Rashida Tlaib, only Palestinian-American member of Congress, censured for controversial war statements
CBC
The U.S. House voted late Tuesday to censure Democratic member 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's Oct. 7 attack in Israel and "calling for the destruction of the state of Israel."
The motion was sponsored by Republican Richard McCormick of Georgia. 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.
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 one that is antisemitic and calls for Israel's eradication.
The member from Michigan 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.
"My criticism has always been of the Israeli government and [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu's actions …The idea that criticizing the government of Israel is antisemitic sets a very dangerous precedent," Tlaib said.
"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.
Democratic member from Florida on his vote:
Democrats initially stood by Tlaib and helped defeat the first censure resolution against her last week. But since then, many of her colleagues, including prominent Jewish members, have become more conflicted about her rhetoric about the war.
Brad Schneider of Illinois, the lone Democrat to vote with Republicans on Tuesday to advance the censure resolution, said he believed it was important to debate the slogan "from the river to the sea."
"I will always defend the right to free speech," said Schneider. "Tlaib has the right to say whatever she wants."
But Pete Aguilar of California, a top-ranking 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.
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