Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) introduced a resolution to censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) over her comments blaming Israel for a deadly airstrike at a Christian hospital in Gaza last week, accusing the Michigan Democrat of antisemitism and “sympathizing with terrorist organizations.”
The legislation accuses Tlaib of displaying “antisemitic activity” and “leading an insurrection” at the U.S. Capitol, referring to a demonstration last week when pro-Palestinian protesters rallied outside members’ offices to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. More than 100 of the protesters were arrested, with a handful being charged with assaulting police officers, according to the U.S. Capitol Police.
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The legislation lists several statements from Tlaib dating back to 2019 that Greene argues show a pattern of antisemitism, including her comments last week suggesting Israel was responsible for the attack despite evidence that the Tuesday explosion was caused by a misfired rocket from Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
Tlaib later released a statement that she could not “uncritically accept Israel’s denials of responsibility as fact,” arguing both the “Israeli and United States governments have long, documented histories of misleading the public about wars and war crimes.”
Tlaib responded to the resolution, decrying it as being “deeply Islamophobic and attacks peaceful Jewish anti-war advocates.”
“I am proud to stand in solidarity with Jewish peace advocates calling for a ceasefire and an end to the violence,” she said in a statement. “I will not be bullied, I will not be dehumanized, and I will not be silenced. I will continue to call for ceasefire, for the immediate delivery of humanitarian aid, for the release of hostages and those arbitrarily detained, and for every American to be brought home. I will continue to work for a just and lasting peace that upholds the human rights and dignity of all people, and ensures that no person, no child has to suffer or live in fear of violence.”
Several Democrats predicted a censure resolution would be forthcoming shortly after the House elected a new speaker on Wednesday, with Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) saying it’s something “everyone should consider.”
“This is about U.S. intelligence, this is about U.S. information, this is about not willing to trust the Biden administration and U.S. intelligence but instead continuing to pretend like the Ministry of Health out of Gaza is nothing other than a terrorist organization,” he told Fox News earlier this week.
Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) brushed off the resolution, arguing it was being used as a distraction from House Republicans to detract from issues such as government spending and inflation.
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“With all the challenges we are facing right now, House Republicans are racing to once again list up something that Marjorie Taylor Greene is doing, which tells us that their focus continues to be in the wrong place,” he said.
Greene filed the motion on Wednesday morning, introducing it as a privileged resolution that would force the House to vote on the bill within two legislative days. Because the House is scheduled to adjourn for recess on Friday, it’s likely the House will vote on the resolution sometime on Wednesday.
