On Tuesday, the House of Representatives censured Representative Rashida Tlaib for her comments and actions during the Israel-Hamas conflict. Tlaib, who is the only Palestinian American in Congress, faced criticism for her stance on the issue.
In a vote that passed 234 to 188, a censure resolution authored by Rep. Rich McCormick, R-Ga. was approved. The vote saw 22 Democrats voting for it, while four Republicans opposed the measure. It is important to note that a censure vote only requires a simple majority to pass.
Tlaib, D-Mich., is facing censure for her role in spreading false narratives about the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel and advocating for the destruction of the state of Israel. The resolution aims to hold her accountable for these actions.
During the House floor vote, McCormick expressed his disappointment over the promotion of antisemitic hate by a few members of the body, with Rep. Tlaib being the primary contributor. He emphasized the need for accountability in such instances.
The one-month period following the deadly terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel and the ongoing Israeli bombardment of the densely populated Gaza Strip has led to this vote.
The controversy surrounding Tlaib’s remarks and actions against Israel has become a hot topic for Republicans, as well as some Democrats who have joined in condemning her recent social media post. The video in question featured protesters chanting “from the river to the sea,” a phrase that is widely considered to be an antisemitic call for the eradication of Israel and has been associated with Hamas. Furthermore, the video accused President Joe Biden of supporting the genocide of the Palestinian people. Tlaib herself warned Biden that come 2024, her community will remember his actions.
Democrats are grappling with how to respond to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, with Tlaib’s positions causing division within the party. While Democrats have condemned the Hamas terrorist attack, which Israel claims killed 1,400 individuals, they have also been critical of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which health officials there report has resulted in the deaths of over 10,000 Palestinians. Some Democrats are calling for a humanitarian pause to provide aid to innocent civilians in Gaza, while Tlaib and a smaller group are advocating for a cease-fire.
Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar of California revealed that leadership had urged fellow Democrats to vote in favor of tabling the censure resolution against Tlaib. Despite this, the House voted 208-213 to reject the motion.
Aguilar wasted no time in denouncing Tlaib’s video.
“He expressed strong disagreement with the video, stating that he found the term used in it to be offensive. In his own words, he said, ‘I could not disagree more with the term.'”
Tlaib defended her comments and actions in a lengthy statement before the vote. She argued that she is the only Palestinian voice in Congress and thus, protected by free speech.
She expressed her disappointment in her colleagues who seem more interested in silencing her than saving lives in Gaza. The death toll in the area has exceeded 10,000, yet many of them have demonstrated a lack of concern for Palestinian lives. Despite this, she refuses to control their speech or behavior. “It’s regrettable that Palestinian lives don’t seem to matter to them,” she remarked.
Tlaib expressed her disappointment in her colleagues for not acknowledging her voice and perspective as the only Palestinian American in Congress. She further added that her colleagues have resorted to distorting her positions in resolutions that are filled with blatant lies. Tlaib has repeatedly condemned the targeting and killing of civilians by both Hamas and the Israeli government. She also mourned the loss of lives of Israelis and Palestinians.
In a recent statement on X, McCormick assured that the reported threats have been brought to the attention of the Capitol Police and will be thoroughly investigated.
As of Tuesday night, there has been no response from the U.S. Capitol Police regarding the request for comment. Meanwhile, an official from McCormick’s office mentioned that they are not in a position to share any specific details regarding the threat or its circumstances at this moment.
The House recently voted to defer a resolution to censure Tlaib, which was proposed by GOP Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene from Georgia. The resolution was considered to be too inflammatory by both Democrats and Republicans, prompting Greene to make revisions to it.
Speaking to reporters after his fact-finding mission to Israel following the October 7 attack, Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., expressed his support for both censure resolutions.
Van Orden strongly condemned the act of sitting members of Congress calling for genocide, stating that phrases like “from the river to the sea” are essentially calls for the eradication of the Jewish people, which is unacceptable. He emphasized that while free speech is important, actively advocating for the genocide of a particular group while holding a position in the House cannot be tolerated.
When a lawmaker is censured, it is a form of punishment that is less severe than being expelled. The censured individual must stand in the well of the chamber while the House speaker reads the censure resolution aloud.
This year, Rep. Adam Schiff, a Democratic representative from California, faced censure for his actions. He was accused of “misleading the American public and for conduct unbecoming of an elected Member of the House of Representatives.”
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