The House censured Rep. Rashida Tlaib for anti-Israel remarks, a mostly symbolic rebuke.
The House of Representatives voted to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib, a Democrat from Michigan, with a 234-188 vote on Tuesday night. This censure was a formal public rebuke of her recent anti-Israel comments following Israel’s conflict with the Hamas terrorist group. The punishment, while mostly symbolic, signifies a significant reprimand. Twenty-two Democrats joined 212 Republicans in favor of censuring Tlaib, while four GOP lawmakers opposed the measure, and four lawmakers voted “present.” The censure was introduced by freshman Rep. Rich McCormick, a Republican from Georgia, who accused Tlaib of promoting false narratives about the Hamas attack on Israel and advocating for the destruction of Israel in his resolution.
Tlaib, the only Palestinian American in Congress, faced bipartisan criticism for sharing a video containing the phrase “From the river to the sea,” which is associated with pro-Palestinian liberation sentiments. Critics argue that this phrase implicitly calls for the dismantling of Israel as a state. Despite the controversy, Tlaib remained unapologetic, emphasizing the importance of distinguishing between criticizing the Israeli government and promoting antisemitism. The House initially voted to advance McCormick’s resolution earlier on Tuesday, defeating an attempt to kill the measure by a vote of 208 to 213, with one lawmaker voting “present.” A previous attempt by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican from Georgia, to censure Tlaib failed to advance to a vote last week.
