Anti-Israel journalist Rula Jebreal issued an unconditional apology following backlash over her comment calling House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., an “AIPAC monkey.” This remark was made during an interview on Wajahat Ali’s podcast “The Left Hook,” sparking condemnation from the Congressional Black Caucus and other Democratic lawmakers for its racist implications.
Jebreal accused Jeffries of advancing the agenda of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), criticizing his support for Israel. She stated, “His name is Hakeem. ‘Hakeem’ is an Arabic name which means ‘healer.’ He’s not a healer, he’s a divider.” Despite prefacing her comment with “With all due respect,” Jebreal’s words were widely considered offensive.
He is a bought and paid by AIPAC monkey… I don’t mean it in a racist way.
Host Wajahat Ali attempted to address the remarks during the podcast, emphasizing the racial connotations associated with the term “monkey” when used about a Black individual. Jebreal cited the image of three monkeys in an attempt to clarify her meaning, but the explanation failed to appease critics.
The Congressional Black Caucus released a statement rejecting Jebreal’s explanation. The group emphasized, “To be clear, there isn’t a non-racist way to call Leader Jeffries—a Black man—a ‘monkey’ or ‘errand boy.’” They highlighted the need to stop facilitating open bigotry in political discourse.
Democratic lawmakers also voiced condemnation. Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Colo., called the rhetoric “blatantly racist and offensive,” urging universal denouncement. Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., underscored the racist nature of the term “monkey” when referring to a Black person. Torres pointed out, “If Wajahat Ali and Rula Jebreal were on the far right, no one on the far left would have any trouble condemning them for dehumanizing a Black man in racist terms.”
Following the spread of the interview clip, Jebreal posted an apology on X, expressing remorse over her choice of words, though restating her disapproval of Jeffries’ association with AIPAC. Jason Mudd, CEO of Axia Public Relations, critiqued Jebreal’s apology, indicating it lacked genuine confession.
The podcast and the subsequent apology targeted different audiences, according to Mudd. The live podcast aimed to handle immediate backlash, whereas the written apology attempted damage control in media headlines.
Both Jebreal and Jeffries have not responded to requests for further comments. This incident has stirred widespread discourse about racism and political alignment, with media and cultural implications.