The House of Representatives has finally handed down a harsh punishment for squad member Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) over her anti-Israel comments.
The GOP-led House on Tuesday voted 234 – 188 to censure the Palestinian-American following recent spates of anti-semitic comments made by the squad member.
For the 26th time in our Nation’s history, congress has censured a member. I was proud to lead a bipartisan coalition of our members to hold Rashida Tlaib accountable for her dishonest and antisemitic behavior. Thank you to all the other members who helped me refine the language… pic.twitter.com/JMLgzTyYlf
— Congressman Rich McCormick, MBA MD (@RepMcCormick) November 8, 2023
Tlaib recently came under fire from Republicans and Democrats for her use of the phrase “From the river to the sea,” a rallying call Hamas supporters use to call for the destruction of Israel.
Tlaib argued that the phrase is an aspirational call for freedom, human rights, and peaceful coexistence, and not death, destruction, or hate of Israel.
From the river to the sea is an aspirational call for freedom, human rights, and peaceful coexistence, not death, destruction, or hate. My work and advocacy is always centered in justice and dignity for all people no matter faith or ethnicity.
— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) November 3, 2023
“From the river to the sea is an aspirational call for freedom, human rights, and peaceful coexistence, not death, destruction, or hate. My work and advocacy is always centered in justice and dignity for all people no matter faith or ethnicity,” she said.
Democrats and Jews, however, disagree with Tlaib’s argument, while noting that it essentially means the destruction of the Jewish State.
“It is fundamentally a call for a Palestinian state extending from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, territory that includes the State of Israel, which would mean the dismantling of the Jewish state,” the Anti-Defamation League’s website said. “It is an antisemitic charge denying the Jewish right to self-determination, including through the removal of Jews from their ancestral homeland.”
Rep. Rich McCormick (R-GA), who introduced the measure to censure Tlaib, that the punishment was justified because she was essentially calling for Israel’s annihilation.
Just in: A Second GOP Lawmaker Rep. Rich McCormick (R-GA) brought a resolution to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) for 'False Narratives' About Israel. pic.twitter.com/ItyWUhNORu
— ꪻꫝể ꪻꫝể (@TheThe1776) November 6, 2023
“If this is not worthy of censure, what is? When you can call for the annihilation of a country and its people, if that’s not worthy of a censure, what is?” McCormick said on the House floor.
My resolution to censure @RepRashida is an honest one that protects free speech while still holding her to account for her reckless behavior. pic.twitter.com/mK367M0c6f
— Congressman Rich McCormick, MBA MD (@RepMcCormick) November 2, 2023
Prior to the House vote, Tlaib’s Democrat colleague Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) insisted that he would support the measure to ensure her, adding that the phrase means the destruction of Israel.
“It’s universally accepted and known that’s what that means, ‘river to the sea,’ is the destruction of Israel and of Israel, and, of course, of the Jewish people,” Gottheimer said. “It’s basically a call for a second Holocaust. If Mr. McCormick’s resolution comes to the floor, I will be supporting that, yes.”
