Democratic congressman deletes tweet urging Israel to vaccinate Palestinians

US Congressman Jamaal Bowman (Democrat of New York) has deleted a tweet from Sunday in which he called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to ensure that both Israelis and Palestinians alike are vaccinated for the coronavirus.

Bowman had joined four other Congressional Democrats who had blasted Israel’s policy of not inoculating Palestinians. They cited an international law statute, which requires occupying powers to cover the medical needs of inhabitants of the territories it occupies.

Under the terms of the 1995 Oslo Accords though, the Palestinian Authority is responsible for Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza, while both sides are to work together to combat epidemics.

Several prominent US Jewish leaders panned Bowman for his statement. His office did not respond to a query into why he deleted the tweet, which closed with “this cruelty is another reminder of why the occupation must end.”

???? @JamaalBowmanNY has deleted this tweet. He had come under attack from the usual suspects, though nothing in the tweet was wrong. pic.twitter.com/GEaQsFS4X5

— Alex Kane (@alexbkane) January 28, 2021