of Israel.”
However, he made it clear he has strong disapproval for Netanyahu and for those who are against a two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians.
His comments came after a recent book tour promoting his memoir, in which he previously criticized Netanyahu, saying, “Others are discussing Israel as a form of apartheid.”
