WASHINGTON (AP) _ Republican Sen. Ted Cruz says he walked out of a speech Wednesday night after audience members booed his comments in support of Israel.
The Texas senator spoke at the “In Defense of Christians” dinner Wednesday night in Washington. He said in a statement late Wednesday that when he spoke about Israel and the Jewish people, a small but vocal minority tried to shout him down.
He said that when faced with hatred and bigotry, he had no choice but to walk off the stage.
Cruz, mentioned as a possible presidential candidate in 2016, called anti-Semitism an evil that was evident at the dinner. He said he told members of the audience that if they won’t stand with Israel and the Jewish people, then he will not stand with them.