Rula Jebreal calls African American lawmaker Hakeem Jeffries a monkey, then apologizes

Rula Jebreal apologized after calling Hakeem Jeffries, the leader of the Democratic minority in the U.S. Congress, an “AIPAC monkey” during an interview with an American YouTube channel.

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AIPAC monkey.

The Palestinian journalist accused Jeffries of accepting money from AIPAC, the pro-Israel lobbying group in the United States. She appeared to recognize during the interview that the remark had crossed a line. After the interviewer told her she had said something offensive, Jebreal replied that she had been referring to the “three monkeys,” who speak, see and hear nothing.

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But I was talking about the three little monkeys: I speak not, I see not and I hear not.

The explanation did not stop the backlash. Jebreal later apologized on social media and explained why she had targeted the lawmaker. “I am disgusted and horrified that Hakeem Jeffries is accepting money from AIPAC amid Israel’s genocide in Palestine,” she wrote. “That said, a term I used to describe him was inappropriate and offensive and should never have been used. I unconditionally apologize.”

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I am disgusted and horrified that Hakeem Jeffries is accepting money from AIPAC amid Israel’s genocide in Palestine. That said, a term I used to describe him was inappropriate and offensive and should never have been used. I unconditionally apologize.