BIPARTISAN EFFORT

House Officially Votes to Censure Rashida Tlaib Over Israel Criticisms

Before the vote, Tlaib said: “What I don’t understand is why the cries of Palestinian children sound different to you all.”

Rep. Rashida Tlaib’s House colleagues voted to censure her on Tuesday night after the Michigan Democrat leveled a series of recent criticisms of Israel’s violence in the Gaza Strip.

Tlaib is herself the first Palestinian-American woman to be elected to Congress.

The resolution was originally introduced by Rep. Rich McCormick (R-GA), to rebuke her for “promoting false narratives regarding the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel and for calling for the destruction of the state of Israel,” including using the highly-disputed phrase “from the river to the sea.”

The final vote came in at 234-188—with 22 Democrats crossing the aisle to vote in favor of the censure. Four Republicans voted against the measure.

Tlaib has vociferously defended herself against the accusations and said: “Colleagues have resorted to distorting my positions in resolutions filled with obvious lies.” She argued that the statement doesn’t suggest an ending of Israel’s existence but instead “an aspirational call for freedom, human rights, and peaceful coexistence.”

During an emotional speech Tuesday from the House floor following a vote to advance the measure, Tlaib’s voice began to break as she said, “I can’t believe I have to say this, but Palestinian people are not disposable. We are human beings, just like anyone else.”

As Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) stood up from her seat to support her, she composed herself and said: “The cries of the Palestinian and Israeli children sound no different to me. What I don’t understand is why the cries of Palestinian children sound different to you all.”

She also pushed back against the idea that all criticism of Israel amounted to antisemitism.

“The idea that criticizing the government of Israel is antisemitic sets a very dangerous precedent that’s been used to silence diverse voices speaking up for human rights across our nation,” she said.

Tlaib expressed defiance, early on declaring, “Trying to bully or censure me won’t work because this movement for a ceasefire is much bigger than one person.”

She also mentioned that the movement was growing, citing 71 percent of Michigan Democrats who support a cease-fire. She urged her colleagues to join the “majority of Americans... to save as many lives as possible,” and called on President Joe Biden to “listen to and represent all of us.”