(JNS.org) A Democratic member of Congress on Monday compared Jews who live in communities located beyond Israel’s 1967 lines to “termites” during a speech at an anti-Israel event in Philadelphia. “There has been a steady [stream], 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,” said U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) at an event hosted by the U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, the Washington Free Beacon reported.

Following the report and a request from the Anti-Defamation League to retract his statement, Johnson tweeted, “Poor choice of words—apologies for offense. Point is settlement activity continues slowly undermine 2-state solution.” But the National Jewish Democratic Council argued that Johnson’s apology fell short, tweeting at the lawmaker, “@RepHankJohnson, To refer to Jews as ‘termites’ is deeply offensive and dehumanizing. Not just a ‘poor choice of words.’ It’s dangerous.”

CAP: U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.)