“Criticism Escalates: House Censures Rashida Tlaib for Controversial Israel Remarks”9 Thu

Representative Rashida Tlaib (D-Michigan) was censured by the House on Tuesday due to her remarks against Israel and her divisive pro-Palestinian chants.https://chalkidanews.com/

Why it’s important The proposal received votes from about two dozen House Democrats. Rashida Tlaib is the only American Palestinian in Congress, and her scathing criticism of Israel has infuriated lawmakers from both parties.

House Resolution Denounces Tlaib for Israel Criticism: Calls for State of Israel’s Destruction

Adding to the story, Representative Rich MacKinnon (R-Ga.) sponsored a resolution that was approved by the House slamming Rashida Tlaib for “promoting false narratives” by denouncing Israel’s reaction to the October 7 assaults. With 234 votes in favor and 188 against, four Republicans voted “present.” It demands that the state of Israel be destroyed.

Diverse Coalition Backs Resolution Criticizing Rashida Tlaib on Israel: 22 Democrats Vote in Favor”

A coalition of Jewish politicians, moderate Democrats from swing districts, and representatives from places with sizable Jewish populations—such as Florida and New York—formed by twenty-two Democrats voted in favor of the motion.

Representatives Ken Buck (R-Colorado), John Duarte (R-California), Thomas Macy (R-Kentucky), and Tom McClintock (R-California) were the four Republicans who voted against it.

What they’re saying: One of the most vocal Democrats in Congress in favor of Israel, Representative Brad Schneider (D-Illinois), stated in a statement that while criticizing Rashida Tlaib is not the best course of action, it is the only option to voice opposition other than by voting.

He went on to say, “Unfortunately, this is the only vehicle that could formally condemn the dangerous propaganda and allegations that Representative Tlaib has been consistently using and promoting.”

Tlaib is accused of placing the blame on Israel for the bombing of a Gaza hospital last month, which the Pentagon said was caused by a malfunctioning missile from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

Her advocacy of the slogan “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free,” which is perceived as an encouragement to violence against Israelis by supporters of Israel but seen as a demand for equality by Palestinian followers, was also brought up recently.

On the contrary: In a statement, Rashida Tlaib stated, “Rather than accepting the voice and perspectives of the only Palestinian Americans in the Congress, my colleagues have relied on resolution filled with clear inaccuracies to distort my position.”

Tlaib declared that he was grieving over the deaths on both sides and that he has continuously denounced “the terrifying incidents of civilians being targeted and killed by both Hamas and the Israeli government.”

“Greene Targets Rashida Tlaib: Accuses Her of Leading ‘Rebellion’ in Capitol Hill Protest Resolution”

Context: Last week, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) tried to reprimand Tlaib by introducing a resolution in which she was accused of spearheading a “rebellion” for her remarks at the Capitol Hill demonstration last month that demanded an end to hostilities between Israel and Hamas.

Greene pushed a second vote this week to amend “rebellion” to “unlawful seizure,” after over a dozen Republicans voted against the resolution because of its incendiary wording. However, it was dropped after GPT leadership gave MacKinnon’s proposal priority.

What we’re hearing: A large number of Republicans opposed both bills because they were afraid of punishing their colleagues for making divisive remarks or getting into drawn-out, excessively political arguments.