WASHINGTON — The Home on Tuesday will vote on two GOP resolutions to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib, the only Palestinian American in Congress, over her controversial remarks and actions in response to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The votes come precisely one month after the lethal Hamas terrorist assault on Israel and amid the devastating Israeli bombardment of the densely populated Gaza Strip. Additionally they come nearly every week after the Home voted to punt one other decision to censure Tlaib, D-Mich., authored by far-right Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., over issues from Democrats and Republicans alike that the language was too incendiary.
Addressing these issues, Greene stated she has made minor adjustments to her preliminary decision to make it extra palatable. For instance, her decision not describes Tlaib’s participation in a pro-Palestinian protest outdoors the Capitol as “main an rebel.” As a substitute, Greene’s new decision states that Tlaib “incited an unlawful occupation” on the Capitol.
Republicans have seized on Tlaib’s phrases and actions criticizing Israel, becoming a member of a number of Democrats in condemning a video she posted on social media displaying protesters chanting “from the river to the ocean” — a phrase that has been utilized by Hamas and that Jewish teams think about an antisemitic name for the elimination of Israel. The video additionally says that President Joe Biden “supported the genocide of the Palestinian individuals,” and Tlaib herself warns Biden, “We are going to keep in mind in 2024.”
Tlaib’s positions have divided Democrats, who’re wrestling with how to answer the brand new battle within the Center East. They’ve condemned the horrific Hamas terror assault that Israel says killed 1,400 individuals, however many Democrats even have been essential of Israel’s navy marketing campaign in Gaza that has killed greater than 10,000 Palestinians, in keeping with well being officers there. A rising variety of Democrats have referred to as for a humanitarian pause to offer support to harmless civilians in Gaza, whereas a smaller group, together with Tlaib, have pushed for a cease-fire.
Forward of the votes, Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar of California stated management is encouraging rank-and-file Democrats to vote to desk the censure resolutions. However he additionally was fast to sentence Tlaib’s video.
“I extraordinarily disagree with the assertion, the video,” Aguilar stated. “I couldn’t disagree extra with the time period. I feel it’s offensive.”
In a prolonged assertion, Tlaib defended her feedback and actions, arguing that she is the lone Palestinian voice in Congress and guarded by free speech.
“It’s a disgrace my colleagues are extra targeted on silencing me than they’re on saving lives, because the demise toll in Gaza surpasses 10,000. Lots of them have proven me that Palestinian lives merely don’t matter to them, however I nonetheless don’t police their rhetoric or actions,” she stated.
“Moderately than acknowledge the voice and perspective of the one Palestinian American in Congress, my colleagues have resorted to distorting my positions in resolutions crammed with apparent lies,” Tlaib continued. “I’ve repeatedly denounced the horrific focusing on and killing of civilians by Hamas and the Israeli authorities and have mourned the Israeli and Palestinian lives misplaced.”
The Home will take its first motion on the brand new censure resolutions Tuesday afternoon. Lawmakers will resolve whether or not to desk a extra reasonable decision, authored by Rep. Wealthy McCormick, R-Ga., that might censure Tlaib for “selling false narratives concerning the October 7, 2023, Hamas assault on Israel and for calling for the destruction of the state of Israel.”
If the movement to desk fails, the decision will get a vote late Tuesday night time.
At the moment, the Home can even vote on whether or not to desk Greene’s revised decision censuring Tlaib for what the Georgia congresswoman calls “antisemitic exercise and sympathizing with terrorist organizations.”
Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., who just lately traveled to Israel on a fact-finding mission after the Oct. 7 assault, informed reporters he helps each censure resolutions.
“We can not have sitting members of Congress calling for genocide. And ‘from the river to the ocean’ is a name for genocide, for the eradication of the Jewish individuals. We simply can’t try this,” Van Orden stated. “Free speech is one factor, however calling actively for genocide of a individuals while you’re a sitting member of this Home can not stand. No method.”
Rebecca Kaplan contributed.
