House Republicans to censure Tlaib for labeling Israel ‘apartheid’ state
Washington (QNN)- US Congressional Republicans introduced a resolution to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib and her colleagues for statements supporting Palestinian people against Israel’s oppression.
Three House Republicans brought the resolution on Monday, which seeks to condemn and censure the U.S. Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ayanna Pressley, Ilhan Omar and Tlaib.
The Republicans claimed that the four Democrats were “defending foreign terrorist organizations and inciting anti-Semitic attacks.”
The Republicans specified several statements by the four Democrats, surrounding Israel’s violence against Palestinians in the occupied territories and besieged Gaza Strip earlier this year.
Censure is a process used to discipline members of Congress for “disorderly behavior” or misconduct in office. This occurs through a majority vote.
The censure came after Israel’s 11-day aggression on the Gaza Strip, which started on May 10 and ended with a ceasefire brokered by mediator Egypt on May 21, killing at least 279 Palestinians, including 69 children and 40 women and injuring 1,910 others.
19 families in the Gaza Strip have been wiped off the population civil registry during Israel’s 11-day aggression, the Palestinian Health Ministry said, including 41 children and 25 women.
More than 90,000 Palestinians were displaced from their homes, and much of Gaza’s infrastructure and many residential buildings were completely destroyed or levelled.
The bloody aggression on the Gaza Strip has met with strong condemnation and calls to end or condition the US aid to ‘Israel’.
Recently, there has been backlash to Omar’s comments on holding ‘Israel’ and the US accountable for war crimes in occupied Palestine and Afghanistan.
The representative from Minnesota asked Secretary of State Antony Blinken during a hearing by the House Foreign Affairs Committee: “You opposed the court’s investigation in both Palestine and in Afghanistan.”
“In both of these cases, if domestic courts can’t or won’t pursue justice, and we oppose the ICC, where do we think victims are supposed to go for justice, and what justice mechanisms do you support for them?”
She followed with a tweet: “We must have the same level of accountability and justice for all victims of crimes against humanity. We have seen unthinkable atrocities committed by the U.S., Hamas, Israel, Afghanistan, and the Taliban. I asked @SecBlinkenwhere people are supposed to go for justice.”
We must have the same level of accountability and justice for all victims of crimes against humanity.
We have seen unthinkable atrocities committed by the U.S., Hamas, Israel, Afghanistan, and the Taliban.
I asked @SecBlinken where people are supposed to go for justice. pic.twitter.com/tUtxW5cIow
— Rep. Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan) June 7, 2021
The censure resolution also highlights comments made by Tlaib, the first Palestinian Progressive Democrat who was born in Detroit to Palestinian immigrant parents, during an MSNBC interview and on social media.
Tlaib called Israel an “apartheid state” practicing “ethnic cleansing” against Palestinians. She also condemned Israel for committing war crimes and targeting media sources to prevent the truth from being reported.
A fact sheet provided by one of the House Republicans who introduced the resolution also lists Tlaib’s opposition to a $735 million weapons sale between the U.S. and the occupation state of ‘Israel’.
The fact sheet includes a transcript of Tlaib’s May 13 speech on the House floor where she called for Congress to make future aid to Israel conditional on compliance with international human rights “and an end to apartheid.”
“Colleagues, Palestinians aren’t going anywhere, no matter how much money you send to Israel’s apartheid government,” Tlaib said in May.
“If we are to make good on our promises to support equal human rights for all, it is our duty to end the apartheid system that, for decades, has subjected Palestinians to inhumane treatment and racism.”
The resolution claims statements by the four Democrats have caused increased violence and anti-Semitic hate crimes throughout the United States, though it does not provide any examples.
Also, during Israel’s aggression on the Gaza Strip, Tlaib and Omar expressed their support to the people of Palestine, saying what Israel is doing in Gaza of killing civilians is an “act of terrorism.”
This unsurprising response is devoid of empathy and concern for human suffering.
He can’t even condemn the killing of children. https://t.co/eQjysy2VCP
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) May 10, 2021
“Palestinians deserve protection. Unlike Israel, missile defense programs, such as Iron Dome, don’t exist to protect Palestinian civilians. It’s unconscionable to not condemn these attacks on the week of Eid,” Omar also tweeted.
Israeli air strikes killing civilians in Gaza is an act of terrorism.
Palestinians deserve protection.
Unlike Israel, missile defense programs, such as Iron Dome, don’t exist to protect Palestinian civilians.
It’s unconscionable to not condemn these attacks on the week of Eid. https://t.co/vWWQfMqBkT
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) May 10, 2021
Many will tell you Israel has a right to defend itself, to safety and security, but are silent on whether Palestinians have those rights too.
Until we can defend the rights of Palestinians just as we do Israelis, we have no leg to stand on when it comes to justice or peace.
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) May 10, 2021
“American taxpayer money is being used to commit human rights violations. Congress must condition the aid we send to Israel, and end it altogether if those conditions are not followed. Statements aren’t working @SecBlinken. Enough is enough,” Tlaib said in a tweet.
In another tweet, Tlaib said, “I see some who were silent as Palestinians were ripped from their homes and tear gassed in their holiest mosques now finding their voices – to stand with the Israeli gov as airstrikes leave Palestinian children dead. Where are your voices when Palestinians are under threat?”
American taxpayer money is being used to commit human rights violations. Congress must condition the aid we send to Israel, and end it altogether if those conditions are not followed. Statements aren't working @SecBlinken.
Enough is enough.
— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) May 10, 2021
I see some who were silent as Palestinians were ripped from their homes and tear gassed in their holiest mosques now finding their voices – to stand with the Israeli gov as airstrikes leave Palestinian children dead. Where are your voices when Palestinians are under threat?
— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) May 11, 2021
U.S. Rep. Lisa McClain, R-Bruce Township, criticized Pelosi for not holding Tlaib and her colleagues accountable in a floor speech Tuesday.
“Democrats love to jump on the Republican outrage train,” McClain said on the House floor.
“But when we see blatant anti-Semitism from one of their own, all you see are timid, fake, pandering, watered-down responses.”
The Democrats’ double standards are deafening.
Today, I spoke on the House floor calling for @SpeakerPelosi and her conference to hold @Ilhan accountable for her anti-Semitic, anti-American remarks. pic.twitter.com/pUOYFo3el6
— Representative Lisa McClain (@RepLisaMcClain) June 15, 2021
