US House Of Reps Censures Palestinian-American Female Lawmaker, Tlaib Over Criticism Of Israel
November 8, 2023
NEWS
Photo Credit: Anadolu Agency/Anadolu/Getty Images

The House of Representatives in the United States voted to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib on Tuesday night, rebuking the Michigan Democrat for her criticism of Israel following Hamas’s unprecedented attack on the U.S. ally.

The chamber approved the reprimand in a 234-188-4 vote, with 22 Democrats bucking Party leadership to support the resolution and four Republicans voting against it.

The vote is the culmination of a week-plus effort by Republicans to punish Tlaib — the only Palestinian American serving in Congress — for comments critical of Israel that have drawn condemnation from both sides of the aisle, The Hill reports.

And it marks the pinnacle of the current controversy surrounding Tlaib. The congresswoman posted a video on X over the weekend that said President Biden “supported the genocide of the Palestinian people” and included clips of protesters changing “from the river to the sea,” which the Anti-Defamation Leagues characterizes as anti-semitic. In a subsequent social media post, Tlaib defended her use of the controversial phrase.

The remark sparked bipartisan condemnation and prompted a statement from House Minority Leader, Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) that, without naming Tlaib, criticised her use of the phrase, which he said is “widely understood as calling for the complete destruction of Israel” and “unacceptably risks further polarization, division and incitement to violence.”

Still, Democratic leadership earlier Tuesday had urged their members to vote against advancing the resolution, defending Tlaib’s right to make the controversial comments, despite most disagreeing with her words.

Democrats largely stuck together on the procedural vote, with only one voting against the motion to table, before a larger group split off on the final vote.

The censure resolution, sponsored by Rep. Rich McCormick (R-Ga.), accuses Tlaib of “promoting false narratives regarding the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel and for calling for the destruction of the state of Israel,” referencing her use of the controversial phrase on social media.

It also cites a statement from Tlaib on Oct. 8, the day after Hamas launched its attack, which suggested that U.S. aid to Israel was partially to blame for the violence in the Middle East.

Tuesday’s vote makes Tlaib the second lawmaker to be censured this year and the 26th in history. House Republicans voted to rebuke Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) in June for his efforts against former President Trump.

Despite the publicity of censure resolutions, the measures are largely symbolic. There are no repercussions for the non-binding resolution, though it carries the stigma of being disciplined by a lawmaker’s colleague. Additionally, McCormick’s resolution did not require Tlaib to stand in the well of the chamber for the reading of the censure, which has been required in previous cases.

Tlaib defended herself from the censure effort in an impassioned — and at times emotional — speech on the House floor Tuesday, arguing that her criticisms have been of the Israeli government and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while declaring “I will not be silenced and I will not let you distort my words.”

She also spoke in support of the lives of Palestinian people.

“I can’t believe I have to say this, but Palestinian lives are not disposable,” Tlaib said on the House floor, appearing to hold back tears.

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) stood up and put her hand on Tlaib’s shoulder in an apparent attempt to console her.

“We are human beings just like anyone else,” Tlaib continued, holding up a photo of her grandmother. “My grandmother, like all Palestinians, just wants to live her life with freedom and human dignity we all deserve. Speaking up to save lives, Mr. Chair, no matter faith, no matter ethnicity, should not be controversial in this chamber.”

After Tuesday night’s vote — which Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) gaveled out — Tlaib gathered in the well of the House chamber and held hands with other progressive lawmakers, including Omar and Reps. Cori Bush (D-Mo.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.). At one point, they appeared to be praying.

Tuesday night’s vote came as a bit of a surprise, despite the more-than-week-long push to censure Tlaib.

The House advanced McCormick’s censure resolution earlier on Tuesday, teeing up a final vote on Wednesday. But late Tuesday, leadership added a vote on adopting the measure to that evening’s schedule, fast-tracking the process.

And in a twist, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) — who sponsored her own resolution censuring Tlaib — told reporters that she decided to pull that legislation from consideration.

https://saharareporters.com/2023/11/08/us-house-reps-censures-palestinian-american-female-lawmaker-tlaib-over-criticism-israel

Dyke15:
Speaking against same country that gave u relevance and platform.
U claim to fight for Palestine but why moving to America?
Trust me, she wouldn't Ve even gone to school if she's in Palestine.
U as a Muslim will claim to hate America but when u re been made to chose between American and Saudi Arabian visa, I no need a soothsayer to tell me the country u will choose.

Dyke15:
Speaking against same country that gave u relevance and platform.
U claim to fight for Palestine but why moving to America?
Trust me, she wouldn't Ve even gone to school if she's in Palestine.
U as a Muslim will claim to hate America but when u re been made to chose between American and Saudi Arabian visa, I no need a soothsayer to tell me the country u will choose.

Dyke15:
Speaking against same country that gave u relevance and platform.
U claim to fight for Palestine but why moving to America?
Trust me, she wouldn't Ve even gone to school if she's in Palestine.
U as a Muslim will claim to hate America but when u re been made to chose between American and Saudi Arabian visa, I no need a soothsayer to tell me the country u will choose.

God1000:
She's the only sane voice in the US house of representatives, why trying to silence her.

How do you guys expect her to be quiet when her people are being killed by Israel and with the full support of US government, over 11,000 deaths

Some of you guys here are worse than ISIS and Hamas

caye:
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHO RULES OVER YOU, identify the person you are not allowed to criticise.


So happy.
The Jewish state will milk Amerikkka dry, as the Europeans have milked Afrika dry to the bone 🦴.

In a few decades, the goyim whites will raise a rebellion in their different countries, against their Jewish masters.

Just wait and be patient. It's brewing.
The alt right, patriots , Neo-nazis and all the good ol' boys, are prepping, learning guerilla warfare and stocking up on guns, ammunition, food , medicine and gold.

Amerikkka will be interesting within 5-10yrs.

Civil war will erupt.
God, Pls help.my black American cousins and all other melanated ppls.