A US Democratic congressman who was harshly criticized for comparing illegal West Bank settlers to termites has apologized for his remarks.

Hank Johnson, a Georgia representative, said during an event for the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, “… almost like termites can get into a residence and eat before you know that you’ve been eaten up and you fall in on yourself, there has been settlement activity that has marched forward with impunity and at an ever increasing rate to the point where it has become alarming.”

The 61-year-old further compared Israeli Defense Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, to Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump.

https://twitter.com/PalestineNewsEN/status/758582819455205376

Speaking on the Israeli occupation of Palestine, Johnson said, “We’ve gotten to the point where the thought of a Palestinian homeland gets further and further removed from reality.”

The Anti-Defamation league criticized Johnson’s comments after which he apologized, tweeting: “Poor choice of words – apologies for offense. Point is settlement activity continues to slowly undermine 2-state solution.”

Johnson, who recently returned from a trip to Palestine with several House Democratic colleagues, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, “’The corrosive settlement policies undermine the ability of all citizens in the region to enjoy healthy, peaceful lives in safe communities.’

https://twitter.com/Md_Renegade/status/758343243021123584

He said, “We must work to promote policies that support a two-state solution and encourage trust between both sides.”Johnson’s office also said: “When using the metaphor of termites, the Congressman was referring to the corrosive process, not the people.”

Only a few days earlier, former Democratic congresswoman, Cynthia McKinney, came under fire for suggesting Israel was behind the recent terrorist attacks in France and Germany.

(PC, MEMO, MailOnline)