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US Representative Rashida Tlaib, Democrat of Michigan, speaks during a press conference with family members of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh as members of Congress call for US investigations into Israel’s actions and reintroduce the Justice for Shireen Act, outside the US Capitol in Washington, DC, 18 May 2023. The US House of Representatives voted on 7 November 2023 to censure Tlaib, formally rebuking the sole Palestinian-American in Congress for her statements regarding the Israel-Hamas war.
- The US House voted to censure Democratic Representative
Rashida Tlaib, the only Palestinian-American lawmaker in Congress over her
comments about Israel’s conflict with Hamas. - The censure motion specifically cited a
video in which Tlaib used the pro-Palestinian phrase “from the river to the sea”, which
many Jews see as an anti-Semitic slogan. - She
also accused President Joe Biden of supporting the “genocide of the
Palestinian people,” a claim Israel rejects.
The
US House voted on Tuesday to censure Democratic Representative Rashida Tlaib,
Congress’s lone Palestinian-American lawmaker, for comments she made regarding
Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza.
Twenty-two
Democrats joined with most Republicans in the chamber to censure Tlaib for
allegedly “promoting false narratives” on Hamas’ 7 October gun
rampage in Israel and “calling for the destruction of the state of
Israel.”
The
motion was sponsored by Republican Representative Richard McCormick. The final
vote tally in the Republican-controlled chamber was 234-188 in favour of
censure. Four Republicans voted against the motion, while three Democrats and
one Republican abstained.
Tlaib
has repeatedly condemned Hamas’s assault, which killed some 1 400 people, while
also criticising US support for Israel as the country’s military retaliates
with bombardment that has killed thousands of Palestinians in Gaza.
The
measure specifically cited a video Tlaib published on social media containing
the phrase “from the river to the sea,” a pro-Palestinian rallying
cry that is viewed by many Jews as antisemitic and calling for Israel’s
eradication.
She
also enraged many fellow Democrats on Friday when she posted a video accusing
President Joe Biden of supporting “the genocide of the Palestinian
people.” Israel vehemently rejects accusations of genocide.
Tlaib
rejected accusations of antisemitism during a speech on the House floor on
Tuesday.
“I
am the only Palestinian-American in Congress, and my perspective is needed more
than ever,” Tlaib said.
Tlaib said:
My criticism has always been of the Israeli government and (Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu’s actions… The idea that criticising the government of Israel is antisemitic sets a very dangerous precedent.
“Palestinian
people are not disposable,” Tlaib added, taking a long pause as she became
overcome with emotion. Her grandmother lives in a village in the occupied West
Bank, territory Israel captured in a 1967 war.
I am the only Palestinian American serving in Congress, and my perspective is needed here now more than ever. I will not be silenced and I will not let anyone distort my words.
I’m from Detroit, where I learned to speak truth to power, even if my voice shakes. pic.twitter.com/bXhGPCcKat
— Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (@RepRashida) November 7, 2023
Representative
Pete Aguilar, the No. 2 Democrat in the House, told reporters on Tuesday that
while he “strenuously disagreed” with Tlaib’s remarks about Biden, he
believed the censure motion was not productive.
The
symbolic rebuke has no specific punishment. Although it was previously a rare
measure used against members, it has become increasingly common in recent
years.
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Democrats
censured Republican Representative Paul Gosar in 2021 for posting an animated
video that depicted his character murdering Democratic Representative
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Republicans censured Democrat Adam Schiff for his
work investigating former President Donald Trump while he was in power.
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