Gavin Newsom says he regrets using term ‘apartheid’ to describe Israel

California governor backtracks and says he meant to apply term to Israel’s future if it continues on present trajectory

The California governor, Gavin Newsom, backtracked on earlier remarks likening Israel to an “apartheid state” in a new interview with Politico published on Tuesday.

In the interview, the Democrat, who is widely expected to launch a presidential bid in 2028, said that when he used the term three weeks ago, he meant it to apply to Israel’s future should it continue on its present trajectory.